ESPN BET launched in 2023 as Penn Entertainment's flagship sports betting brand under a major ESPN licensing deal — but Penn exited the ESPN deal in 2024, and the app has since been rebranded as theScore Bet. Despite the branding turbulence, the product has maintained strong user ratings: a 4.83 App Store score from 219,000 reviews is impressive for the platform's age. The narrower state footprint and less mature parlay tooling keep it behind the top four, but for bettors in its coverage states who want a fifth sportsbook for line shopping and promo capture, theScore Bet delivers a clean, sports-media-integrated experience.
Pros
- 4.83 App Store rating from 219K reviews — high for a newer entrant
- Clean, well-designed mobile interface from theScore's sports media heritage
- Competitive odds on major game lines
- Strong sports media integration — contextual stats and scores alongside betting markets
- PayPal withdrawals available
- Active promotional calendar
Cons
- Rebranded from ESPN BET to theScore Bet after Penn's exit from ESPN licensing deal
- Narrower state footprint than DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars
- Parlay tooling less mature than DraftKings and FanDuel
- Smaller player prop catalog than category leaders
- Brand recognition lower than competitors — less obvious for new bettors to find
- Player base smaller — some niche markets have less liquidity
Available States
Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Full Review
Our verdict on ESPN BET
ESPN BET launched in November 2023 with enormous promotional fanfare — Penn Entertainment signed a $1.5 billion multi-year licensing deal with ESPN to use the ESPN brand, analysts, and studio integration to power a new sportsbook app. The initial reception was mixed: while the ESPN branding attracted sign-ups, the product itself was seen as behind DraftKings and FanDuel in key areas including parlay tooling and live betting depth.
Penn exited the ESPN deal in 2024, taking a write-down and pivoting to rebrand the app as theScore Bet — leveraging theScore, the Canadian sports media app Penn acquired in 2021. The transition preserved the app's core user base while shedding the ESPN licensing cost. The App Store page for the former ESPN BET now redirects to theScore Bet.
Our verdict on ESPN BET / theScore Bet
The product quality is better than the market-share story suggests. A 4.83 App Store rating from 219,000 reviews does not happen by accident — users who have stuck with the platform through the rebrand have rated it generously, which speaks to genuine product quality improvements. The meaningful limitations are geographic (12 states versus FanDuel's 24+) and tooling (parlays and live betting behind the leaders). For bettors in covered states building out a complete sportsbook portfolio, theScore Bet earns a spot for line shopping and promotional capture.
Markets & odds
theScore Bet covers standard game lines, spreads, totals, and futures for major US sports. Player prop availability is solid for NFL and NBA but thinner than DraftKings for MLB and international markets. The same-game parlay feature is available but less flexible than the top-two operators. The sports media integration from theScore's heritage is a genuine differentiator: contextual stats, scores, and game information surface alongside betting markets in a way that feels native rather than bolted on.
Live betting is functional with in-game lines across major sports. The refresh rate has improved but still trails FanDuel during peak NFL windows.
Payouts & promotions
theScore Bet supports PayPal and ACH bank transfer withdrawals. Processing times are in line with industry norms. The promotional calendar is active with new-player bonuses (current structure varies by state) and ongoing bet-and-get offers tied to major sporting events. The loyalty program is less developed than FanDuel Rewards or MGM Rewards but includes bonus bet accumulation for consistent wagering activity.
Availability
theScore Bet (formerly ESPN BET) is currently live for real-money wagering in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The geographic footprint is narrower than the four major operators; Penn has indicated expansion plans but specifics have not been confirmed for additional states.
Final take
ESPN BET — now theScore Bet — is a fifth-account sportsbook for the serious bettor looking to maximize line shopping coverage across all operators in their state. The product has improved meaningfully since the ESPN launch period, the App Store rating validates the product quality, and the sports media integration creates a genuinely differentiated experience. It is not a primary account recommendation yet — the parlay tooling and state footprint need to grow before it challenges the top four — but for bettors in its coverage states, it earns a spot in the rotation. [AFFILIATE: App Store URLs as fallback — direct affiliate links to be added by Chris]
Payout Method
PayPal
Platforms
iOS, Android
Category
Sportsbook Apps
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