Sports News Meets Betting theScore Bet DC Review

Welcome Bonus: Bet $10, Get $250 In Bonus Bets

theScore Bet\'s DC welcome offer is a "bet to win" structure similar to FanDuel\'s but with a higher $10 qualifying stake and no minimum odds restriction. Place any $10 first cash bet at any odds. If the bet wins, $250 in bonus bets lands within 72 hours.

Compared to the rest of the DC market: smaller than DraftKings\' guaranteed $200 (DraftKings pays out win or lose), smaller than BetMGM\'s $1,500 First Bet safety net, and structurally similar to FanDuel\'s $250 offer but at a higher entry stake. Best suited for users who plan to back a short-priced favorite as their qualifying bet.

Bonus bets are credited as five $50 tokens valid for 7 days. Each token can be used on any market at any odds. Only the profit from a winning bonus bet pays to the withdrawable balance; the stake is not returned with the winnings.

How to claim, step by step

• Tap "Sign Up" from inside DC (geolocation verifies position).
• Enter name, DC address, date of birth, SSN last four, email.
• Complete in-app KYC (or upload ID within 30 days).
• Deposit at least $10 via debit card, PayPal, online banking, or Play+.
• Place a single $10 cash bet at any odds within 14 days of registration.
• If the bet wins, $250 in bonus bets is credited within 72 hours.

Mobile App and User Experience

theScore Bet app is the second-youngest tech stack in DC (after Fanatics) and the post-rebrand UI is meaningfully better than the ESPN BET era. The home screen is content-led: featured games surface alongside live scores from theScore news app, with bet markets one tap away from each event.

App Store rating: 4.6. Google Play rating: 4.4. Available on iOS 14+ and Android 9+. Face ID and Touch ID login supported. The standout integration: if you also have theScore sports news app installed, score notifications and breaking news alerts can deep-link directly into the relevant betting market in theScore Bet. This is unique among US sportsbooks.

Sports and Markets Coverage

theScore Bet covers every major US sport: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, NCAAF, NCAAB (out-of-DC schools only), PGA, UFC, boxing, tennis, F1, NASCAR, Premier League, Champions League. NBA and NHL market depth is particularly strong, reflecting theScore Bet\'s legacy strengths from its Canadian roots and the broader theScore news app focus on those sports.

Per-game market depth on majors is solid (400-600 markets typical) but trails FanDuel and DraftKings on niche prop alternatives. International soccer coverage is thinner than the top three operators. Same Game Parlay supported on all major sports with up to 10 legs per game.

Live Betting

Live betting is theScore Bet\'s strongest competitive area. The refresh speed is competitive with FanDuel and DraftKings, and the in-app integration with theScore news app gives a tighter content-to-bet loop than any other DC operator. From a score notification ("Commanders TD"), users can tap into the live game screen, see the updated odds, and place a bet in two taps.

Cash out is available on most pre-game and live bets. The live bet builder accepts up to 10 same-game legs and prices correlation similar to BetMGM\'s One Game Parlay.

Promotions and Loyalty

theScore Bet runs a lighter promo cadence than FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM. Typical weekly promos: daily odds boosts (15-25%), parlay insurance offers, refer-a-friend bonuses, and event-specific promos for major sporting events.

As of the December 2025 rebrand, theScore Bet does not have a formal loyalty program equivalent to MGM Rewards or Caesars Rewards. PENN Sports Interactive has indicated a unified loyalty product across theScore Bet and Hollywood Casino properties is in development for 2026 but has not launched in DC.

Payment Methods and Withdrawal Speed

theScore Bet does not support Venmo or Apple Pay. Minimum deposit is $10, minimum withdrawal is $10.

Customer Support

theScore Bet offers 24/7 live chat through the app, email at [email protected], and phone support at 1-844-PENN-BET. As a smaller-volume operator in DC, queue times are typically shorter than larger competitors during peak hours; average chat response is under 3 minutes. KYC and payment issues route through a US team familiar with DC requirements.

Responsible Gaming Tools

theScore Bet\'s in-app responsible gaming center offers deposit limits, wager limits, time limits, and cool-off periods. theScore Bet participates in the DC OLG self-exclusion program. 24/7 helplines: 1-800-522-4700 (NCPG) and 1-800-GAMBLER.

DC-Specific Context

theScore Bet is the smallest DC sportsbook by market share and the most recent rebrand. The ESPN BET to theScore Bet transition on December 1, 2025 caused user confusion in the short term (some users assumed accounts had been closed) but the underlying product, operator, and license were unchanged. Existing balances, bet history, and account credentials transferred automatically.

For DC bettors, theScore Bet is most useful as a content-driven third or fourth account. The integration with theScore sports news app is genuinely unique in the US market: no other sportsbook has a direct backend tie to one of the most-used independent sports news apps. NBA and NHL bettors who already follow scores through theScore app will get the most value from the integration.

What theScore Bet lacks in DC: a retail location, a competitive loyalty program, and the promo volume of FanDuel and DraftKings. The DC operation is mobile-only, and the nearest PENN-operated retail betting venue is at Live! Casino Hanover in Maryland under a separate brand.

Frequently Asked Questions