This guide answers who owns the app theScore and explains what that ownership means for consumers in different markets. It focuses on how corporate ownership, regional branding and regulatory approvals interact so readers can verify who operates the app where they live. The report draws on the definitive acquisition closing and subsequent PENN communications, and points readers to the principal public registries and Terms of Use they should consult before creating an account.

PENN completed its acquisition of Score Media and Gaming on October 19, 2021, making theScore part of PENN's portfolio.

PENN uses ESPN BET branding for its U.S. sportsbook while theScore remains a core digital brand in Canada.

Ontario users should verify theScore Bet operator on the AGCO approvals registry and read market Terms of Use.

Quick answer: who owns the score betting app?

As of 2026, theScore is owned by PENN Entertainment, Inc., which completed its acquisition of Score Media and Gaming on October 19, 2021, making theScore part of PENN's digital media and betting assets PENN press release. CNBC coverage of the acquisition.

Who owns theScore and how does that affect where the app operates?

PENN Entertainment owns theScore following the October 19, 2021 acquisition; ownership places theScore inside PENN's corporate group but market availability and licensed operators are verified through provincial regulators and theScore Bet's market Terms of Use.

There have been subsequent corporate communications from PENN that describe how the business is organized, and through 2026 those public records do not show a sale or spin-off that would remove theScore from PENN's corporate family PENN partnership announcement.

What PENN ownership means for users of the score betting app

PENN's acquisition places theScore inside a larger corporate group that operates media and betting brands. For users this means theScore's consumer apps and data practices are managed within PENN's corporate page rather than by an independent Score Media and Gaming company Reuters coverage of the acquisition.

One practical consequence is branding differs by market: PENN's U.S. sportsbook strategy centers on the ESPN BET arrangement for U.S. customers while theScore remains an active digital media and betting brand in Canada, especially Ontario PENN partnership announcement.

Ownership by PENN does not by itself change which corporate entity holds gaming licenses in a given province or state. Local licensing and operator approvals remain regulatory processes separate from corporate acquisitions, so users should expect the operator name and licensed site to be maintained according to local rules PENN press release.

Mobile screenshot of the score betting app onboarding screen on a smartphone with Funded Plays minimalist dark palette and a softly blurred AGCO government page in the background

For Canadian users theScore often appears as theScore Bet where provincial approvals and operator names are listed under local regulators, while U.S. bettors primarily see PENN's U.S. sportsbook branding through the ESPN BET partnership in markets where that brand is active CNBC summary of the partnership.

Regulatory picture: theScore Bet in Ontario and how licensing works

In Ontario and other regulated Canadian provinces, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario lists iGaming operator and gaming site approvals that identify the authorized corporate entities and their approved sites, which lets consumers confirm who is licensed to operate a given app in that market AGCO operator and gaming site approvals.

The AGCO approvals show the corporate operator names that are authorized to offer iGaming services in Ontario and the specific sites covered by each approval; checking that registry is a straightforward way for users to confirm the licensed entity behind theScore Bet in Ontario AGCO operator and gaming site approvals.

Verify theScore Bet operator and site approval in Ontario

Search AGCO registry
Confirm operator name
Confirm site approval

Use the operator name shown on the approval

When a corporate acquisition occurs at the parent level, regulators still require the licensed operator registered in the jurisdiction to meet local compliance conditions; approvals listed on AGCO are the primary proof that an operator is authorized to run theScore Bet in Ontario AGCO operator and gaming site approvals.

If you are preparing to create an account or to use theScore Bet in Ontario, cross-check the AGCO approvals against the operator identity named in the market-specific Terms of Use to ensure the licensed entity matches the operator listed by the regulator theScore Bet Ontario Terms of Use. See our guide: how Funded Plays evaluations work.

How account terms and data practices are governed for the score betting app in Ontario

The primary document governing accounts and data for Ontario users is theScore Bet's Ontario Terms of Use, which explains the contractual relationship between the account holder and the licensed operator and sets expectations for account management and data handling theScore Bet Ontario Terms of Use.

Typical sections users should scan include the identity of the operator, the jurisdiction that governs the terms, dispute resolution provisions and privacy or data notices that describe how account information is used and retained; these are the places where operator responsibilities are usually spelled out theScore Bet Ontario Terms of Use.

Verify operator identity and approvals on the FundedPlays Challenges page

Before you sign up, verify the operator name in the Terms of Use and confirm the approved site on the AGCO registry to make sure the account will be handled by the licensed entity in Ontario.

View Funded Plays Challenges

Account governance depends on the licensed operator listed by the regulator, so any questions about data handling, dispute resolution or account closure should be directed first to the operator identified in the Terms of Use and to the regulator if needed theScore Bet Ontario Terms of Use.

How to verify ownership, market availability and current operator status - a short checklist

Step 1, confirm the ownership origin: start with PENN's October 19, 2021 acquisition announcement to establish that PENN took control of Score Media and Gaming, which is the ownership origin point for theScore assets PENN press release. See also the SEC filing: SEC document.

Step 2, check major corporate communications: review PENN's later announcements such as the 2023 ESPN partnership to understand how PENN brands its U.S. sportsbook business and how theScore is positioned within PENN's broader media and betting strategy PENN partnership announcement. For additional context see our blog: Funded Plays blog.

Funded Plays Challenges

View Funded Plays Challenges

Step 3, confirm local licensing and site approvals: for Ontario specifically consult the AGCO operator and gaming site approvals to verify the name of the licensed operator and the approved site used by theScore Bet in that province AGCO operator and gaming site approvals.

Step 4, review the market Terms of Use: open the market-specific Terms of Use for theScore Bet (for example the Ontario Terms of Use) to confirm the operator identity, terms for account use and any jurisdictional conditions that apply before you register theScore Bet Ontario Terms of Use.

Step 5, watch for public announcements: if you need absolute confirmation of a recent change, check PENN communications and the regulator's approvals for new filings, because ownership at the corporate level and licensing at the market level are related but separate records PENN partnership announcement. More on this on our blog: Funded Plays blog.

Common misconceptions and mistakes about the score betting app ownership

Misconception: seeing ESPN BET in U.S. markets means theScore was sold or removed. In reality, PENN's U.S. sportsbook branding centers on ESPN BET while theScore remains part of PENN's digital assets and continues to operate as a brand in Canada PENN partnership announcement.

Mistake: assuming corporate ownership automatically changes local licenses. Acquisitions at the parent level do not replace the need for regulator approvals in each market; the licensed operator listed by the regulator remains the key legal party for consumers AGCO operator and gaming site approvals.

Mistake: treating ownership as a guarantee of availability or outcomes. Ownership tells you who controls the corporate assets, not whether a product will be available in your state or province or whether account activity will produce specific results for users.

Practical scenarios: how ownership and regulation affect Canadian and U.S. users

Example 1, an Ontario resident signs up: before creating an account, the resident should confirm theScore Bet's operator name in the Ontario Terms of Use and cross-check that name against the AGCO approvals so the user knows the licensed operator that will govern the account theScore Bet Ontario Terms of Use.

After confirming the operator identity the Ontario user can proceed knowing which licensed entity is responsible for account terms, dispute handling and regulatory compliance as listed in the AGCO registry AGCO operator and gaming site approvals.

Example 2, a U.S. user sees ESPN BET branding: encountering ESPN BET in the United States reflects PENN's U.S. branding partnership and does not by itself mean theScore brand has been sold or removed from PENN's corporate assets CNBC coverage of the partnership.

Example 3, checking for a recent change: if you suspect a recent sale or spin-off look for a formal PENN announcement and verify regulators' public records in the relevant jurisdiction to ensure licensing and operator names match any corporate filings PENN press release.

Takeaway and next steps to confirm current status

PENN completed the acquisition of Score Media and Gaming on October 19, 2021, and through 2026 public records show theScore remains within PENN's corporate family, with PENN's U.S. sportsbook strategy centered on the ESPN BET arrangement while theScore remains an active brand in Canada PENN press release.

Action recommendation: verify market-specific operator approvals on the AGCO registry and read theScore Bet's market Terms of Use for Ontario, and check PENN's investor and press releases for any corporate changes that would affect ownership or branding AGCO operator and gaming site approvals. Visit Funded Plays: Funded Plays.

Who owns the score betting app right now?

As of 2026, PENN Entertainment owns theScore after completing its acquisition of Score Media and Gaming on October 19, 2021.

Is theScore Bet the same as ESPN BET in the U.S.?

No. PENN brands its U.S. sportsbook through the ESPN BET partnership while theScore operates as a separate digital media and betting brand in Canada.

How can I confirm the licensed operator for theScore Bet in Ontario?

Check the AGCO iGaming operator and gaming site approvals and compare the operator name shown there with the operator listed in theScore Bet's Ontario Terms of Use.

In short, PENN's 2021 acquisition established ownership and PENN's later communications show how the company positions its U.S. and Canadian offerings. For users, the authoritative next steps are to check regulator approvals and market Terms of Use for theScore Bet in your jurisdiction.