ESPN BET Pennsylvania Review
ESPN BET is operated by PENN Entertainment under a 10-year exclusive license with The Walt Disney Company's ESPN. It launched in November 2023, replacing the theScore Bet brand. The PA license is tied to Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.
ESPN BET Welcome Offer: Bet $10, Get $250
Bonus bets, no playthrough
- Welcome Bonus
- Bet $10, Get $250
- Bonus Condition
- Bonus bets, no playthrough
- Promo Code
- PLAYPA
- Minimum Deposit
- $10
- Withdrawal Speed
- 24-72 hrs
- App Store Rating
- 4.3/5
- Launched in PA
- November 2023
- PA Casino Partner
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
- Parent Company
- PENN Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN) under license from ESPN/Disney
- Loyalty Program
- PENN Play — earn mychoice Tier Credits redeemable at PENN Entertainment's 40+ casino properties including all PA Hollywood Casinos.
BettingInPA Rating Breakdown
ESPN BET Welcome Bonus & Promo Code
New PA users can claim the Bet $10, Get $250 welcome offer (Bonus bets, no playthrough) by registering at ESPN BET,
verifying age and identity, and completing a qualifying first deposit. Promo code PLAYPA is applied at signup
where required.
Fine print: New customers only. 21+ in PA. Min $10 deposit and $10 first wager. $250 issued as bonus bets win or lose. Bonus bets expire 7 days from issuance.
For step-by-step claim instructions, see our ESPN BET promo code guide.
Pros
- Direct integration with ESPN article + scoreboard
- Solid same-game-parlay menu
- Daily Pick6 free-to-play contest
- PENN Play loyalty across PA casinos
- Generous bonus bet structure
- Strong NFL and college markets
Cons
- Smaller market depth than industry leaders
- Live-betting interface still maturing
- Withdrawal speed varies
- Smaller live-betting menu
- Newer brand vs incumbents
Sports & Market Depth
Solid full-game markets on every major US league. Player-prop depth is good on NFL/NBA but slimmer on niche sports. Same Game Parlay supports up to 10 legs on NFL.
ESPN BET covers 10+ sports including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, College Football, College Basketball, UFC, Soccer, Golf, NASCAR. Note: Pennsylvania prohibits player prop bets on college athletes statewide — only team markets are available on NCAA games.
Live Betting & Cash-Out
Live betting available on all major leagues with reasonable latency. Cash-out offered on most markets. Interface is functional but trails BetMGM/bet365 on visual polish.
Loyalty Program
PENN Play — earn mychoice Tier Credits redeemable at PENN Entertainment's 40+ casino properties including all PA Hollywood Casinos.
Banking & Payment Methods
ESPN BET accepts the following deposit and withdrawal methods in Pennsylvania: Online Banking, PayPal, Debit Card, PENN Play+, Wire Transfer, PayNearMe. Most methods deposit instantly; withdrawal speeds typically range from 24-72 hrs.
See our full PA payment methods guide for fees, limits, and method-by-method comparisons.
Mobile App
The ESPN BET mobile app holds a 4.3/5 average rating across the App Store and Google Play. Geolocation is provided by GeoComply's GeoGuard plugin, which verifies you are physically inside Pennsylvania state lines. You must be 21+ to register and place wagers. For a download walkthrough, see our ESPN BET app page.
What Makes ESPN BET Different
Bet directly from ESPN.com article cards and scoreboard.
Customer Service
24/7 in-app chat. PENN Play VIP host program for high-volume customers.
Responsible Gambling Tools
Full PGCB toolkit, unified across PENN Play (sports + casino at PENN properties).
If gambling stops being fun, free 24/7 help is available — see our PA responsible gambling resources.
Security & Compliance
TLS 1.3, AES-256, two-factor authentication, biometric login. PCI-DSS compliant. GeoComply GeoGuard.
History & Background
PENN Entertainment acquired theScore in 2021 for $2 billion, launched theScore Bet in 2022, and rebranded to ESPN BET in November 2023 under a 10-year exclusive licensing deal with The Walt Disney Company. The PA license remains tied to Hollywood Casino at Penn National.
Promo Calendar
Weekly Pick6 free-to-play (cash prizes), Sunday NFL boosts, Monday-night SGP insurance, ESPN content-tied promotions (e.g., College GameDay boosts), and PENN Play multipliers.
Best For
- ESPN content consumers who want one-tap betting
- PENN Play loyalists who visit Hollywood Casino properties
- Free-to-play Pick6 players
- NFL bettors who follow ESPN talent picks
Not best for: Live-betting maximalists (use bet365 or BetMGM) or international-sport fans (smaller European-soccer menu).
How ESPN BET Compares
ESPN BET is unique in its native ESPN.com integration. Versus DraftKings, ESPN BET trails on prop depth but offers tighter content+wager workflows. Versus BetMGM, ESPN BET's loyalty is narrower (PENN-only) but more relevant for PA bettors visiting Hollywood Casinos.
License & Casino Partner
ESPN BET operates in Pennsylvania under license from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, in partnership with Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. Every PA online sportsbook is required by HB 271 to partner with a licensed PA casino. Read our Pennsylvania betting laws guide for the full regulatory background.
Verdict
ESPN BET is a solid second account for PA bettors who consume ESPN content and visit PENN-owned PA casinos. The Bet $10, Get $250 bonus structure is one of the best fixed-credit offers in the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ESPN BET legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes. ESPN BET is licensed by the PGCB through Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.
What happened to theScore Bet?
theScore Bet was rebranded to ESPN BET in November 2023 after PENN Entertainment signed a 10-year licensing deal with ESPN.
Can I bet from ESPN.com directly?
Yes. ESPN BET integrates with ESPN.com article cards and scoreboard so you can launch a bet slip without leaving the article.
What is PENN Play?
PENN Play (formerly mychoice) is the loyalty program for PENN Entertainment's 40+ casino properties including all PA Hollywood Casinos. ESPN BET wagers earn Tier Credits in the same program.