Former ESPN producer Nicole Noren has revealed that the network declined to pursue investigative stories into sports betting companies and addiction, as gambling partnerships reshaped its editorial priorities. Noren, who left the network in 2023 after ESPN announced its ESPN BET partnership with Penn Entertainment, made her own experience public this week in an interview with the Columbia Journalism Review.
Noren, a longtime producer for ESPN's investigative program Outside the Lines, said she had pitched numerous stories that would take a harder look at gambling companies and addiction, but none were greenlit. "They ended up doing a show on it around that time, but it became very neutered," she told journalist Danny Funt. "Some of the people involved intended to make it much more hard-hitting and hold the gambling companies accountable. Let's just say the final product didn't end up doing that."
Leaving over ESPN BET
Noren, who detailed a family history of gambling addiction affecting her grandfather, father, and brother, said she left the network after ESPN BET launched. "I'm not going to work for a gambling company and have blood on my hands," she said. She declined to comment further when reached for this story.
ESPN released a statement in response: "ESPN remains committed to journalism that serves sports fans, holds powerful interests accountable and earns our audience's trust. Our editorial decisions are guided by news judgment and journalistic integrity, and we demonstrate this every day through the award-winning content we produce across our platforms."
Industry-wide shift
Bob Ley, the former face of Outside the Lines who retired in 2019, described Noren as "passionate, honest and indefatigable." He said that during his tenure, reporters had the leeway to cover entities with business relationships to ESPN, and editorial support would follow if stories uncovered something unsavory. The network canceled Outside the Lines as a regular show in 2023, though some content is still produced under the brand.
Brian Moritz, an associate professor at the Jandoli School of Communication at St Bonaventure University, called Noren's comments a "dam-breaking moment." He noted that ESPN makes a lot of money from promoting sports gambling, which raises questions about the network's mission.
Rise of sports betting
Since the US supreme court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, 39 states and Washington DC have established some form of sports betting. A poll by St Bonaventure and Siena College last April found that 27% of Americans and 52% of men ages 18 to 49 now have an account with a sportsbook.
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) cited research in recent congressional testimony showing New Jersey, Ohio, and Indiana have experienced a rise in problem gambling that tracks with adoption. Cait Huble, director of public affairs for the NCPG, said the young male population that engages in sports fan activity overlaps with the demographic at risk for a gambling problem. The group is lobbying for the Points Act, which would allocate a percentage of the federal excise tax on sports bets to prevention, treatment, and research.
DraftKings has been ESPN's official sportsbook and odds provider since 2025. Many ESPN shows and live broadcasts now include betting strategy features and updated odds. Ley said game coverage is now framed by betting coverage, and the whole media landscape is being overturned.
The Pew Research Center, utilizing Bureau of Labor Statistics data, reported that newsroom jobs declined by 26% between 2008 and 2020. The Washington Post eliminated its sports department in February. The Washington Sun reported this week that the Federal Trade Commission is looking into sports betting, including deceptive advertising by sportsbooks such as FanDuel and DraftKings.
Moritz questioned whether younger journalists can take a stand in an industry that relies on sports betting for a good part of its operating budget. "These jobs are hard to come by especially if you are younger," he said. "Do you even feel like you can take a stand?"
