theScore Bet sports betting app review 2026

theScore Bet is PENN Entertainment’s US sports betting app, and as of December 1, 2025 it is the app that replaced ESPN BET. It runs on the same platform, now under PENN’s own brand and tied to theScore media app instead of ESPN’s content. If you want the full background on the switch and what happened to ESPN BET accounts, I covered that in my ESPN BET explainer. This is my full review of the book as it stands today.

theScore Bet at a glance

Best for: people who already use theScore app for scores and news
Operated by: PENN Entertainment (NASDAQ: PENN)
Replaced: ESPN BET, on December 1, 2025
Tied to: theScore media app, one of the most popular sports apps in North America
Welcome offer: a first-bet reset worth up to $1,000 (varies by state)
Available in: around 20 states plus Washington, D.C., including New Jersey
Minimum deposit: $10
Rewards: PENN Play, the loyalty program across PENN’s retail casinos

A book on its third name

It helps to know the history, because it tells you what you are actually using. This platform launched as Barstool Sportsbook, became ESPN BET in 2023, and is now theScore Bet. PENN owns it throughout, so the underlying engine is mature even though the brand on the front is new. theScore itself is a long-running sports media company, big in Canada, and the betting app is now wired into theScore media app for scores, news, and stats. The three rebrands in five years are worth keeping in mind, since some bettors are understandably wary of a book that keeps changing its name.

The app experience

theScore Bet is a clean, sports-first app with none of the casino clutter some rivals push on you. It is quick to load, the navigation is simple, and it ran smoothly across the busy weekend slate I tested it on. The standout is the media integration: from a game you can tap a preview link that pulls in theScore app’s matchup stats and news, so the research and the bet sit in the same place. If you already follow sport through theScore, that loop is the whole appeal. The app is well rated on both the App Store and Google Play, and a small but useful touch is bet sharing, which lets you copy a bet slip and send it to a friend who can place it in a couple of taps.

Features worth knowing

theScore Bet carries a few tools that set it apart from the standard betting app layout:

Parlay Lounge: a browseable feed of pre-built parlays, showing how many other users have placed each one.
Parlay+: the same-game parlay builder, letting you stack up to 10 legs across different markets, including some combinations you will not find elsewhere.
Move the Line slider: a tool that lets you set your own line and watch the price adjust, which gives you more flexibility than the fixed alternate lines most books offer.
Quick Bets: short-window live micro-bets that appear for a few seconds during a game, handy if you are watching and want to back a read in the moment.
Live streaming: select sports stream directly inside the app for verified accounts, with a Watch Live tab showing what is available.

Betting markets

theScore Bet covers all the major US sports: the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college football and basketball, soccer, UFC, tennis, and golf. What surprised me is the breadth at the niche end, with leagues like the CFL, UFL, NPB and KBO baseball, and even darts and e-sports turning up, often pushed through the daily promotions. For mainstream bets you get the full set of lines, spreads, totals, player props, same-game parlays, and futures. During the World Cup the soccer coverage is solid.

Where it still trails is raw prop depth on the biggest games. DraftKings carries more alternate markets and obscure props per game. For most bettors the gap is small, but if you live on niche props you will notice it.

Odds quality

The odds are solid without being sharp. theScore Bet sits in line with the market on most games, and odds shoppers will rarely find the single best price here. It is not out of step with rivals either, so you are not giving up much. The Move the Line slider is the redeeming feature on pricing, letting you trade odds against a line you prefer rather than taking the book’s fixed numbers.

Bonuses and promotions

The welcome offer is a first-bet reset worth up to $1,000, with the exact size and terms varying by state, so read the current version in the app before you opt in. Where theScore Bet stands out is the daily promotions: there are dozens of them, they rotate constantly, and a lot are tied to that day’s newsworthy games or to futures markets you will not see promoted elsewhere. Many of the boosts I saw came without minimum bet sizes or wagering requirements, which is rare and player-friendly. The catch is that a fair number of promos are pinned to specific long-odds parlays that will not suit everyone.

PENN Play rewards

This is a real strength, and an area where theScore Bet beats most app-only books. It plugs into PENN Play, the loyalty program that spans PENN’s casinos and racetracks across roughly 20 states. You earn two things as you bet: Rewards Points, which you redeem for bonus bets, shopping, travel, and event tickets, and Tier Credits, which move you up the levels. The tiers run Play, Advantage, Preferred, Elite, and Owners Club, with perks climbing from PENN Cash and hotel rates up to complimentary stays and travel credit. There are partnerships with Norwegian Cruise Line, Choice Hotels, and National Car Rental on top. If your ESPN BET account moved over, your points and tier status came with it. For anyone who visits PENN properties, this adds value no purely online rival can match.

Banking

Deposits and withdrawals use the standard US methods:

Deposits: Visa and Mastercard debit, PayPal, Play+ prepaid, and online banking, instant in normal use.
Withdrawals: PayPal and Play+ are the quickest, online banking takes a few business days, and a mailed check is the slowest.
Speed: reliable overall, though some withdrawals take until the next day rather than landing within the hour, even on smaller amounts.
Verification: complete identity checks early, since your first withdrawal will not process until the account is verified.

Where theScore Bet is legal

theScore Bet operates in around 20 states plus Washington, D.C., the same footprint ESPN BET held, plus Missouri, which launched on the rebrand date. New Jersey is one of them, where the book runs through Resorts Casino Hotel. As with every US betting app, you must be 21 or older and physically inside a legal state to place a bet.

Where it falls short

Customer support: live chat starts with a bot, and getting to a useful human can be slow. This is the weakest part of the experience.
Live betting depth: in-game odds update fine, but there are fewer live markets per game than the leaders offer.
Odds: fair but rarely the best price, so line shoppers will look elsewhere for the sharpest numbers.
Brand churn: three names in five years may make some bettors cautious until theScore Bet proves it is here to stay.

How theScore Bet compares

A quick read against the books I rate higher:

Versus DraftKings: DraftKings has far more markets and the better live product, and it is ESPN’s official book now.
Versus FanDuel: FanDuel is easier for beginners and tends to price the major markets better.
Versus BetMGM: BetMGM has a deeper market menu, though theScore Bet’s promotions are more generous day to day.
Versus Caesars: both have strong rewards, Caesars through Caesars Rewards and theScore Bet through PENN Play.

theScore Bet’s clear edges are the media-app integration, the daily promotions, and the PENN Play rewards.

Who should use theScore Bet?

Use it if: you already use theScore app, you want generous daily promotions, you value PENN Play rewards, or your ESPN BET account moved here and you are happy to stay.
Look elsewhere if: you want the deepest markets (DraftKings), the sharpest everyday odds (FanDuel), or the most reliable customer support.

Frequently asked questions

Is theScore Bet the same as ESPN BET?

It is the same platform and account, rebranded. PENN Entertainment replaced ESPN BET with theScore Bet on December 1, 2025. Balances, open bets, rewards, and logins all carried over automatically.

Is theScore Bet legit?

Yes. It is run by PENN Entertainment, a publicly traded company, under state gaming licenses in every state where it operates.

Which states have theScore Bet?

Around 20 states plus Washington, D.C., including New Jersey. You must be 21 and physically in a legal state to bet.

What is the welcome offer?

A first-bet reset worth up to $1,000, with the exact terms varying by state. Check the current offer in the app before opting in.

Does theScore Bet have a rewards program?

Yes, PENN Play, which spans PENN’s casinos and racetracks. You earn Rewards Points to redeem and Tier Credits for status, and you can use them online and at PENN properties.

The bottom line

theScore Bet is a capable, clean sports betting app that is at its best for people inside theScore app’s ecosystem, with daily promotions and a genuine rewards program as its strongest cards. It will not out-muscle the market leaders on markets, odds, or support, but it is a solid second book and a fine home for a transferred ESPN BET account. For the full set of apps I rate across the US, see my homepage guide, and keep your play in check with the tools on my responsible gambling page.