Penn Entertainment hired Nate Ravitz as Head of theScore yesterday. He’ll handle content, advertising sales and growth for the sportsbook and media brand.
Ravitz spent 17 years at ESPN. Most recently, he was SVP of Digital Content and Audience Expansion there. He oversaw production and digital editorial for ESPN’s fantasy and betting operations.
The new role reunites him with Penn Entertainment CTO Aaron LaBerge. Both worked together at ESPN.
“Also happy to once again be teammates with Aaron LaBerge and several other former colleagues,” Ravitz said in his announcement. “We’re playing to win.”
Why This Hire Matters for Penn
Penn needs fresh leadership for theScore after ending its ESPN partnership. The company and ESPN officially terminated their US online sports betting agreement on November 6. That deal had been Penn’s primary betting vehicle.
That left theScore as Penn’s only sports betting brand. The platform operates in 21 US states plus Ontario, Canada. It relaunched as a rebranded version of ESPN Bet shortly after the ESPN contract ended.
Ravitz brings deep experience in digital sports media and understands both content creation and betting operations from his ESPN work.
“I’ve long admired what theScore has been able to build and achieve in the incredibly-competitive landscape of mobile sports apps,” he said. “I couldn’t be more honored to join the team and build on that great legacy.”
What Penn Gets With Ravitz
Ravitz takes control of theScore’s media business under Penn Interactive. His responsibilities include overseeing content production, advertising sales, and platform growth strategies.
Penn originally acquired theScore in a $2 billion deal back in 2021. The company then shut down theScore’s US operations to focus on partnerships with Barstool Sports and ESPN instead.
Now theScore is back as Penn’s primary betting platform.
CEO Jay Snowden says the app has over four million active monthly users. Nearly 70% of those accounts are based in the US, giving Penn a substantial American customer base.
How theScore Moves Forward
The platform faces regulatory challenges alongside growth opportunities. Ontario’s AGCO issued a $105,000 penalty against theScore on October 14. The fine was for failing to meet responsible gambling obligations under the province’s internet gaming standards.
Ravitz will need to balance growth with compliance as he builds out the team. His background suggests he understands the competitive mobile sports landscape well. Penn is betting his ESPN experience translates to success in the sportsbook world.
The hire signals Penn’s commitment to theScore as its main betting brand going forward. After cycling through Barstool Sports and ESPN partnerships, the company appears to be settling on theScore for the long term.
