What To Expect From Fanatics Sportsbook When It Launches In New York

By no later than spring 2024, Fanatics Sportsbook plans to make its way into the New York sports betting market, ensuring a one-stop destination for sports enthusiasts and bettors in the Empire State.

Fanatics Sportsbook made its debut in Tennessee and Ohio earlier this year and is set to expand its operations in 13 more markets, including the lucrative New York sports betting industry. This impressive growth is made possible by Fanatics’ acquisition of PointsBet Sportsbook’s US business for a whopping $150 million.

Fanatics, a renowned sports apparel retailer, has established itself as a thriving business through its online platform and numerous retail stores nationwide. With its recent venture into the sports betting sector, Fanatics aims to transform into a one-stop destination catering to all the needs of sports enthusiasts, encompassing apparel, memorabilia, and wagering services.

When will Fanatics Sportsbook come to New York?

Fanatics Sportsbook NY will soon be able to operate in the Empire State as PointsBet holds a New York sportsbook license. However, the transfer of the license will require Fanatics to overcome certain legal obstacles, indicating that the process will not be immediate.

The purchase of PointsBet by Fanatics is anticipated to be finalized on August 31st. Subsequently, Fanatics intends to gradually introduce its operations in three PointsBet states at a time until it acquires ownership of all licenses. It is projected that this process will be concluded by May 2024.

The PointsBet agreement document provided a clear timeline.

The projected date for the Initial Completion is approximately August 31, 2024. The “Sunset Date” for both the Initial Completion and Subsequent Completion is set for February 2024, but it may be extended to May 2024 if necessary. During the Initial Completion, the Purchaser will obtain the entities responsible for running PointsBet’s business in a minimum of three states, with additional states being added gradually (known as the “Initial U.S. States”).

It is still uncertain which states Fanatics will give priority to. However, given that New York is one of the biggest legal sports betting markets in North America, it can be assumed that New Yorkers won’t have to wait long for the launch of Fanatics Sportsbook after the acquisition of PointsBet is finalized.

Additionally, the football season is renowned for being the most lucrative period for sportsbooks. Bearing this in mind, it is highly probable that Fanatics will be keen to enter the prominent markets as close to the commencement of the season as feasible.

What to expect from Fanatics Sportsbook NY

At present, Fanatics operates exclusively in Tennessee and Ohio, with Fanatics Sportsbook currently in the beta testing phase. As a result, the markets available are limited, and access to them is granted only to a select group of bettors.

Fanatics’ operation of a sports apparel and memorabilia shop is unparalleled, setting it apart from other sports betting operators. As a result, when Fanatics launches in New York, we can expect to see exclusive and distinctive promotions.

An experiment was conducted in Ohio, where Fanatics tried out a new promotion. However, the Ohio Casino Control Commission promptly intervened and asked Fanatics to cease the offer. The promotion gained widespread attention on Twitter after an Ohio resident shared a screenshot of their attempt to buy a $30 Brooklyn Dodgers hat from Fanatics. To entice the customer, the company offered a $30 bonus bet on their sportsbook for purchasing the item.

Wow! @Fanatics is giving a bonus bet to anyone who buys something from their website?!

It’s evident that kids won’t be allowed to exploit the promotion, but offering it to anyone who adds an item to their cart? Seriously?

The situation depicted in the picture poses significant challenges for both the individuals involved and the entire industry. pic.twitter.com/2WGmPhizOY

On May 17, 2024, Jamie Salsburg (@jamiesalsburg) tweeted.

Fanatics aims to be a comprehensive destination for sports enthusiasts, but it is expected that the shop and sportsbook will continue to operate independently. Therefore, residents of New York should not anticipate the ability to seamlessly switch between the Fanatics shop site and sportsbook within a unified platform. This separation is necessary to prevent underage individuals from being drawn towards sports betting.

Fanatics can’t continue getting out of line with sportsbook promos

The specific OCCC rule that Fanatics violated with its apparel purchasing sportsbook promotion remains uncertain. However, the most evident and apparent concern is that it could attract individuals who are underage and not legally eligible to participate in sports betting.

Once Fanatics New York is launched, it will possess the capability to filter out individuals below the age of 21 who attempt to register. When creating an account on sportsbooks, users are obliged to provide personal information, including their date of birth.

However, when an individual is browsing Fanatics’ apparel site and clicks on a desired item, Fanatics lacks the capability to confirm the person’s age eligibility for gambling. Fanatics would be able to verify the age if the individual signs in to their Fanatics shop account while browsing the site. Unfortunately, if the person does not possess an account, this verification becomes impossible.

Sports betting advertisements and marketing have faced increased restrictions throughout North America, primarily aiming to prevent sportsbooks from targeting the younger demographic.

The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) voted unanimously earlier this year to implement more stringent regulations for gaming operators. One key provision in the new set of rules states:

“Restricting the promotion of advertisements to an anticipated target audience that may include individuals below the legal age.”

It remains to be seen if Fanatics can successfully integrate its apparel offerings with sportsbooks to attract customers to the betting aspect of the business. However, the challenge lies in avoiding the promotion of sportsbook marketing to underage bettors. Striking the right balance is crucial.