Penn didn't mention Barstool Sports or its founder in a statement announcing the deal with ESPN, but the businessman claimed it was challenging for his organization to function in the regulated gaming industry and that Penn's connections to him might have lost Barstool Sportsbook licenses in some jurisdictions. He omitted naming particular areas where Barstool Sports, the name Penn utilized for its retail and online sportsbooks, had its license applications denied. The regulated betting sector, he continued, probably wasn't the best place for Barstool and its core content.