Fall continues to be a busy time for new legal sports betting operators setting up shop in Virginia.
Fanatics Sportsbook announced its launch and replacement of PointsBet in the Old Dominion on Tuesday, joining ESPN BET and SuperBook as operators to enter the Virginia sports betting scene in the last month.
Fanatics is offering customers 5% back on bets in FanCash as part of a seven-day Rewards Surge. The sportsbook operator also hopes to bring in customers with an app that’s more adaptable to iOS and Android than the competition’s version.
Fanatics is also partnering with the NBA, NHL, MLB, and other sportsbooks on a responsible gaming campaign beginning with an advertisement during Tuesday's NBA games.
Expanding the brand
Fanatics Holdings acquired and absorbed PointsBet’s U.S.-based operations in June. Its new online platform in Virginia can be accessed by PointsBet customers, who can still use their login for the new live Fanatics app.
Fanatics, which is synonymous with sports retail and memorabilia, got into the gaming industry in 2021 and has gone live with its online sports betting sites in Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
Fanatics also runs three retail sportsbooks, including one at FedEx Field, home of the Washington Commanders. It’s the first brick-and-mortar operation inside an NFL stadium.
Virginia is for sports bettors
Fanatics hopes its affiliation with the Commanders helps in a competitive state.
Sports betting went live in Old Dominion in January 2021 and currently has 16 sportsbook operators.
Like in other states, Fanatics is vying for Virginia sports betting market share against some of the heaviest hitters in the industry, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, bet365, and BetRivers.
Virginia topped a $500 million handle in September and grossed over $45 million in adjusted revenue for the month.
