ESPN is doubling down on sports betting integration, appointing Erin Dolan as its first full-time in-game betting analyst for United Football League (UFL) coverage. The move, a first for a major sports network, will see Dolan deliver live betting insights during ESPN and ABC’s UFL broadcasts, which kick off this Sunday.
Dolan regularly appears on ESPN BET Live and Sunday NFL Countdown, analyzing betting lines, prop bets, and market trends. She will provide pre-game, in-game, and halftime analysis from ESPN’s Bristol studio. Her role is similar to that of a rules analyst but focused on odds, trends, and top betting moments.
Erin Begins A New Era Of Betting-Focused Coverage
This bold step signals ESPN’s growing commitment to integrating sports wagering into its broadcasts. While networks have experimented with betting commentary, Dolan’s role represents a full-scale, game-long approach. “Because this hasn’t really been done before throughout an entire broadcast, there’s probably going to be a little bit of growing pains the first couple of weeks, but then we’ll get it down,” Dolan told Front Office Sports.
The challenge is balancing the hardcore bettors with casual fans who may be less familiar with gambling. Dolan recognizes this, emphasizing the need to make betting discussions digestible. “Sometimes, I think numbers aren’t very digestible when you just hear numbers being spewed at you. So, breaking it down more from a learning perspective would be more of the goal for me,” she explained.
Exclusive: ESPN is set to debut Erin Dolan as its new full-time in-game betting analyst for UFL coverage.
Dolan will give picks, report on betting tickets and handle, popular props, and give live updates during major betting moments like the over hitting.
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ESPN’s deeper investment in betting content aligns with the network’s partnership with Penn Entertainment, which operates ESPN Bet. With Penn considering an opt-out clause in its $2 billion deal, increasing market engagement is critical.
ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 will air nearly half of the UFL’s 40-game season, with Fox and FS1 carrying the rest. As ESPN continues to push sports betting into mainstream broadcasts, Erin Dolan’s new role may set a precedent for other leagues and networks looking to capitalize on the booming sports wagering industry.
