The Canadian sports media company turned sportsbook operator, theScore has launched in its fourth US state.
The Canadian sports media company, theScore, has launched its mobile sports wagering app theScore Bet in the state of Iowa.
theScore in Iowa
The sportsbook operator launched its online betting platform in Iowa yesterday thanks to the multi-state market access deal it struck with Penn National Gaming in August 2019. This was the same agreement that paved the way for theScore to launch its sportsbook in the state of Indiana.
TheScore’s Iowa app now features theScore’s new Bet Section, which ties the company’s traditional sports media app with the sportsbook’s betting elements. This will allow users to create personalized betting features, such as bet tracking, promotions and tailored markets.
John Levy, Founder and CEO of theScore, said: “We have expanded theScore Bet to three new markets in the last six months, significantly increasing our footprint. We’re thrilled to introduce our mobile sportsbook to Iowans as the college basketball season heats up ahead of the tournament in March. We have a large base of theScore app users in Iowa and now, with the launch of theScore Bet, fans will have easy access to our integrated and technology driven sports betting experience.”
Iowa is now the fourth state in which theScore Bet is operational after the operator launched its app in New Jersey, Indiana and Colorado.
The sportsbook is currently live in Colorado under an agreement with Jacobs Entertainment and in New Jersey via a deal with Monmouth Park operator Darby Development.
As with theScore’s launch in other states, the Iowa launch was powered by its technology partner Bet.Works which was acquired by Bally’s in November 2020.
Bally’s Interactive chief executive David Wang said: “We are delighted to yet again assist our valued partner, theScore, through its launch in another North American jurisdiction.
“We are confident that our platform technology and theScore’s fusion of sports media and gaming will prove a compelling and popular offering among Iowan sports bettors.”
Sports betting in Iowa
Sports betting went live in Iowa in August 2019 with a law that forced bettors in the state to create and register their online betting accounts in-person at one of the state’s casino sportsbooks.
This registration requirement ended on 1 January 2021, paving the way for bettors to create sports wagering accounts remotely from anywhere within the state. It also means that online-only operators can enter the state, providing bettors with a wider selection of betting options.
Iowans can now legally bet online with PointsBet, BetMGM, BetRivers, DraftKings, FanDuel, Elite, Hard Rock, Q Sportsbook, PointsBet and William Hill.
According to the latest figures from the state regulator bettors in the state of Iowa wagered a record $149.5m on sporting events in January 2021. January’s handle marked a 42.7% month-on-month increase on the previous record of $104.8m that was set in December.
