Award-Winning Producer Nicole Noren Leaves ESPN Over Betting

Award-winning journalist, director and producer Nicole Noren says she left ESPN in 2023 after a 24-year career, citing the network's closeness to sports betting. According to Noren, her departure came after ESPN launched ESPN Bet with Penn Entertainment. Her work appeared on Outside the Lines and other programs.

Speaking to Columbia Journalism Review, Noren said her family was shaken by gambling addiction. Her grandfather, her father and one of her brothers were badly harmed by sports betting. Growing up in Ventura, California, Noren said her family moved repeatedly because of financial ups and downs. Her brother died on the street in Las Vegas 13 years ago, at age 36.

Noren alleged that even before ESPN Bet, story ideas examining the harms of gambling were rejected. During the same period, the network began adding betting content to its programming. These included pregame point spread lists, a studio opened on the Las Vegas Strip, and brick-and-mortar ESPN Bet sportsbooks.

Penn shut down ESPN Bet in 2025 after failing to gain market share. The network later struck a deal with DraftKings. ESPN rejected Noren's claims and said business decisions did not affect the newsroom.