Our verdict
theScore Bet’s edge is its link to theScore media app: news, scores and bets in one place, with prebuilt parlays and cash out. In December 2025 it replaced ESPN Bet in 21 US states. Ontario’s regulator fined it C$105,000 in October 2025 for failing to act on a high-risk player’s warning signs.
Strengths
- Integrated with theScore news and scores app
- Parlay Lounge with prebuilt same-game parlays
- Full and partial cash out
- App Store rating of 4.8 in the US
Weaknesses
- C$105,000 Ontario penalty for responsible-gambling failures (2025)
- Smaller market depth than the US leaders
- Bank withdrawals can take up to six banking days
Who it suits
Bettors who already follow sports in theScore app and like prebuilt parlays.
Look elsewhere if
Bettors who want deep markets on niche sports.
theScore Bet quick facts
| Best for | Fans who follow sports in theScore app |
|---|---|
| Our score | 7.9 (US), 8.0 (Ontario) |
| Owner | PENN Entertainment (Score Media and Gaming Inc.) |
| Founded | Ontario 2022; US 2019, relaunched across PENN’s US states in December 2025 |
| Licensed in | United States and Ontario |
| Welcome offer (US) | Up to $1,000 back in bonus bets if your first bet loses |
| iOS app | US 4.8/5 · Ontario 4.7/5 |
| Android app | US 4.4/5 (19,600+ ratings), per Covers |
| Fastest withdrawal | PayPal: within 24 hours |
| Support | 24/7 live chat, email (support@thescore.bet) and phone 1 (855) 550-1238. |
| Regulatory actions since 2023 | 4 (see the record below) |
theScore Bet overview
theScore Bet belongs to Score Media and Gaming, the company behind theScore sports news and scores app. PENN Entertainment completed its $2 billion acquisition of the company on 19 October 2021. theScore Bet launched in Ontario in April 2022 and first went live in the US in New Jersey in September 2019.
On 1 December 2025 ESPN Bet customers were moved to theScore Bet, which took over ESPN Bet’s US licenses and now operates in 21 states. The sportsbook leans on its media app: news, scores and bets in one place, with a Parlay Lounge of trending prebuilt parlays and full or partial early cash out.
theScore Bet scores 7.9 in the US and 8.0 in Ontario. Covers lists a limited range of sports and markets as a drawback. US deductions come from PENN’s $250,000 Ohio advertising fine in 2023 and two Massachusetts fines; in Ontario, the AGCO fined it C$105,000 in October 2025 for failing to act on a high-risk player’s losses.
How the score is built
Each score is a weighted average of five criteria, each out of 10. Two are calculated from public data (regulatory record and App Store rating); three are editorial judgments based on documented features, payment terms and offer terms. Ontario has no offer score because bonuses may not be advertised there, so its weights are rescaled. Full method.
| Criterion | Weight | US | Ontario |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulatory record | 25% | 8.5 | 9.0 |
| Betting product | 25% | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| App quality | 20% | 8.7 | 8.0 |
| Payments & payouts | 15% | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Welcome offer terms | 15% | 7.5 | Not scored |
| Overall | 100% | 7.9 | 8.0 |
- Regulatory record: 4 scored actions since January 1, 2023 (listed below). US 8.5, Ontario 9.0.
- Betting product: Good parlay tools and partial cash out with a unique media tie-in; market depth trails the largest books.
- App quality: US 4.8 stars on the App Store (US) = 8.7; Ontario 4.7 stars on the App Store (Canada) = 8.0.
- Payments & payouts: PayPal within a day, but bank methods can take several banking days.
- Welcome offer (US): Generous ceiling, but it pays only if the first bet loses and arrives as five smaller bonus bets.
theScore Bet welcome offer
Up to $1,000 back in bonus bets if your first bet loses
21+, new customers. First bet of $10+; if it loses, the stake returns as five bonus bets worth 20% each, issued within 72 hours. Bonus bets expire after 7 days.
As advertised on October 27, 2026. Offers change often; the operator’s own terms apply.
No offer is shown for Ontario: the Registrar’s Standards ban public advertising of bonuses, including on affiliate sites.
Offers for existing customers
Regular promotions reported by the review sources listed below. Availability changes week to week and, in the US, by state.
United States
| Daily promotions | Bonus bets, profit boosts and injury insurance, shown in a carousel in the app. |
|---|---|
| Touchdown Trio | A football promotion with a share of $1 million in bonuses. |
Ontario promotions are not listed: public advertising of bonuses and inducements is not allowed there.
Sports and betting markets
The most popular betting sports are the NFL, NHL, NBA, Premier League, college football and college basketball. Covers lists a limited range of sports and markets as a drawback.
Key betting features
- Parlay Lounge with prebuilt parlays and same-game parlays
- Full and partial early cash out
- Live betting from the dashboard
- Hollywood Casino games in the same app (where legal)
- theScore media integration
Live betting and streaming
Live betting is reached from the dashboard and a Live button on the bottom bar. Covers is inconsistent on streaming, claiming more than 150,000 streamed events while listing “no live streaming” as a con, so we do not count streaming in its favor. Early cash out is available on the full bet or part of it, though not on every bet.
App, support and safer gambling
The app requires iOS 16 or later, supports Face ID and a four-digit PIN, and is updated about every two weeks according to Covers. Hollywood Casino games sit in the same app where online casino is legal.
| iOS rating (US) | 4.8 / 5 from 224K ratings · App Store (US) |
|---|---|
| iOS rating (Ontario) | 4.7 / 5 from 29K ratings · App Store (Canada) |
| Android rating (US) | 4.4 / 5 from 19,600+ ratings · Google Play, as reported by CoversNot used in the score |
| Customer support | 24/7 live chat, email (support@thescore.bet) and phone 1 (855) 550-1238. |
| Safer gambling tools | Daily, weekly and monthly deposit limits, cool-off periods and self-exclusion; Face ID and PIN login. |
Payments and withdrawals
US: PayPal, Trustly, Apple Pay, Visa and Mastercard; $10 minimum. Ontario: Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, bank transfer, eCheck and Interac.
Withdrawal times
- PayPal: within 24 hours
- Trustly: 1–5 banking days
- Other methods: processed within 3 banking days plus bank time
Times are those published by the operator or measured by the review sources listed below; first withdrawals can take longer while identity checks are completed.
How to sign up with theScore Bet
United States
- 1Check that theScore Bet is licensed in the state you are in; you can bet only while physically located there.
- 2Download the app and register with your name, date of birth, address, email and phone; you will usually be asked for the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- 3Allow location access: the app checks your location before you bet.
- 4Deposit and place the qualifying bet within the offer’s time limit if you want the welcome offer.
Ontario
- 1Use theScore Bet’s Ontario site or app; you must be 19 or over and located in Ontario.
- 2Register and verify your identity.
- 3Allow location checks.
- 4Deposit with an accepted method. Bonuses are not advertised publicly in Ontario, so check the operator’s own site for any offer.
Licensing and availability
| Market | License | Regulator | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Licensed by the gaming regulator in each state where it operates21 states (the former ESPN Bet states, plus Missouri from 1 December 2025) | state gaming regulatorsCheck the register | 21+ |
| Ontario | Score Media and Gaming Inc., registered with the AGCO; operates in iGaming Ontario’s regulated market since April 2022 | AGCO and iGaming OntarioCheck the register | 19+ |
In the US, theScore Bet accepts bets only while you are physically located in a state where it is licensed. Check your state regulator’s list before you sign up.
Regulatory record
Fines, settlements and penalties published by regulators or reported by the trade press in the markets covered here. Dates are the decision date or, where that is not published, the date first reported.
| Date | Regulator | Amount | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2025 | Massachusetts Gaming CommissionUS | $15,000 | An on-air "risk-free" comment by an ESPN presenter breached advertising rules. Source |
| October 7, 2025 | AGCOOntario | C$105,000 | Alleged failure to identify and act on a high-risk player who lost about C$230,000 over eight months (Standards 2.01, 2.10, 2.12). Source |
| January 9, 2025 | Massachusetts Gaming CommissionUS | $10,000 | Penalty against PENN Sports Interactive for accepting prohibited college bets. Source |
| February 15, 2023 | Ohio Casino Control CommissionUS | $250,000 | Fine against PENN Sports Interactive (then Barstool Sportsbook) for advertising violations, including a promotion at a university. Source |
theScore Bet history
- September 2019First US launch, in New Jersey
- 19 October 2021PENN completes the $2 billion acquisition
- April 2022Launches in Ontario
- October 2025C$105,000 AGCO penalty in Ontario
- 1 December 2025Replaces ESPN Bet in 21 US states
theScore Bet vs rivals in the US
How theScore Bet compares with the other top-rated sportsbooks in the US on our scores and the App Store.
| Sportsbook | Our score | Regulatory | iOS app | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| theScore Bet | 7.9 | 8.5 | 4.8 | Fans who follow sports in theScore app |
| bet365 | 9.1 | 9.5 | 4.8 | In-play betting and live streaming |
| DraftKings | 8.5 | 7.5 | 4.8 | The widest US availability |
| FanDuel | 8.5 | 8.0 | 4.8 | Live betting and app quality |
| BetMGM | 8.3 | 8.5 | 4.8 | MGM Rewards members and bet editing |
theScore Bet FAQ
Is theScore Bet legal and licensed?
United States: Licensed by the gaming regulator in each state where it operates (21 states (the former ESPN Bet states, plus Missouri from 1 December 2025)); minimum age 21+. Ontario: Score Media and Gaming Inc., registered with the AGCO; operates in iGaming Ontario’s regulated market since April 2022; minimum age 19+.
Who owns theScore Bet?
theScore Bet is owned by PENN Entertainment (Score Media and Gaming Inc.). Founded: Ontario 2022; US 2019, relaunched across PENN’s US states in December 2025.
How good is theScore Bet?
On our method it scores 7.9 (US), 8.0 (Ontario) out of 10. theScore Bet’s edge is its link to theScore media app: news, scores and bets in one place, with prebuilt parlays and cash out. In December 2025 it replaced ESPN Bet in 21 US states. Ontario’s regulator fined it C$105,000 in October 2025 for failing to act on a high-risk player’s warning signs.
How long do theScore Bet withdrawals take?
PayPal: within 24 hours; Trustly: 1–5 banking days; Other methods: processed within 3 banking days plus bank time. First withdrawals can take longer while identity checks are completed.
Does theScore Bet have live streaming?
Live betting is reached from the dashboard and a Live button on the bottom bar. Covers is inconsistent on streaming, claiming more than 150,000 streamed events while listing “no live streaming” as a con, so we do not count streaming in its favor. Early cash out is available on the full bet or part of it, though not on every bet.
What is the theScore Bet welcome offer?
United States: Up to $1,000 back in bonus bets if your first bet loses. 21+, new customers. First bet of $10+; if it loses, the stake returns as five bonus bets worth 20% each, issued within 72 hours. Bonus bets expire after 7 days. No offer is shown for Ontario, where public advertising of bonuses is not allowed. Checked October 27, 2026; the operator’s terms apply.
Has theScore Bet been fined by a regulator?
Yes. Since January 1, 2023: Massachusetts Gaming Commission, $15,000 (October 9, 2025); AGCO, C$105,000 (October 7, 2025); Massachusetts Gaming Commission, $10,000 (January 9, 2025); Ohio Casino Control Commission, $250,000 (February 15, 2023).
Does theScore Bet have an app?
United States: 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store (US) from 224K ratings. Ontario: 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store (Canada) from 29K ratings. The app requires iOS 16 or later, supports Face ID and a four-digit PIN, and is updated about every two weeks according to Covers. Hollywood Casino games sit in the same app where online casino is legal.
Sources
- Wikipedia: theScore Bet (ownership, launches, US transition)
- Covers: theScore Bet review (features, payments, offer)
- AGCO: penalties to theScore
- App Store (US): theScore Bet Sportsbook Casino
- App Store (Canada): theScore Bet
- CDC Gaming Reports: PENN completes acquisition of Score Media and Gaming
Spotted something out of date? Email contact@sportsbooks.ro and we will check it against the source. See our editorial policy.