As the NBA playoffs press deeper, the sportsbook formerly known as ESPN BET is now theScore Bet, offering new customers a welcome offer that lets them place a first cash wager and—if it loses—receive 100% of their stake back in bonus bets up to $1,000.
When the NBA playoffs heat up, the risk can feel personal. One bad night can wipe out a weekend’s plan.
This is where theScore Bet’s new customer welcome offer is trying to do the heavy lifting. The sportsbook has rebranded—moving from ESPN BET branding to theScore Bet—and is now advertising a first-bet “reset” that allows eligible new customers to wager up to $1,000 on their first bet.
The offer is framed around a simple promise: if the first bet loses. the sportsbook refunds 100% of the stake in bonus bets. The reset is available to new theScore Bet customers in all legal participating states. with terms requiring that customers be 21+ and present in participating states. The date last verified for the promotion is May 19, 2026.
The stakes are built around a specific next step: the sportsbook says the welcome offer can be used to place a first cash wager on any available market. It also emphasizes there’s no requirement to “opt in.” Customers can bet whatever amount they’re comfortable with—whether $50 or $500—while still receiving the reset if the wager comes up short.
If the first cash wager is settled as a loss. the refund doesn’t arrive as one lump sum that has to be risked again immediately. Instead, the sportsbook says the stake is returned as five separate bonus-bet tokens, each worth 20% of the eligible losing wager. Those bonus bets are described as hitting the account within 72 hours of the first bet settling. and they are set to expire after 7 days.
The promotion is being marketed alongside a specific set of playoff betting examples. For an Eastern Conference matchup at Madison Square Garden between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the current lines are listed as follows:
Moneyline: New York Knicks -278 | Cleveland Cavaliers -119
Total (Over/Under): 216.5 (Over -110 | Under -110)
Point Spread: Knicks +7.5 | Cavaliers +7.5
The betting examples provided include a $100 moneyline bet on the Knicks at -278, described as yielding roughly $35.97 in profit if New York wins, and a $100 bet on the Cavaliers at -119, described as netting about $84.03 if Cleveland pulls off the upset.
The same promo write-up also highlights several player props. It lists:
Jalen Brunson (NYK) Total Points 27.5 (Over -112 | Under -117)
Donovan Mitchell (CLE) Total Points 26.5 (Over -111 | Under -119)
Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK) Total Rebounds 11.5 (Over -136 | Under +102)
James Harden (CLE) Total Assists 6.5 (Over -122 | Under -109)
Evan Mobley (CLE) Total Points 14.5 (Over -115 | Under -114)
Josh Hart (NYK) Total Rebounds 8.5 (Over -107 | Under -124).
The piece also lays out a pair of matchup-specific statistical points tied to the props mentioned. For Evan Mobley’s points line at 14.5. it says he has posted 17.0 points per game on average while shooting 55.1% across 35.3 minutes of action. with the over priced at -115. For Karl-Anthony Towns’ rebounds line at 11.5. it says he is averaging 10.0 rebounds per game through his first 10 playoff appearances. and that Cleveland’s rotation includes Mobley at 8.0 RPG and Jarrett Allen at 7.3 RPG; the under is listed at +102.
To get the welcome offer, the promotion describes a straightforward claim process that starts with creating an account. It says customers need to provide standard personal information—including full name, date of birth, physical address, and email—to verify identity.
During sign-up, the sportsbook says the promo code must be entered: ESPN BET promo code WTOP. After registration and entering the code, the promotion says customers can place their first real cash wager of at least $10 and up to $1,000 on any available market at theScore Bet.
The marketing copy closes with the standard compliance language, including a note that gambling problem help is available by calling 1-800-Gambler. It also reiterates the requirement that customers must be 21+ and located in participating states.
In a season where every game can swing momentum, the offer is designed to create one kind of breathing room: a first wager that doesn’t land doesn’t have to end the bankroll plan—at least not in the exact way it would without the “reset.”
theScore Bet ESPN BET promo code WTOP $1 000 bet reset NBA playoffs betting welcome offer bonus bets Madison Square Garden Knicks Cavaliers
So basically free money if your first bet loses? Seems too good.
I don’t even get why it’s called a reset lol. Like you lose and then they give it back as bonus bets so you still gotta use it there right?
Wait… does “100% back” mean they refund your actual cash balance or do they just put $1,000 in bonus bets no matter what you bet? Because the article says up to $1,000 but then bonus tokens and expiring stuff like cmon.
ESPN BET was already sketchy, now it’s theScore Bet… same company in a new hat. Also NBA playoffs are rigged anyway, so I’m sure this promo will only work if you somehow pick the right game and not get stuck with bonus bets expiring or whatever.