An emerging legal sports betting operator is bolstering its retail offerings.
Fanatics Betting and Gaming has opened a brick-and-mortar sportsbook in partnership with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. The 5,000-square-foot facility, which is located near Nationwide Arena, features four betting windows and 14 self-service kiosks. It also features a full-service restaurant, a giant LED video wall, and 20 TV monitors.
Fanatics debuted its retail sportsbook in Ohio with the help of former NFL linebacker Ryan Shazier and former NHL center R.J. Umberger — two legends in the Buckeye State. The pair placed the ceremonial first bets at the new sportsbook, which included a $20 wager on Ohio State to win the college football national championship at +700 odds. Umberger also wagered $20 on the Pittsburgh Steelers to capture the AFC North division at +475.
“Having Columbus sports legends like Ryan and RJ come out and place the first bets shows that we plan to be the premier sports viewing and betting destination in the Arena District,” said Fanatics Betting and Gaming CBO Ari Borod. “The Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus will be a great complement to our online sportsbook experience for sports fans living and visiting Ohio.”
More to come
The opening of the new retail sportsbook in Ohio marks continued growth for Fanatics.
In January, the company launched Fanatics Sportsbook in Maryland. That same month, it secured a deal with the Washington Commanders to open the Fanatics Sportsbook at FedExField. The 5,000-square-foot facility, which features eight betting windows, is the first retail sportsbook inside an NFL stadium.
Fanatics has also opened a retail sportsbook at Progressive Field — the home of the Cleveland Guardians. The sportsbook is Fanatics’ first foray into retail sports wagering at an MLB stadium. Odds and markets at the 600-square-foot facility are provided by Fanatics’ in-house technology.
Fanatics is poised to add more retail wagering options and online betting sites to its portfolio following a major acquisition. Earlier this year, the company agreed to purchase PointsBet’s U.S. business in a deal valued at roughly $225 million. The offer was then contested by DraftKings, which submitted a $195 million bid of its own. In June, PointsBet shareholders approved the sale of the company’s U.S. operations to Fanatics. As a result of the deal, Fanatics will have access to the more than 12 states that PointsBet is authorized in.
Those states include Colorado, Illinois, and New York — America’s largest online sports betting market. Fanatics has already gained market access in Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Kentucky — where it will go live with online wagering in September
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