Ahead of ESPN Bet going live on Tuesday, the network has instituted new guidelines for employees prohibiting them from wagering on sports they cover.
While the guidelines — first reported on Friday by The Action Network — are focused on employees who serve as reporters or insiders, it extends to production personnel, journalists working remotely, and company employees who manage ESPN’s relationships with leagues and other sports properties.
“At ESPN, we are dedicated to upholding the integrity of our brand and the events we broadcast,” the guidelines read. “These Sports Betting Guidelines (“Guidelines”) establish the expected standards of behavior for our employees. They aim to define prohibited betting activities clearly and serve as a reference to ensure compliance.”
The guidelines encourage employees to maintain journalistic standards.
“No story should be reported, delayed, influenced or withheld with the intention of impacting betting lines,” it states. “All employees must observe the strict boundaries that the Company maintains between our journalistic enterprise and the operations of a sportsbook and should not imply any control or influence over the operations of a sportsbook.”
The guidelines also aim to deter employees from using proxy bettors.
“The Company strongly discourages employees from engaging in any betting-related activities that could call into question their or the Company’s integrity, or otherwise create actual or perceived conflicts of interest,” it said.
ESPN reserves the right to instill additional restrictions on employees.
