theScore Bet

Overview

theScore Bet is the rebranded U.S. sportsbook from Penn Entertainment, which took over the ESPN Bet brand on December 1, 2025, after Penn and ESPN ended their partnership early. ESPN Bet had captured roughly 3% of the U.S. sports betting market during its run, below the threshold both parties had targeted, and ESPN moved on to a new deal with DraftKings as its official sportsbook and odds provider. Penn retained the underlying technology (built on the theScore platform Penn acquired in 2021 for $2 billion) and relaunched under the theScore Bet name in the U.S.

Welcome Offer

The rebranded theScore Bet launched with a welcome-back promo for existing ESPN Bet users (retaining balances and account history) and a first-bet insurance offer for new users. Specific terms have varied by state and rollout phase during the December 2025 to March 2026 migration period.

Product & Markets

Standard major U.S. league coverage: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA football and basketball (subject to state college betting rules), UFC, boxing, soccer, tennis, and golf. Same-game parlays, live in-play, player props, and futures are all supported. theScore Media integration, which was the original appeal of the platform when Penn first launched theScore Bet in 2021, is the differentiator: news, scores, and bet slip live inside a single app.

Banking

ACH, debit card, PayPal, PayNearMe, and in-cage cash deposits at Penn's retail casino properties. Withdrawals follow regulated U.S. sportsbook norms, with ACH and PayPal the fastest paths.

Ongoing Promos

Penn's loyalty integration with the mychoice rewards program continues under theScore Bet, which is a meaningful perk for users who play at Penn's land-based properties (Hollywood, Ameristar, M Resort, and others). Odds boosts, parlay insurance, and profit boosts run weekly.

Regulatory Reality

theScore Bet is a fully licensed, regulated U.S. sportsbook operating in 20-plus states where Penn holds active licenses. Critically, the theScore Bet brand had already been sunset in several states (including New Jersey, Colorado, Iowa, and Indiana) in 2023 when Penn consolidated its U.S. operations under the ESPN Bet launch. Those sunsets never reopened, so the December 2025 rebrand inherited ESPN Bet's market footprint, not theScore Bet's original one. Users should check the state list on the official site before signing up, because availability varies and is smaller than DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, or Fanatics. This is a real-money regulated sportsbook, not an offshore or sweepstakes product.

User Experience

The app retains the theScore Media integration that was its original strength: scores, news, and betting inside one interface. Bet slip flow, same-game parlays, and live betting all work reliably. Polish trails DraftKings and FanDuel but is competitive with BetMGM and Caesars. The December 2025 rebrand migration was mostly smooth, though some users reported temporary login friction during the transition week.

The Bottom Line

theScore Bet is a legitimate regulated U.S. sportsbook with strong media integration and Penn's land-based loyalty tie-in, but it is a distant fifth in market share behind the big four. For users in states where it operates who already use theScore app for scores and news, the integration is a real advantage. For users chasing the best promos, lines, or same-game parlay pricing, the larger regulated books are still stronger. Check state availability before committing, and use the regulated-sportsbook responsible-gaming tools built into the app.