Fanatics Sportsbook at Progressive Field has shut down just months shy of its second opening anniversary, another setback to the viability of retail sports gambling in Ohio. Crain's Cleveland Business first reported the shutdown before it was later confirmed by the Cleveland Guardians, which revealed no further news on the closure.
Key Takeaways
- Fanatics retail sportsbook closes just two years after opening
- The sportsbook previously opened in 2023 at the Guardians' stadium, Progressive Field
- Despite retail sportsbooks lacking, online sports betting reached a new high of $9 billion throughout 2024
Just outside the right field district gate of Progressive Field, the Fanatics Sportsbook, which debuted in August 2023, was a former New Era sports merchandise outlet. The retail facility was on the small side and included two betting windows, four self-service kiosks, and seven TV monitors. Despite its perfect location close to the Guardians' home stadium, the sportsbook never gained traction.
The shutdown coincides with the Guardians' home opener on April 8 and follows a pattern of underperformance across retail sportsbooks in Ohio. Since January of 2023, almost all betting action has moved to Ohio legal online sports betting sites.
According to state records, Ohioans bet around $9 billion on sports in 2024. However, an estimated 98% of those bets were made online, reflecting the increasing hold of online betting platforms.
The Crain's report cites financial performance data to support the sportsbook's struggles. The Fanatics Sportsbook lost an estimated $226,000 in 2024 and consistently had the lowest gross receipts among Ohio's 14 retail sportsbooks. In February 2025 alone, the building accepted only $19,018 worth of total bets, generating only $4,489 in revenue, compared to Fanatics' online sportsbook, which generated $1.5 million that month.
This closure mimics a move made by the Cleveland Cavaliers. In August 2024, the NBA franchise transformed its Caesars Sportsbook, which had occupied over 10,000 square feet of space on two levels, into a high-end hospitality zone called the Caesars Atrium Club.
It is currently being used by Cavs United members and Caesars Rewards members as an event and hospitality space.
Guardians-Fanatics partnership to remain in place
Even though the on-site sportsbook retail operation shut its doors, the Guardians' overall deal with Fanatics is expected to continue. The club had signed a multi-year contract with the sports merchandise and gambling company in 2023.
However, the alliance will not be recurring for online sports betting. The Guardians had already signed an exclusive mobile sports betting agreement with bet365, a top company in the gambling field.
Since the shutdown, only three retail sportsbooks have remained open in the Greater Cleveland market. Those include locations at JACK Cleveland Casino, JACK Thistledown Racino, and MGM Northfield Park. A retail book is also available in Youngstown at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
Several other Northeast Ohio organizations hold retail sportsbook licenses to operate but have not yet opened their facilities. They are the Cleveland Browns, the Hall of Fame Village in Canton, and the Spire Institute & Academy in Geneva.
