Longtime ESPN Producer Resigned Over Gambling Expansion

Nicole Noren, who spent 24 years as a producer for ESPN, departed the network in 2024, stating that she could not continue working for a company that entered the sports gambling space.

Noren's decision was influenced by her family's extensive history with gambling addiction. She shared in an interview with the Columbia Journalism Review that her grandfather, father, and one of her brothers were severely impacted by sports gambling addiction. Noren described her childhood in Ventura, California, as being shaped by the financial instability caused by her family's gambling issues, noting that the family moved multiple times due to these fluctuations. She recalled spending her childhood in sportsbooks, including places like the Las Vegas Hilton and Caesars, which she described as an environment where children were not typically allowed.

Her brother died at age 36 in downtown Las Vegas. Noren recounted how their father would gamble at sportsbooks, leading to the family's exposure to these environments from a young age. This ultimately led to her brother experiencing homelessness in Las Vegas before his death.

ESPN launched its gambling app, ESPN Bet, in November 2023. Noren stated that this move marked her decision to leave, declaring, "I'm not going to work for a gambling company and have blood on my hands." She observed that the line between ESPN's business operations and its editorial content had become increasingly blurred over the past five to seven years. This shift made it more challenging for her and her investigative team to pursue stories that involved stakeholders in the gambling industry.

Noren noted that several story pitches focused on gambling companies and addiction were not approved. While a show on the topic was eventually produced, she felt it was significantly softened and did not hold gambling companies accountable as intended by some involved in its creation.

Throughout her tenure at ESPN, Noren received multiple accolades, including Emmy, Murrow, and Peabody Awards, largely for her work on the investigative newsmagazine "Outside the Lines."

Following her departure, Noren has initiated a new project focused on sports betting and gambling addiction. This endeavor involves collaboration with journalists, content creators, and public health organizations to develop content aimed at a young audience. The initiative seeks to raise national awareness and encourage action to address the growing crisis of gambling addiction.

In November 2025, ESPN Bet was replaced by a partnership with DraftKings, another major player in the sports gambling industry.