Barstool Sportsbook is in the midst of several days of shutdown of betting, deposits, and withdrawals while it overhauls its platform with new technology.
The sportsbook’s customers in 16 states were informed by email late Friday of the shutdown, which began Sunday evening to take advantage of the slow sports calendar coinciding annually with MLB’s All-Star break. The maintenance period in which no logins or sports betting are possible could take up to 72 hours, customers were told.
The site currently displays an “Under Maintenance” message that explains, “We are currently upgrading the Barstool Sportsbook to bring you an improved app experience with more markets and wagering options.”
PENN Entertainment’s Barstool Sportsbook has relied on longtime European sports betting technology provider Kambi ever since the sportsbook first launched in Pennsylvania in September 2020. Kambi also serves multiple other sports betting operators in the U.S., such as BetRivers and betPARX.
PENN’s switch from Kambi to an in-house platform was pending ever since the Pennsylvania firm spent $2.1 billion in October 2021 to acquire theScore, a Toronto-based media and sports betting company which was already in the process of developing its own platform. The new system was unveiled to its theScore Bet customers in Canada last year, and PENN has been working since then to ready it for use across the U.S.
‘Blueprint’ for improved performance
When asked for comment, a spokesman for PENN referred Sports Handle to past statements made about it on earnings calls by President and CEO Jay Snowden.
Barstool has been a mid-tier sportsbook in terms of betting volume since launching in many states, with handle well below that of FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM. PENN has ascribed that in part to the limits of using an outside platform while suggesting its own new system will be able to offer many more appealing features for customers.
“Our success in Ontario provides us with a blueprint for improved performance for the Barstool Sportsbook & Casino after we complete our migration to this platform in July,” Snowden said previously.
“Having full control of our product roadmap in the U.S. will enable us to connect with our customers on a more personal level and quickly add new features and betting markets to the Barstool Sportsbook, while also enhancing our iCasino product with new content and bonus mechanics. In addition, with an improved customer experience post-migration, we will be well positioned to drive stronger loyalty and retention, while offering seamless cross-play in our omni-channel ecosystem.”
In Barstool Sportsbook’s email to customers, a graphic indicated that after the site’s update they could expect to see faster load times, more player props, more bet offers exclusive to Barstool, enhanced promotions, and integration with theScore media app, among other features.
The sportsbook assured users that their “account balance is 100% secured throughout this upgrade process and your account information and settings will remain the same. Any pending wagers will also automatically carry over to the new Barstool Sportsbook & Casino experience.”
Under an FAQ section of its site, Barstool did advise of one procedural change coming — that logins in the future will use customers’ email addresses instead of their user names.
The company said users will receive new notifications advising when the site is available for use again, which is expected by Wednesday evening.
