Compare n' Bet™
Compare n' Bet™
Penn Entertainment's flagship sportsbook operating under an ESPN branding partnership. Built on the theScore Bet platform with ESPN's sports-media scale layered on top.
This review is an independent editorial opinion based on publicly available information and industry reporting. It is not written by, endorsed by, or affiliated with ESPN BET, Penn Entertainment, or ESPN. See our methodology for our full review process.
ESPN BET is the result of a 10-year, $1.5 billion branding partnership between Penn Entertainment and Disney/ESPN signed in 2023. Penn operates the sportsbook using the platform it inherited from acquiring theScore (the Canadian-based book) in 2021, and ESPN provides the marketing reach, editorial integration, and brand association. The product is functional and has improved since launch, but growth has been slower than Penn and ESPN originally projected. Market share has climbed into the mid-single-digit percent range in most states where it operates, well behind DraftKings and FanDuel but competitive with BetMGM and Caesars in some markets.
Best for: ESPN fantasy users who want integrated betting alongside their fantasy experience, bettors in states where ESPN BET runs strong promos, users drawn to the ESPN brand association.
Consider alternatives if: You want the deepest market coverage (DraftKings and FanDuel are still ahead), the most polished app experience, or the sharpest pricing.
The ESPN brand integration is the headline feature. ESPN BET is embedded directly into the ESPN app experience: scores pages link to odds, fantasy app users see betting offers, and SportsCenter segments reference ESPN BET lines. For an ESPN-native user who already lives in the ESPN ecosystem (ESPN Fantasy, ESPN+, ESPN app for scores), the friction of opening a sportsbook is lower than at any standalone operator. That cross-product flow is exactly what Penn paid $1.5 billion over 10 years for, and it's the single most defensible advantage the book has over competitors.
The promo calendar has been aggressive. ESPN BET has run consistently generous welcome offers and recurring promotions, particularly through the 2024 and 2025 football seasons. Profit boosts tied to ESPN-televised games, bet-and-get structures layered with fantasy engagement, and ESPN Bet Rewards (the loyalty program that ties into Penn's casino properties) add up to meaningful promotional value for active users.
Market coverage is competitive across all the major US leagues. NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college football, college basketball, soccer, tennis, golf, UFC, and boxing all get standard treatment. Same-game parlays work as expected, futures markets are offered on the major awards and championships, and in-play betting has improved significantly since the rebrand. For day-to-day betting, you won't miss markets you'd find elsewhere.
The retail sportsbook footprint at Penn's casino properties gives ESPN BET a physical presence that pure online operators can't match. Penn operates regional casinos across the US, and ESPN BET retail locations at those properties let users combine in-person and mobile betting with shared account credit. For Penn-branded casino visitors, this retail integration is a real convenience.
Market share growth has been slower than projected. Penn and ESPN publicly targeted 20 percent market share within a few years of launch. Two years in, ESPN BET sits in the mid-single-digit percent range in most states, behind DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars. The reasons are debated: some observers point to product quality gaps versus the top two, others to the difficulty of converting ESPN brand affinity into actual betting behavior. Whatever the cause, the book is a challenger rather than a leader despite the significant marketing investment.
App polish has improved but still trails DraftKings and FanDuel. Load times, navigation hierarchy, and the bet slip interface are functional but not industry-leading. Users coming from DraftKings or FanDuel frequently note the difference in how quickly the product responds and how intuitive the market navigation feels. For users who prioritize product experience as a primary criterion, ESPN BET is not the first choice.
Account limiting applies here the same as at other major US operators. ESPN BET operates as a recreational book, and sharp bettors, arbitrage players, and consistent winners will run into stake caps. Nothing unusual compared to the industry, but users expecting softer treatment because the book is still growing will be disappointed. The risk management team follows standard industry practice.
State coverage is broad but not universal. ESPN BET is licensed in a meaningful set of states but not in every state where DraftKings and FanDuel operate. If you live in a state ESPN BET isn't yet available in, you won't be able to use it regardless of ESPN ecosystem affinity.
The Barstool legacy created some reputational baggage. The sportsbook was originally launched as Barstool Sportsbook in 2020, and when Penn repositioned to ESPN BET in 2023, some users carried over negative impressions from the Barstool-era content controversies. This isn't the current product's fault, but it's part of the book's mindshare in some user segments.
ESPN BET operates in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Arizona, and North Carolina, with additional states in various stages of rollout. Each state license is held by Penn Entertainment (or its subsidiaries like Penn Sports Interactive) under that state's gaming commission.
Internationally, the theScore Bet brand operates in Canada (Ontario under iGO regulation). The Canadian product is branded separately from the US ESPN BET but uses the same underlying platform. A US ESPN BET account does not work outside the US, and the Canadian theScore Bet is a separate product with a separate account.
Regulatory protections for US users follow standard industry practice: state gaming commission oversight, KYC/AML requirements at signup and various withdrawal thresholds, geolocation enforcement, and responsible gaming tools in the app.
The mobile app is the primary product. Post-rebrand versions are cleaner than the Barstool-era iterations and significantly improved from the early theScore Bet US experience, but the interface still feels like a step behind FanDuel and DraftKings on polish. Navigation between sports works, the bet slip handles multi-leg wagers, and cash-out is available on most open bets. Desktop web is functional but secondary.
Market coverage is comprehensive for the major US sports. An NFL Sunday game offers full moneyline, spread, total, quarter and half markets, team totals, and an extensive player prop menu. Same-game parlays are supported with a functional builder. Futures markets include championship winners, season awards, and win totals for all major leagues.
Live betting is a clear area of investment. The in-play interface updates markets during games, cash-out is surfaced prominently, and the integration with ESPN's broadcast feeds (where rights permit) shows up as synchronized live scoring and play-by-play context. For fans watching games on ESPN, that integration feels native.
ESPN Bet Rewards is the loyalty program. Bets earn rewards credit that can be used at Penn's regional casino properties (dining, stays, casino play) and converted to bonus bets in some tiers. For users who visit Penn properties, the rewards integration has real value. For pure online users, the rewards program is competitive but not differentiating.
The promo calendar runs year-round with peaks around major events. Typical offer types include bet-and-get welcome bonuses, no-sweat first-bet structures, profit boosts on specific markets (often ESPN-televised games), odds boosts on featured parlays, and rewards-credit multipliers. The promo volume and value have been competitive with DraftKings and FanDuel, especially during football season.
Payout speeds follow industry standard. PayPal processes same-day to 24 hours. ACH takes one to three business days. Play+ is near-instant. First withdrawal triggers identity verification that can add a day or two. At Penn's retail casino properties, users in those markets can cash out larger sums at the physical cage, which is a convenience most pure-online operators don't offer.
Deposits support credit/debit card, PayPal, ACH, online banking, Play+, and in-person cash at Penn property cages where applicable. Card deposit rejection rates are comparable to industry average.
If you live in the ESPN ecosystem already (ESPN Fantasy, ESPN app, ESPN+), ESPN BET is the sportsbook with the lowest friction. Your fantasy team data informs betting context, ESPN scores link to odds, and promo activity ties back to ESPN editorial coverage. For engaged ESPN users, the integration is a legitimate advantage over standalone operators.
If you visit Penn-branded regional casino properties (Ameristar, Hollywood Casino, Argosy, L'Auberge, M Resort, and others), the retail-plus-online experience plus rewards integration creates value that matches the MGM Rewards dynamic at BetMGM, scaled to Penn's footprint.
If you're drawn to the aggressive promo calendar and don't mind an app that's slightly less polished than the top two, ESPN BET is a reasonable addition to a multi-account approach. The ongoing promo value can be meaningful for users who engage with offers systematically.
ESPN BET is not the right primary book if you want the deepest market menu, the most polished app, or the sharpest ongoing pricing. DraftKings and FanDuel are ahead on product; bet365 is ahead on pricing. For users prioritizing those dimensions, ESPN BET fits as a second or third book rather than a default.
ESPN BET (listed as theScore Bet on the comparison because of the shared platform) is displayed alongside every other licensed sportsbook available in your region on the live odds page. For any given market, ESPN BET's price shows next to DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and other books, with the best-available price highlighted.
For users running a multi-account approach, ESPN BET often fits as a supplemental book specifically for promo activity and ESPN ecosystem integration rather than as a primary book. The line shopping guide covers why multi-book comparison tends to add meaningful value across a full season.
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This review is for informational purposes only and is not betting advice. Sportsbook features, promotions, state availability, and commercial terms change over time; check ESPN BET directly for current offerings in your state. Compare n' Bet may earn commissions from affiliate relationships with sportsbooks reviewed on this site (see the methodology page for full disclosure). ESPN BET, ESPN, Penn Entertainment, theScore, and all related marks are the property of their respective owners (The Walt Disney Company, Penn Entertainment Inc., and affiliated entities). Compare n' Bet is an independent comparison platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ESPN BET, ESPN, or Penn Entertainment. Sports betting involves financial risk. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-522-4700 or visit ncpgambling.org.