Barstool Sports Betting in Australia: What Happened to the Sportsbook?

What was Barstool Sportsbook?

Barstool Sports is a sports media brand. Its content and the former Barstool Sportsbook were related, but they were not the same service. The sportsbook was a US product through which eligible customers could place sports wagers; a podcast, video or article discussing a bet is media content, not a betting account.

PENN’s annual filing says Barstool promoted PENN’s betting and casino products and licensed its branding for them. An Indiana Gaming Commission order recorded that PENN Sports Interactive had exclusive operational control of the historical sportsbook. That distinction matters when reading an old Barstool Sports sportsbook review: the name on the product did not mean its media personalities personally operated it.

The historical relationship also does not establish a current Australian betting partnership. Treat claims about a present-day service separately and check the provider’s identity and licence rather than assuming that a familiar media name identifies the operator.

What happened to the PENN-operated sportsbook?

PENN agreed to sell Barstool Sports to David Portnoy on 8 August 2023. It discontinued the Barstool Sportsbook brand later that year and relaunched its US online sportsbook as ESPN BET.

The product changed names again on 1 December 2025, when ESPN BET Sportsbook became theScore Bet. ESPN says ESPN BET continued as a betting-content brand. The sequence below concerns PENN’s US online sportsbook, not the ownership of all three media brands or the availability of an Australian product.

• 2023: PENN discontinued the Barstool Sportsbook brand and relaunched its US sportsbook as ESPN BET.
• 1 December 2025: ESPN BET Sportsbook became theScore Bet; ESPN BET continued as a content-focused brand.

Is Barstool sports betting available in Australia?

On 5 November 2026, searches of ACMA’s accessible register found no matching “Barstool” or “theScore” text. That means neither name was identified as an Australian-licensed wagering service in those searches. It does not establish the licensing status of every possible corporate entity, rule out a future launch or prove the status of a separate service elsewhere in the world.

ACMA advises consumers to check its register when considering an interactive gambling operator. The register is a more useful starting point for Barstool sports betting in Australia than an old US review: a licence in a US state does not establish that a provider is licensed to offer wagering in Australia.

If a website claims to offer a Barstool-branded service, check the current register yourself. Look beyond the brand displayed in an advertisement and compare the operator’s legal identity and exact website address with the listing. If they do not clearly match, do not assume that the familiar name makes the service licensed.

The successor names in the US history do not establish Australian availability either. Before using any current service, check its own licensing, eligibility and terms rather than transferring information from the former Barstool product.

The Australian Barstool app is a media listing

The Australian Apple App Store lists an app called Barstool Sports, described as offering videos, podcasts and blogs. That is evidence of a media-app listing, not evidence that an Australian user can register for a betting account or place a wager.

A current Australian listing for the former dedicated Barstool Sportsbook betting app was not verified. Google Play availability was not established either. That is a limit on the available research, not proof that no listing can appear on any device or app-store account.

Downloading an app, opening an eligible account and placing a wager are separate questions. Even where an app is accessible, its listing alone does not establish that it offers licensed wagering to a person in Australia.

• Barstool Sports media app: listed in the Australian Apple App Store.
• Former dedicated betting app: a current Australian listing was not verified.
• Australian wagering eligibility: not established by the media-app listing.

Australian wagering rules worth checking

Australian rules apply to services offered to people in Australia. Unlicensed sports betting services cannot legally be offered to them. State and territory authorities license wagering providers, while ACMA maintains a national register and has responsibilities for interactive gambling regulation. Licensing conditions, eligible events and complaint routes can differ, so check the relevant authority and the provider’s terms.

In-play sports betting means placing a wager after a sporting event has started. Online in-play betting on sporting events is generally prohibited in Australia. ACMA describes a limited telephone exception, subject to how betting information is communicated. For example, a wager submitted online after a football match starts should not be assumed to be permitted simply because a telephone exception exists. This rule should not be extended without further evidence to every form of live betting or to racing.

The minimum gambling age is 18. AUSTRAC says online gambling providers must complete applicable customer-identification procedures before account creation or the commencement of a designated service, under requirements effective from 29 September 2024. A provider may ask for identification as part of that process, but supplying documents does not guarantee that an account will be approved.

Since 11 June 2024, licensed online and telephone wagering operators have been prohibited from accepting credit cards, credit-linked funds, including through digital wallets, and digital currencies for betting-account deposits. A wallet is therefore not necessarily an acceptable way to deposit if the funds used are linked to a credit card. Check the individual operator’s terms for the methods it actually accepts.

Rules can change. The Australian Government says reforms passed in August 2026, covering areas including advertising, enforcement and BetStop, commence from 1 January 2027. As at the research date, those forthcoming measures should not be treated as already in force. Check the current law and regulator guidance when making a decision.

How to assess an Australian betting operator

A neutral licence and terms check is more useful than relying on a historical review or choosing a provider solely because its name is familiar. Start with ACMA’s register, then compare its details with the provider’s own website and account terms.

Pay particular attention to the legal entity and the exact domain, not just a logo. A name in an advert may resemble a registered brand without making the advertised website part of that licensed service. The register also identifies the relevant licensing authority, which can help you find further information or the appropriate complaint route.

A licence check is necessary but does not establish that an operator accepts every customer, offers every market or is suitable for your circumstances. Check the requirements for your location and intended service before submitting identity documents or making a deposit.

• Search ACMA’s register for the trading name and compare the legal entity and exact website address with the service you intend to use.
• Note which state or territory authority licenses the operator and check any relevant local conditions.
• Read the age, location and identity requirements, including what information is requested and when verification occurs.
• Check the operator’s own deposit and withdrawal methods, fees, minimums and processing terms.
• Read market rules for settlement, voided bets, event changes and applicable limits.
• Find the provider’s deposit-limit, account-closure, self-exclusion and complaint options.

Read the market and payment terms before depositing

An operator’s licence does not tell you how a particular bet will be settled. Market rules can explain what happens if an event is postponed, a participant withdraws or a result changes. For a postponed event, for example, check the rules that apply to that market rather than assuming every wager will be handled in the same way.

Payment terms also need an operator-specific check. Review whether a method is accepted for deposits and withdrawals, whether additional verification may be requested, and whether fees or minimums apply. General Australian deposit restrictions do not establish the methods available at a particular provider.

Keep a copy of the relevant terms and your transaction records. If a problem arises, follow the operator’s complaint process and check the relevant licensing authority’s guidance. ACMA directs some complaints about licensed providers to the appropriate state or territory regulator.

No current Australian Barstool bonus or promotion was verified for this article. A historical US offer, or an offer associated with a successor brand, should not be assumed to apply to an Australian service.

Gambling support and self-exclusion

If you choose to gamble, consider setting a spending limit in advance, taking breaks and not chasing losses. These steps can help reduce exposure to harm, but they do not guarantee that gambling will remain safe or prevent losses.

Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support across Australia for people affected by their own or someone else’s gambling. Call 1800 858 858 at any time or use the online support service.

BetStop is the National Self-Exclusion Register. It is free and allows people to exclude themselves from all Australian-licensed online and telephone wagering providers for at least three months and up to a lifetime. It does not cover illegal gambling services, including illegally provided online casinos.

For BetStop enquiries, call 1800 238 786. Its call centre is open from 9 am to 9 pm AEST or AEDT, Monday to Friday, excluding national public holidays. Check the service’s website for current contact details and information about registering.

FAQ

Is Barstool Sportsbook legal in Australia?

No matching Barstool wagering name was found on ACMA’s register when checked on 5 November 2026, and the former PENN-operated Barstool Sportsbook was discontinued in 2023. That name search does not resolve the status of every possible corporate entity or future service. Check the live register and the operator’s current details rather than relying on an old US review.

Can Australians download and use the Barstool betting app?

The Australian Apple App Store lists a Barstool Sports media app. A current Australian listing for the former dedicated betting app was not verified, and Google Play availability was not established. The media listing does not establish that an Australian can open a wagering account or place bets.

Is Barstool Sports the same as a sportsbook?

No. Barstool Sports is a media brand. Its name was also licensed to PENN for betting products, including the former US sportsbook, which PENN Sports Interactive controlled. Watching betting commentary is different from registering with an operator and placing a wager.

What replaced Barstool Sportsbook?

PENN relaunched its US online sportsbook as ESPN BET after discontinuing the Barstool brand in 2023. ESPN BET Sportsbook became theScore Bet on 1 December 2025, while ESPN BET continued as a content-focused brand. This US product history does not establish that either successor is available to Australian customers.

What can Australians use instead?

Start with ACMA’s register of licensed interactive gambling providers. Match the brand, legal entity and exact website, then check the licensing authority, eligibility requirements, payment and withdrawal terms, market rules and support tools. A register listing alone does not establish that a provider or product is suitable for everyone.

Can Australians place sports bets online after an event starts?

Online in-play betting on sporting events is generally prohibited in Australia. ACMA describes a limited telephone exception, subject to how betting information is communicated. This answer should not be treated as a rule covering every form of live betting or in-play racing.