Surprise Announcement
PENN Entertainment has laid off approximately 75 employees at a Canadian subsidiary, theScore, despite a record-breaking quarter for its interactive division. The company restructuring affects roles across various departments at theScore’s Toronto office.
The layoffs were confirmed by a PENN spokesperson who stated that the decision followed a routine evaluation of the company’s business operations and strategic priorities. It is a surprising turn that highlights the increasing tension between profitability and personnel in online sports betting and other industries around the world.
The 75 employees were reportedly offered severance packages and support resources. Some of those affected expressed frustration at being let go despite the company’s financial success. One former employee said on Twitter: “I was unfortunately let go as part of the layoffs at theScore this week. I’m deeply grateful for my 3.5 years at the company and am now looking for my next opportunity.”
Record Profits
The announcement of the cuts is particularly striking given it comes days after PENN Entertainment announced its interactive division had generated record revenues. This area of the business has recorded $296.8 million in revenue in the second quarter of 2025, up 15.6% on the previous year. The profit for the division came in at $35.6 million, a huge improvement on the same quarter in 2024 when a loss of $12.7 million was recorded.
During an earnings call, executives at PENN attributed the strong financial quarter to increased engagement on their ESPN Bet platform, which launched in the United States last autumn.
Despite the layoffs, leadership at PENN seem to have confidence in an ongoing role for theScore within the company’s larger digital ecosystem. theScore was originally founded in 2012 as a mobile app. It evolved into a leading betting brand before PENN Entertainment acquired it for $2 billion in October 2021.
Within nine months of purchasing the company from the Levy family in October 2021, PENN shut down all US operations of theScore. It now operates as the Canadian arm of PENN Entertainment. theScore was among the first operators to launch in the Ontario-regulated online betting market when it was opened in April 2022. Although iGaming Ontario (iGO) doesn’t break down figures by market share, PENN executives suggest they hold a competitive position in the provincial market.
