Ben Fawkes
Vice President, Digital Content
Ben joins VSiN from ESPN, where he was General Editor of the brand’s sports betting product, ESPN Chalk. Fawkes oversees all written and digital content, including VSiN’s exclusive subscription-based publication, Point Spread Weekly, daily e-newsletter, and special issues. He will also contribute on-air and assist with short- and long-term content strategy across VSiN’s platforms.
From our CEO:
“Anyone who has followed the sports betting industry over the past several years is well aware of Ben and his great work. He was one of the architects behind ESPN’s sports betting coverage and continues to be one of the most respected and prolific voices in sports betting. Adding Ben to the team will further strengthen both our editorial voice and our position as the most credible source in the sports betting space.”
Sport Betting Content Leadership
In his role at ESPN, Fawkes helped spearhead the organization’s sports betting content since 2010. He was integral to both the founding of ESPN Chalk in 2014 and the growth of the brand over the past several years.
During his tenure at ESPN Chalk, Fawkes oversaw planning and execution of all editorial content for ESPN’s sports betting vertical, along with coordination across platforms, including the recently launched ESPN show Daily Wager. He aided in enriching the company’s sports betting talent and helped manage a team of approximately 20 writers. Fawkes broadly contributed content and provided editorial direction across ESPN’s sports betting platforms, including print, digital and broadcast and helped establish editorial guidelines for ESPN properties around gambling language and terminology.
A part of nearly every ESPN sports betting property ever created, Fawkes contributed to Chad Millman's Behind the Bets blog, managed and executed large-scale editorial projects, co-hosted Behind The Bets podcast w/ Doug Kezirian, aiding in writing and producing both of ESPN The Magazine’s Gambling Issues and helped manage a partnership with Caesars Sportsbook across platforms, among other assignments.
Previously, Fawkes worked for ESPN Insider, guiding strategy and content, as well as overseeing NFL, college football and soccer coverage. Over his career, he’s covered nearly every sport, including 10 NFL drafts, and has planned and executed content with some of ESPN’s biggest talents including Chris Berman, Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Herm Edwards, Bill Barnwell, Ron Jaworski, Matthew Berry, Adam Schefter and Darren Rovell.
In His Own Words
“I’m thrilled to be joining such an accomplished team of writers and talent,” said Fawkes. “I’ve always admired VSiN from afar, with an eye as to how they’ve approached creating a niche in the rapidly expanding sports betting landscape. I’m excited to contribute now as a teammate and help VSiN evolve its content and increase its footprint.”