By Patricia Jones ESPN BET itself is no longer an operating sportsbook in Illinois. The sportsbook was previously legal and authorized in the state, but PENN Entertainment and ESPN ended their U.S. sports-betting partnership effective December 1, 2025. PENN then rebranded the former ESPN BET platform as theScore Bet. The good news for Illinois bettors is that theScore Bet is currently a legal and authorized Illinois online sportsbook.
What Happened to ESPN BET in Illinois?
ESPN BET launched as PENN Entertainment’s U.S. online sportsbook brand in November 2023. It operated legally in Illinois through PENN’s relationship with Hollywood Casino Aurora.
However, PENN Entertainment and ESPN announced on November 6, 2025 that they had mutually agreed to end their exclusive U.S. online sports-betting agreement.
The termination became effective on December 1, 2025. PENN simultaneously transitioned its U.S. sportsbook from ESPN BET to theScore Bet.
PENN confirmed on December 1, 2025 that the rebranding had been completed and that existing sportsbook customers were transferred to theScore Bet.
Therefore, ESPN BET should not now be treated as a separate active Illinois sportsbook.
Is theScore Bet Legal in Illinois?
Yes. theScore Bet Sportsbook is currently legal in Illinois.
The Illinois Gaming Board maintains an official list of sportsbooks authorized to conduct sports wagering within the state. Its current list specifically identifies theScore Bet Sportsbook as an authorized online sportsbook associated with HC Aurora, LLC.
The same Illinois Gaming Board list identifies the retail sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Aurora as the Penalty Box Sportsbook & Bar.
The Gaming Board states that the sportsbooks appearing on its authorized list are the only operators currently authorized to conduct sports wagering activities in Illinois.
Did ESPN BET Accounts Automatically Become theScore Bet Accounts?
Yes. PENN designed the December 2025 transition so that existing ESPN BET customers could move to theScore Bet without creating completely new sportsbook accounts.
When the rebrand occurred, PENN stated that existing customers could access theScore Bet using their previous login credentials. Account settings, responsible-gaming controls, and open wagers remained in place through the transition.
This means someone who previously used ESPN BET in Illinois was not simply left with an inactive sportsbook account when the ESPN branding disappeared.
The underlying PENN sportsbook operation continued under the new theScore Bet name.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Use theScore Bet in Illinois?
Illinois sports-betting law requires a person to be at least 21 years old before placing a sports wager.
The age requirement applies whether someone is wagering through an authorized online sportsbook or at a physical Illinois sportsbook.
Sportsbook operators must use identity and age-verification procedures before allowing customers to place real-money wagers.
Therefore, the transition from ESPN BET to theScore Bet did not change Illinois’s minimum betting age.
Do You Have to Live in Illinois to Use theScore Bet?
Illinois residency is not required simply to place an authorized sports wager.
However, a bettor must be physically located inside Illinois at the time the online wager is placed.
Legal Illinois sportsbook apps use geolocation technology to confirm where the customer’s device is located. An Illinois resident temporarily outside the state therefore cannot rely on an Illinois home address to place an Illinois wager.
Likewise, a visitor from another state who is at least 21 may generally use an authorized Illinois sportsbook while physically present within Illinois.
Can You Bet on Illinois College Teams?
Illinois places significant restrictions on wagering involving its own collegiate teams and athletes.
The state’s sports-wagering rules restrict sportsbooks from offering ordinary wagers involving Illinois collegiate teams or individual competitors representing Illinois colleges.
These restrictions apply to authorized sportsbooks such as theScore Bet just as they applied when the platform operated under the ESPN BET name.
The availability of a team or player in sports coverage does not necessarily mean an Illinois sportsbook may legally offer a wager involving that participant.
Was ESPN BET Illegal When It Operated in Illinois?
No. The disappearance of ESPN BET should not be confused with a regulatory shutdown for illegal gambling.
The sportsbook previously operated in Illinois under PENN’s authorized sports-wagering arrangement. For example, the Illinois Gaming Board’s 2024 annual report identified the Hollywood Casino Aurora sportsbook’s mobile application as ESPN Bet.
The brand ended because PENN Entertainment and ESPN mutually terminated their commercial partnership, not because Illinois declared ESPN BET an illegal sportsbook.
PENN subsequently continued its sportsbook operation under theScore Bet brand. PENN reported in February 2026 that it had successfully completed the U.S. sportsbook rebranding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I still download the old ESPN BET app in Illinois?
ESPN BET is no longer the active PENN sportsbook brand. The former U.S. sportsbook was transitioned to theScore Bet on December 1, 2025. Illinois bettors looking for PENN’s current authorized sportsbook should therefore look for theScore Bet rather than ESPN BET.
Q2. What happened to bets placed before ESPN BET changed names?
PENN stated that open wagers remained in place during the transition to theScore Bet. Existing account settings and responsible-gaming tools were also carried over when the sportsbook was rebranded.
Q3. Does ESPN currently own theScore Bet?
No. theScore Bet is operated by PENN Entertainment. ESPN and PENN ended their exclusive U.S. online sports-betting agreement in 2025, and PENN stopped using the ESPN BET trademark for its sportsbook after the termination.
Q4. Is the retail sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Aurora still operating?
Yes. The Illinois Gaming Board currently lists Penalty Box Sportsbook & Bar at Hollywood Casino Aurora as an authorized retail sportsbook associated with the same licensee that supports theScore Bet’s Illinois online operation.