ESPN betting star Erin Dolan discusses new contract and 'double-edged sword' of rising stardom

ESPN betting analyst Erin Dolan revealed her new contract with the network in an interview with the New York Post, signaling a continued ascent in the growing sports-betting space. The 29-year-old Philadelphia native said the deal, announced by ESPN on Sept. 4, keeps her with the Worldwide Leader through multiple slots on television as she expands her on-air footprint since joining ESPN in 2021. Dolan said, 'I'm really happy about the deal... I negotiated that myself, which I was really proud of this time around. I'm really trying to be more business-minded and really just doing it myself.'

She described the arrangement as a 'double-edged sword' — she wants what she wants, but also has to come up with the value to provide the company as well. 'There's a mutual understanding [between us] and with any business agreement, they gain a lot from me and I gain a lot from them. It's great,' Dolan said, before adding that the negotiations marked a new level of independence for her. The deal will see Dolan appear on SportsCenter, Sunday NFL Countdown, ESPN BET LIVE and other ESPN programs. She is dating Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm. Dolan said she will try to keep the performances fresh across shows, balancing entertainment with professionalism. 'I feel like I've done a good job at keeping the line of entertainment and fun, while also being professional, and balancing many different hats,' Dolan said. 'I feel like on ESPN, I have the opportunity to, let's say, for example, on 'SportsCenter,' I'm not going to be my crazy fun self as much as I would be on 'BET Live,' and then I'm more buttoned up on 'Countdown.' This is something that's so new for everybody that I really had to teach myself, learn to produce and be involved in every single aspect of everything. I definitely come up with my own picks every single, solitary time.' The Philadelphia native is currently dating Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm.

Dolan also chatted about criticism she faces, including comments about her body. 'No one's telling you what to say. I don't use a teleprompter. I don't have anything to really rely on. Like, I really have it in my head. So that's something that I'm proud of,' she said. Dolan also discussed the backlash she encounters as a woman in sports media, noting that she has paused engagement on social media to mitigate abuse. 'I think no matter what, I'll always have a target [on me] in general,' she said. 'I'm in a space that's more niche than even sports is. When I was first coming up, it was so hard for me.' She added that during Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season, she briefly returned to posting on social media and saw a flurry of comments about her coverage and persona. 'But she's also received plenty of comments about her appearance and her body. '… People just come for your body, and it is just nonstop… But I find them actually hilarious.''

Before joining ESPN, Dolan worked on-air at FanDuel and PointsBet sportsbooks to create betting content. She also made appearances for B/R Betting and SiriusXM, building a profile in the burgeoning American sports-betting media landscape. Dolan is a Penn State graduate, and her path to a high-profile role at ESPN has been marked by stops in legal betting communications and live programming, who have described her as one of the sport-betting space's rising voices.

Her interview underscores how ESPN is pursuing a broader blend of sports coverage and betting analysis, including on-air talent who can connect with bettors while maintaining journalistic standards. Dolan’s self-described priority on accountability and business-minded negotiation reflects a broader trend among media personalities seeking greater control over their brand and value proposition. As she continues to balance the demands of multiple ESPN programs and her personal life, the industry will watch how she translates her rising profile into long-term impact for both the network and the betting journalism space.