theScore Bet Sportsbook Review

Our 4.1 out of 5 rating is a weighted average that follows our how we rate process, where odds quality carries the most weight for sportsbooks, followed by market depth, live betting, bonuses, payout speed and the platform itself. Here is how theScore Bet Sportsbook scored in each category.

theScore Bet Sportsbook is best for bettors who want deep media integration with news, stats and scores, one of the largest daily promotion menus in the country, and PENN Play rewards that tie wagering to casinos, hotels and travel. Existing ESPN Bet users are already on it. It is a weaker fit for bettors who prioritize the deepest live betting markets, the fastest withdrawals or consistently best odds.

Yes. theScore Bet and ESPN Bet are the same product run by the same operator. PENN Entertainment owns both, and the switch on Dec. 1, 2025, was a rebrand rather than a new launch. The app, the technology, the customer accounts, the funds and the state licenses all carried over. Anyone who opened the ESPN Bet app on or after the transition date saw it update automatically to theScore Bet.

In August 2023, PENN and ESPN signed a 10-year deal worth about $2 billion that licensed the ESPN name to PENN’s sportsbook. The book that had been Barstool Sportsbook became ESPN Bet in November 2023. The partnership called for roughly $150 million per year in cash payments to ESPN, plus equity, and it included an opt-out clause.

On Nov. 6, 2025, PENN and ESPN announced they had mutually agreed to end the deal years ahead of schedule. PENN cited a desire to focus on its online casino expansion and to operate the sportsbook under its own brand without the cost of the ESPN license. ESPN, for its part, signed a new integrated marketing agreement that made DraftKings its official sportsbook and odds provider.

Nothing. The transition was automatic. The ESPN Bet app converted to theScore Bet when users opened it on or after Dec. 1, 2025. No new account, no re-verification and no re-deposit were required. Bettors who had ESPN Bet on their phones simply continued where they left off under the new name.

ESPN no longer has a sportsbook partnership with PENN. ESPN turned to DraftKings, which became the official sportsbook and odds provider of ESPN. DraftKings odds are being integrated across ESPN’s digital platforms, including the betting tab in the ESPN app, with a fuller rollout planned through 2026.

The underlying sportsbook is the same, but the rebrand leaned into theScore’s media DNA. The look is cleaner, the connection to theScore news and stats app is front and center, and the promotional calendar is built around the day’s sports headlines. Some payment options that existed under ESPN Bet were trimmed, but the core betting experience, the rewards program and the market menu remain intact.

theScore Bet is a legal, regulated sportsbook in every state where it operates. Each state license is issued and overseen by that state’s gaming regulator, and theScore Bet runs through market-access agreements tied to PENN’s casino and racetrack properties. Because it inherited ESPN Bet’s licenses, theScore Bet went live in 20 states the day it launched.

theScore Bet uses encryption and identity-verification technology to protect transactions and accounts, consistent with what regulated operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel use. The sportsbook is backed by PENN Entertainment, a publicly traded company that operates dozens of casinos and racetracks across the country.

The one fair question bettors raise is brand stability. This is PENN’s third sportsbook identity since 2020, following Barstool Sportsbook and ESPN Bet. The product itself has been reliable, accounts and funds have transferred cleanly through each change, and the technology has been consistent. Still, bettors who value a long, unchanging track record should weigh the rebrand history.

You must be 21 or older to bet with theScore Bet, and you must be physically located within a state where it is licensed. The app uses geolocation to confirm your location each time you place a wager. You do not need to be a resident of a legal state; you only need to be inside its borders when you bet.

As of June 2026, theScore Bet is live and legal in 20 states: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

The table below shows each legal state, the PENN market-access partner that theScore Bet operates through and any associated retail sportsbook locations.

PENN’s online casino, Hollywood Casino, runs alongside theScore Bet in the four states with legal online casino gaming: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In those markets, bettors can move between sports betting and casino games using the same account and wallet.

PENN holds casino licenses in many states and actively pursues approval in new markets as they legalize online sports betting. Bettors in large states that have not yet legalized, such as Texas, California and Florida, are the most-watched future opportunities, though no launch dates have been set. In Canada, theScore Bet has long been live in Ontario, and an Alberta launch is expected in 2026 once that province opens its regulated online market.

theScore traces its roots to 1994, when it launched as a broadcast operation that ran the cable channel Headline Sports, later renamed theScore. The company became a digital media power in 2005 with the launch of theScore mobile app, which grew into one of the most popular sports news, scores and stats apps in North America.

In 2012, Rogers Communications bought theScore television network, but the digital assets, including theScore app, were not part of that deal and remained with the company. theScore then moved into sports betting. In 2019, it secured a multistate market-access agreement with Penn National Gaming and launched theScore Bet in New Jersey, becoming the first media company to operate its own mobile sportsbook in the United States.

In October 2021, PENN acquired Score Media and Gaming for about $2 billion, buying the company outright from founder John Levy and his family, who were the majority shareholders. PENN valued theScore’s in-house technology stack, which it later used to power its other betting brands.

What followed was a series of brand changes. PENN launched Barstool Sportsbook in 2020 using theScore’s technology, then sold Barstool Sports back to founder Dave Portnoy for $1 in 2023 and relaunched the book as ESPN Bet under the ESPN licensing deal. When that deal ended in late 2025, PENN brought the sportsbook back home under theScore Bet name. Through every change, the underlying technology and the PENN Play rewards program stayed the same.

New customers at theScore Bet can claim a Bet Reset worth up to $1,000 in bonus bets. The offer functions as insurance on your first cash wager. If that first bet loses, theScore Bet refunds your stake as bonus bets, up to $1,000.

After you sign up and place your first cash bet, you are covered. If the bet wins, you keep the winnings as cash and the promotion is complete. If the bet loses, theScore Bet returns the amount of your stake as five bonus bets, each worth 20 percent of the refunded amount, up to the $1,000 maximum.

For example, if your first bet is $100 and it loses, you receive five bonus bets of $20 each. Bonus bets cannot be withdrawn as cash; only the profit from a winning bonus bet can be cashed out. Bonus bets expire seven days after they are issued.

theScore Bet runs one of the deepest and most distinctive promotional calendars in the U.S. market. Rather than a handful of recurring offers, the book pushes dozens of promotions that rotate daily, many of them tied directly to the day’s biggest games and sports headlines. The connection to theScore media app means the promotions often track the same stories bettors are already reading about.

Common promotion types include profit boosts, odds boosts and parlay boosts on marquee events, along with a heavier-than-usual slate of futures-market specials. Many boosts carry no minimum bet amount and no wagering requirement, which makes them more straightforward to use than the bonus offers at some rival books. The trade-off is that a number of promotions are tied to specific parlays or long-odds outcomes that may not match every bettor’s style.

theScore Bet uses PENN Play Member Rewards, the same loyalty program that ran under ESPN Bet. All rewards points and tier credits carried over through the rebrand, so longtime users kept their status and balances.

The program tracks two separate currencies. Rewards points are what you actually redeem, for bonus bets, shopping discounts, travel and event tickets. Tier credits determine your level in the program and the perks that come with it. You earn both by betting online and by playing, staying or dining at PENN casinos and racetracks across roughly 20 states.

Beyond the casino network, PENN Play partnerships with Norwegian Cruise Line, Choice Hotels and National Car Rental extend the perks to travel and lodging. You can view your bonus balance and any expiration dates in the My Account section of the app.

Creating an account is quick and usually takes only a few minutes. The process mirrors what you would find at other major sportsbooks.

theScore Bet offers several secure deposit methods, most with a $10 minimum. Deposits are typically credited instantly, and theScore Bet does not charge fees for deposits, though your bank or payment provider might. All deposits must be made with a payment method that is in your name, and available options can vary by state.

theScore Bet does not accept cryptocurrency or credit card deposits in most markets. If a deposit fails because of insufficient funds, an invalid account or a bank rule, theScore Bet recommends trying a different payment method.

Withdrawal methods generally mirror the deposit options, with a $10 minimum. All withdrawals require identity verification before the first payout, and theScore Bet may place a request under review for compliance checks, which can add time. The operator does not charge withdrawal fees.

The fastest payouts come through Trustly’s Real-Time Payments network, which sends funds to participating banks within minutes, around the clock. More than 150 banks support that option. If your bank does not, the transfer routes through the standard ACH network and posts within two to three business days. Withdrawals to credit cards and to Apple Pay are not allowed, and a debit-card withdrawal requires that the same card was used for a prior deposit and is in your name.

In testing by industry reviewers, theScore Bet payouts have proven reliable but not the fastest in the market. Some withdrawals that smaller, quicker books would clear within an hour can take until the following day at theScore Bet, even for modest amounts. Using the same method for deposits and withdrawals tends to speed up processing.

theScore Bet covers all the major North American sports and leagues, plus a broad slate of international and niche markets. The depth of pre-game and futures options is as strong as any book in the market, though availability varies by state.

Football is the centerpiece. theScore Bet covers moneylines, spreads and totals across the full NFL slate, with markets posted on a timeline comparable to the competition. The book offers same-game parlays and player props, though the volume of game and player props per matchup is a step behind the largest operators.

Basketball and hockey are well-served, with a healthy selection of pre-game and in-game markets every night during the season, along with a steady run of team and player futures. theScore Bet regularly attaches nightly boosts to player and team performances in both sports.

Baseball coverage includes the standard wager types across the MLB schedule, with team and player props available but in lower abundance than the high-end competition. theScore Bet often runs Toronto Blue Jays-themed promotions, a holdover from its Canadian roots and its partnership with that franchise.

theScore Bet posts a full nightly and weekly schedule for college football and college basketball, covering spreads, moneylines and totals for the majority of games and ramping up its markets for conference championships and the postseason. As with the pros, secondary and prop markets are thinner than at the biggest books. College player props are restricted or banned in several states, in line with state rules.

theScore Bet posts its odds on a timeline that is comparable to the rest of the regulated market, with the exact timing driven by each sport’s schedule and the availability of key information such as starting pitchers, goalies and injury reports. The table below shows roughly when bettors can expect markets to appear for each major league.

theScore Bet covers the full range of standard wagers along with several more advanced bet types. The core menu includes moneylines, point spreads, totals (over/under), and the sport-specific spread variations such as the puck line in hockey and the run line in baseball.

Beyond the basics, bettors will find player props (such as a quarterback’s passing yards, a scorer’s points or a pitcher’s strikeouts), team props, game props, and a large slate of futures covering championships, division winners, win totals and individual awards. theScore Bet also supports parlays, same-game parlays, teasers and round robins, which combine multiple smaller parlays onto a single slip. A distinctive touch is the inclusion of niche markets, including “no to score” options on select players, that not every competitor carries.

The same-game parlay is one of theScore Bet’s strongest tools. An SGP lets you combine two or more selections from a single game, such as a team moneyline plus a player point total, into one wager with a larger potential payout than placing each bet on its own. Eligible events and markets are marked with an SGP logo in the app, and the builder is integrated directly into each game page, so you can construct the ticket while still seeing the full list of available markets rather than working from a separate pop-out screen.

As you add legs, the app automatically calculates the combined price. Because the outcomes within a single game are correlated, theScore Bet applies pricing adjustments to account for that relationship, which is standard practice across the industry. When your selections qualify, a teal bar animates along the slip and the combined same-game odds replace the individual prices. If a combination is not eligible, the app flags the specific selections so you can remove them.

Understanding how theScore Bet grades parlays matters as much as building them. The key rules to know:

The odds at theScore Bet are solid and generally in line with the rest of the regulated market, but they are rarely the single best price available. In testing by industry reviewers, competitors sometimes undercut theScore Bet on game lines and props, so bettors chasing the absolute best number will still want to line-shop across multiple books. On standard markets you can expect typical juice, often in the range of -110 to -115 on spreads and totals, with some prop markets priced a few cents higher than the sharpest competitors. For most casual and recreational bettors, the prices land right where you would expect.

The clearest way theScore Bet adds value is through its promotional pricing rather than its base lines. The book runs a heavy slate of profit boosts, odds boosts and parlay boosts, many tied to the day’s marquee games, and because a boost raises the payout while the implied probability stays the same, those offers can deliver genuine added value, especially on high-profile events such as the Super Bowl, marquee NBA matchups or major UFC cards.

A standout tool is the Move the Line slider, which lets you adjust the line on a market and watch the price update in real time, giving you the flexibility to create alternative lines with a few taps. As with all regulated books, theScore Bet may limit bettors who are consistently winning, and it reports qualifying winnings to tax authorities in line with federal rules.

theScore Bet’s biggest advantage is something no other major U.S. book can match: it is owned by the company that also runs one of the most popular sports media apps in North America. That media-and-betting integration runs through nearly every feature below.

The deepest differentiator is the connection to theScore media app. Odds and betting markets are embedded directly within theScore’s news articles, game previews and stat pages, so you can move from reading about a matchup to placing a wager on it without ever switching apps or losing your place. You can sync your favorite teams, follow live scores and standings, and build a bet slip while browsing content. For bettors who already use theScore for scores and news, the two products feel like one continuous experience rather than a media app and a sportsbook bolted together.

The Parlay Lounge is a dedicated hub that surfaces trending and pre-built parlays so you do not have to construct every ticket from scratch. It highlights popular combinations and even shows how many other users have already placed a given parlay, which adds a social, crowd-watching element. For newer bettors, it is an easy on-ramp to multi-leg betting; for experienced players, it is a quick way to scan what the market is gravitating toward on a given day.

Parlay Plus is theScore Bet’s enhanced parlay builder, and it is a favorite among same-game parlay fans. Through this feature, bettors can quickly stack up to 10 legs from different markets onto a single slip, including some combinations and markets you will not find at many other books. It is designed to make building large, ambitious tickets fast and intuitive rather than a chore.

Unlike some apps that force you to open a separate same-game parlay builder that pops out of the game you are betting on, theScore Bet lets you build an SGP directly from a game’s main page. That means you can add legs while still seeing everything else on offer for that matchup, which many bettors find more natural than toggling in and out of a dedicated builder screen. The combined odds update automatically as you add or remove selections.

Quick Bets are supercharged live wagers that are only available for a short window, sometimes just a few seconds, while a game is in progress. They are built for bettors who are actively watching and want to back a hunch or an educated read on the next play or sequence. The fleeting nature is the point: it rewards paying attention and reacting fast.

Every bet you place carries a share option at the bottom of the slip, much like sharing a photo, video or article. This does two things: it lets you pass a slip along to friends, and it lets them copy your exact bet with a few taps. It is a small feature that fits naturally with theScore’s media and social roots, and it makes group betting around a big game far easier.

The Move the Line slider is one of theScore Bet’s most useful tools for shaping a wager to your liking. It lets you adjust the line on a given market, creating alternative spreads or totals, and watch the price recalculate in real time as you slide. That flexibility to dial a line up or down with a few taps gives bettors more control than the fixed alternate-line menus at many competitors.

theScore Bet offers an early cash-out option on qualifying bets, letting you settle a wager before the event finishes. You can take it in full or, on many markets, partially, which means you can lock in a portion of a profit or cut a likely loss while leaving some of the bet in play. Cash-out availability depends on the market and live game state, but it is a standard tool that theScore Bet implements cleanly.

For select events, bettors with a funded and verified account can watch the action directly inside the app, streamed from the same matchup they are betting on. A dedicated Watch Live tab within the live betting menu shows which games are available to stream. Live streaming was expanded in recent updates and represents a clear improvement over earlier versions of the app, when streaming was limited or absent.

theScore Bet is built on a proprietary technology stack, which gives it a fast, responsive in-play platform with quickly updating odds and real-time stats. The live interface is clean and easy to use, with animations and frequent updates that hold up well during fast-moving games. The connection to theScore media app is an asset here too, since the same live scores and data that power the news app feed the in-play markets.

The one consistent limitation is depth. The number of live betting events and the number of in-game markets per event do not match what you get at FanDuel, DraftKings or bet365. For bettors who live in the in-play markets all night, that gap is noticeable. For everyone else, the live product is smooth and more than adequate, and the addition of live streaming on select events is a genuine improvement over earlier versions of the app. Here is how the live experience breaks down across the main leagues.

Football is theScore Bet’s busiest live market. During games you can wager on updated moneylines, spreads and totals that move with the score, along with drive-based and quarter and half markets. Player and game props refresh as the action unfolds, and Quick Bets surface short-window opportunities during live play. The core in-game menu is reliable, though the deepest prop trees per drive still belong to the largest competitors.

Basketball is a natural fit for in-play betting because of its pace, and theScore Bet keeps live moneylines, spreads and totals updating quickly throughout each game. You will find quarter and half markets and a rotating set of live player and team props. The fast odds refresh is a strength here, which matters in a sport where the number can swing dramatically over a single scoring run.

Hockey live betting covers updated moneylines, puck lines and totals, along with period-based markets. theScore Bet’s hockey roots, reinforced by its longtime Canadian audience, show in steady in-game coverage and regular boosts tied to player and team performances. Market depth per game is solid for the majors, if not as expansive as the biggest international-focused books.

Baseball’s natural pauses between pitches and innings make it well-suited to live wagering, and theScore Bet offers in-game moneylines, run lines and totals that adjust inning by inning. You can also find live markets tied to the current at-bat and half-inning situations. As with pre-game baseball, the live prop menu is present but lighter than the deepest competitors.

For soccer, theScore Bet posts live markets across major competitions such as the Premier League, Champions League and MLS, including in-game moneylines (including the three-way result), totals and both-teams-to-score style markets that update with the run of play. Coverage is strongest on marquee matches and competitions, in line with the book’s focus on the highest-profile events.

theScore Bet carries live betting on college football and college basketball for the bigger games on the schedule, with updated spreads, moneylines and totals plus half markets. The marquee matchups get the fullest treatment, while smaller games may have a thinner live menu. College player props remain restricted or banned in several states, which limits live prop availability accordingly.

theScore Bet is a mobile-first product, and the app is its strongest asset. It is fast, cleanly designed and easy to navigate, with the personality of theScore media brand coming through in the layout and promotions. The app does an effective job suggesting markets based on your betting history and favorite teams, and the overall performance has been rated on par with DraftKings and FanDuel and ahead of several rivals.

theScore Bet app holds strong ratings in both app stores, generally around 4.8 out of 5 on Apple’s App Store and in the 4.3 to 4.6 range on Google Play. After years as an app-only product, theScore Bet now also offers a desktop version that closely mirrors the app, with the same color scheme and a similar layout, so bettors who prefer a computer are no longer left out. The main quibbles are minor: the bet slip can take up a large portion of the screen, and dense market lists can make it a little harder to find a specific bet in a busy slate.

In states with legal online casino gaming, theScore Bet connects to PENN’s Hollywood Casino, giving players access to slots, table games and live-dealer games using the same account and wallet as the sportsbook. Hollywood Casino is available in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The casino library includes blackjack, roulette, baccarat and a range of slots, along with live-dealer offerings. Bettors who want both sports betting and casino play in one app will find that convenient where it is offered.

theScore Bet offers support through in-app live chat, email, phone and a callback option from the support team. The callback feature is a convenient touch that not every book offers. The table below lists the ways to reach theScore Bet support.

The experience itself can be inconsistent. Live chat opens with a bot, and reaching a live representative can take time. Some reviewers found support staff limited in what they could resolve independently. Email responses tend to arrive in a reasonable window but are slower than live chat. To reach the support tools in the app, tap the icon in the top-right corner to open My Account, then open the Help section. Overall, the channels are there and the callback option helps, but support is an area where theScore Bet has room to improve.

theScore Bet provides a full set of responsible gambling tools, accessible throughout the app. Players can set daily time limits, deposit limits, spending limits and loss limits, and can use cool-off periods and self-exclusion to take a break. The app also includes well-organized articles on recognizing and preventing problem gambling, along with clear explanations of each player-protection tool and guidance on filing a complaint depending on your state.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, confidential help is available. Call 1-800-GAMBLER, which serves many states, or use your state’s dedicated helpline. State-specific resources include 1-800-9-WITH-IT in Indiana, 1-800-NEXT-STEP in Arizona, 1-800-BETS-OFF in Iowa, 1-800-522-4700 in Kansas, 1-800-327-5050 in Massachusetts, 1-800-270-7117 in Michigan, and 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) in New York.

theScore Bet competes with the four biggest sportsbooks in the country: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Fanatics. Its clearest edge is the media integration and the volume of daily, news-driven promotions, neither of which the larger books match in the same way. Its app performance is competitive with the best in the category.

Where it trails is breadth. DraftKings and FanDuel offer deeper live betting menus, more prop markets per game and a longer track record of stability. BetMGM’s rewards network is broad, though PENN Play is comparable and ties into a large casino footprint. For bettors who prioritize the widest possible menu and the sharpest live markets, the market leaders still hold an edge. For bettors who want a clean app, strong promotions and a tight link to sports news and stats, theScore Bet is a compelling option.

theScore Bet is a strong fit for recreational and intermediate bettors who value a fast, well-designed app, a heavy slate of promotions and seamless access to sports news, stats and scores. It is especially appealing to anyone who already uses theScore media app, since the two work hand in hand.

It is a weaker fit for high-volume live bettors who want the deepest in-play menus, for sharp bettors who demand the best line on every market, and for anyone who wants the fastest possible withdrawals every time. Those bettors may prefer a market leader or may want to keep theScore Bet as one book among several for its promotions.

theScore Bet is a polished, feature-rich sportsbook with a clear identity built around the media app that shares its name. The rebrand from ESPN Bet was clean, accounts and funds transferred without disruption, and the product that emerged is arguably sharper and more distinctive than what it replaced. The daily promotions are among the best in the business, the app is fast and intuitive, and the PENN Play rewards program adds real value for bettors who also visit casinos or travel. For more options, compare the best real money gambling sites.

The drawbacks are real but manageable for most bettors: live betting depth and odds value trail the market leaders, withdrawals can be slower than the fastest books, and customer support is hit or miss. The brand history, with three identities since 2020, is worth noting even though the underlying product has been stable throughout. For bettors who want a clean, promotion-heavy book tied to one of the best sports media apps around, theScore Bet earns a place in the rotation.

theScore Bet is available to players 21 and older in states where it is licensed. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.

Compare theScore with the other regulated sportsbooks we review, all rated on the same how we rate scale. See them all on our regulated sportsbooks index.