Fanatics Sportsbook Review
Fanatics Sportsbook is the official online sportsbook of sports apparel, merchandise, and memorabilia retailer Fanatics. It launched in August 2023, following an exhaustive six-month beta period. Fanatics Sportsbook is now available to bettors 21+ in eligible states.
Fanatics Sportsbook leverages its nearly unlimited financial resources, strong brand recognition, existing relationships with professional sports leagues, and widespread market access to compete with the likes of DraftKings and FanDuel in the US sports betting industry.
However, all these advantages will mean very little if the app isn’t adored by sports bettors. So far, the outlook is promising, as Fanatics Sportsbook has already integrated a number of in-demand features and other nuances that differentiate it from the pack, if only modestly.
There’s still work to be done if Fanatics hopes to gain significant market share, but given the company’s high-profile status and willingness to listen to its users, we expect most shortcomings to be addressed.
In this Fanatics Sportsbook review, BettingUSA takes a deep dive into the highly anticipated app, points out its strengths and weaknesses, and details its welcome bonus for new users.
- Live in 19 States
- $1000 Welcome Bonus
- Earn 5% FanCash On Bets
Pros
Fast Responsive AppGenerous Loyalty ProgramInnovative Search FeaturesSpeedy WithdrawalsCons
Hard to Find In-Play MarketsLack of Recurring PromotionsLimited Sports Betting MarketsFocus On MerchandiseWhich States Is Fanatics Sportsbook Available In?
Fanatics Sportsbook is licensed and available in the following states:
Bettors in additional states can expect to see more from Fanatics soon, thanks to its $225 million purchase of PointsBet Sportsbook in June 2023. The acquisition cleared the way for Fanatics to launch in 12 more states by assuming control over PointsBets’ licenses in those states, pending regulatory approval. PointsBet has already migrated existing customer accounts to the Fanatics Sportsbook platform in most of those states.
Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code
Title | Details |
---|---|
Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code | Not Required |
Sportsbook Bonus | Bet $5+ for Ten Days; Get up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets |
Eligible States | AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, NC, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, and WV |
Eligibility Period | Bonus Bets expire 7 days after issuance |
There is no promo code associated with this offer. Simply create a Fanatics ID and verify your identity, and the bonus will be automatically applied.
Fanatics Sportsbook Bonus Details
New Fanatics Sportsbook customers can get up to $1,000 in bonus bets spread across their first ten days by signing up for accounts and betting on sports.
After signing up, new customers receive a 100% bet-and-get offer worth up to $100 every day for ten days.
For example, a new user who places a $50 wager on their first day will receive a $50 bonus bet, regardless of the qualifying wager’s outcome. The bettor in this example will receive their $50 bonus bet within 72 hours and may claim the offer up to nine more times.
Bettors can pick and choose which days they claim the offer, but it’s only available for ten days total. Anyone who claims the bonus every day can get up to $1,000 in bonus bets in total.
Here’s how it works:
- Sign up for a Fanatics Sportsbook account and deposit funds
- Place a $5+ straight bet, parlay, or same-game parlay on any or all of your first ten days as a customer
- Each day you place a qualifying bet, you’ll receive a bonus bet of equal value worth up to $100
- The promotion starts the day you register and lasts for nine additional days
- You do not need to opt-in on your first day
- You must opt-in each day thereafter
Fanatics has yet to roll out many other promotions, except for some scattered odds boosts with $50 max limits. BettingUSA expects this to change as Fanatics ramps up its marketing, but details are sparse at this time.
Fanatics Sportsbook Loyalty Program: FanCash
Fanatics Sportsbook has launched a very simplistic yet effective loyalty program that may just offer better value than some more comprehensive and nuanced rewards systems.
All bettors earn FanCash on their real-money wagers. This virtual currency is the same credit issued to retail customers enrolled in the Fanatics MVP program.
Earn rates are as follows:
- 5% FanCash on same game parlays
- 3% FanCash on parlays
- 1% FanCash on straight bets and SGP/parlays made using an odds boost
FanCash can be redeemed for merchandise discounts on Fanatics.com or for bonus bets. The minimum redemption threshold for bonus bets is just $0.10. This is extremely refreshing considering most online sportsbooks only allow loyalty earnings to be redeemed in $1 or $5 increments.
Once issued, bonus bets can only be applied to one wager and must be used within 90 days. To get around this restriction, merely redeem your FanCash in increments you’re comfortable with.
Two points of note. The first is that Fanatics deserves credit for being semi-transparent about same game parlays and their massive house edge. The fact that SGPs award a bigger kickback than regular parlays clearly illustrates just how “juiced up” they really are.
Secondly, although the rewards seem minimal, they’re actually quite substantial relative to a bettor’s expected loss. To clarify, bettors who place straight bets usually give up about 4-5% to the house. Assuming bonus bets are worth about half their cash value (more if utilized correctly), bettors will receive about 10 – 15% of their theoretical losses back. Similar lossback rates apply to parlay and SGP bettors.
Savvy bettors who line shop and only place wagers on Fanatics Sportsbook at the best available odds can probably get up to 25 – 30% of their theoretical losses returned.
How To Register A Fanatics Sportsbook Account
For a legal sports betting site, Fanatics Sportsbook has a surprisingly breezy registration process:
- Create your Fanatics ID and choose a password
- Click “Verify Your Identity”
- Enter your full name, and then your DOB on the next screen
- On the following screen, enter your address
- Enter the last four digits of your SSN. This information is required by state gaming regulators and is used to verify a customer’s identity and for tax purposes
- On the final page, make sure all of your info is correct and agree to the terms of service.
Once your identity is verified, you’ll be brought to the main sports betting page. From there, feel free to browse the lines, customize your settings from the “Your Account” page, or initiate a real-money deposit from the cashier.
Bettors from any jurisdiction can conduct these actions. However, you’ll have to be geolocated in a state where Fanatics is licensed to start placing real-money wagers.
The Fanatics Sportsbook welcome bonus is automatically applied to customer accounts, and all bonus bets will be received within 72 hours of placing a $10+ sportsbook wager, on any market.
Note to Former PointsBet Customers: Fanatics Sportsbook has migrated former PointsBet customers’ accounts and balances to the new platform in most states where Fanatics is live.
In those states, bettors can visit sportsbook.fanatics.com or download the Fanatics Sportsbook app and log in with their existing usernames and passwords. The exceptions are Maryland and Ohio, where former PointsBet customers must sign up for new accounts following the six steps outlined above.
Fanatics Sportsbook Deposit Options
Fanatics Sportsbook launched with a healthy number of depositing options, although not as many as more established online sportsbooks.
- Debit Card (Minimum Deposit: $5): Deposit using a debit card from an eligible bank. Note that some issuing institutions will reject debit card transactions.
- PayPal (Minimum Deposit: $5): Link your personal PayPal account to Fanatics for instant deposits. The PayPal account must be in the same name as your Fanatics account. Additionally, PayPal only permits customers to use verified bank accounts or existing balances for deposits to betting sites (funds uploaded via credit/debit card may not be used for online gambling).
- Venmo (Minimum Deposit: $5): Use your existing Venmo account to transfer funds instantly to Fanatics Sportsbook. Fanatics Sportsbook also allows customers to withdraw as little as $1 via Venmo.
- ACH/Instant Bank Transfer (Minimum Deposit: $5): Transfer funds directly from a linked checking account. Instant approval.
- Apple Pay (Minimum Deposit: $5): Fanatics is one of the few online sportsbooks to accept Apple Pay payments. This depositing method has high approval rates and instant turnarounds.
- Wire Transfer (Minimum Deposit: $5,000): Bettors looking to make large, secure deposits can wire funds directly from their bank account. It’ll take about two hours from the time a wire is received for the funds to show up in your account.
- Cash @ Retail (Minimum Deposit: $10): Receive a barcode from Fanatics and bring it to the nearest participating retailer. Once the funds are received by a cashier they’ll be loaded within 15 minutes to your Fanatics Sportsbook account.
Notable omissions include credit card payments and Play+ prepaid debit cards, although these depositing methods could certainly be implemented at a later date.
How To Withdraw From Fanatics Sportsbook
As for Fanatics Sportsbook withdrawals, bettors can initiate payouts via the following methods:
- ACH/Instant Bank Transfer
- PayPal
- Debit Card
- Check by mail
- Venmo
Fanatics Sportsbook indicates that withdrawals take about 2-3 days to process, except for paper checks which take 7-10 days. However, there are multiple reports of customers receiving their payouts instantaneously.
Also, the minimum withdrawal amount for ACH, debit card, Venmo, and PayPal requests is just $1. That’s simply unheard of in the online sports betting industry and a compelling reason for micro bettors to give Fanatics a whirl.
A First Look At Fanatics Sportsbook
The Fanatics Sportsbook app is available for iOS- and Android-powered devices, and can be downloaded directly from the App Store or Google Play. Bettors can also visit Sportsbook.Fanatics.com from their browser, and click on “Get Access.”
Currently, there is no way to access the sportsbook from desktop or laptop computers.
Originally conceived as BetFanatics, Fanatics Sportsbooks has come a long way since it began beta testing. These days, bettors are treated to an app that is relatively polished, visually gratifying, and stocked with highly customizable quality-of-life features.
Fanatics is also highly responsive to user input and does a respectable job of streamlining the betting process. There isn’t much here that revolutionizes the online sports betting genre, but Fanatics gets a nod for a few unique innovations.
However, Fanatics Sportsbook doesn’t offer nearly as many betting markets as its fiercest competitors, and some of its design choices miss the mark. On top of that, there are a few glaring software bugs that greatly diminish the overall betting experience, and may hurt Fanatics’ bottom line if they’re not squashed.
The rest of this Fanatics Sportsbook review will examine each facet of its mobile app, including its betting markets, odds, interface, and special features.
Fanatics Sportsbook Betting Markets
Fanatics Sportsbook supports what can be best described as a fair number of sports markets. All the major professional leagues like the MLB, NFL, and NBA receive ample coverage, as do college basketball and football, but some international and niche sports are either covered sporadically or absent entirely.
Sports markets vary slightly by season, but these are the markets available at the time of this writing:
- Baseball
- Basketball (NBA, WNBA, and NCAAB)
- Football (NFL, NCAAF, and CFL)
- Hockey
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Golf
- MMA
- Motor Sports (NASCAR and F1)
- Table Tennis
- Volleyball
Popular international sports like rugby and cricket are practically nowhere to be found, and the soccer betting menu only displays a few leagues. Fanatics Sportsbook doesn’t do much better when it comes to guilty pleasures like cycling, darts, handball, and snooker.
On the other hand, Fanatics boasts a very active tennis market and hangs a decent variety of bets for popular US pro and college sports. Admittedly, even the most fleshed-out betting markets still feel sparse compared to the industry’s biggest players, but at least a concerted effort is being made.
Fanatics Sportsbook offers the following bet types, in greater or lesser volume depending on the market:
- Moneylines: Two-way and three-way moneylines (where applicable) are offered
- Spreads: These markets include a healthy array of alternative spreads for major professional and collegiate sports
- Totals: Fanatics tends to offer as many alternative totals as alternative spreads
- Props: Game, props, and team props are available for major sports; less so for smaller markets
- Derivatives: Bettors can place wagers on the first five innings of an MLB game, or the 1st quarter/half of NBA and NFL games, among other partial game wagers
- Parlays: Bettors can stack several bets together from different games to form a parlay, or from a single game to create a same game parlay. Fanatics SGP menus are reasonably dense, offering everything from spreads, totals, game props, and player props.
- Futures: Fanatics offers futures on select sports, although the betting options are limited
- In-play: Bettors are treated to a suitable menu of in-play options, spanning props, main markets like spreads, and alternative lines. There’s even a limited capacity to create in-play SGPs.
At present, the two biggest omissions are teasers and round robins. Typically, these options can be selected from the bet slip, but on Fanatics they’re nowhere to be found.
Fanatics Sportsbook Betting Odds
Fanatics Sportsbook’s core platform and sports wagering system is powered by source code from Amelco. Previously, Amelco provided code for several now-defunct US sportsbooks, including FOX Bet, Fubo, PlayUP, and WynnBet. That may not be the most glowing resume, but these brands failed for reasons that extended beyond their platforms and betting odds.
Fanatics will receive a second data feed once its acquisition of PointsBet is complete, which should help to sharpen its sports betting tech even further. PointsBet is currently powered by Banach Technology, which it acquired for $43 million in 2021.
A cursory glance at Fanatics Sportsbook’s betting odds reveals pricing that is pretty much in line with industry standards. Fanatics does take its own positions at a greater clip than the average US sportsbook, but not by a significant margin.
The vigorish levied on most wagers is also aligned with the larger US sports betting industry. A few notable comparisons:
- The house edge on popular MLB main market bets like run lines, totals, and moneylines ran slightly higher on Fanatics compared to FanDuel and DraftKings, but lower than BetMGM
- Prop margins were roughly the same across the board compared to DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, and BetMGM, although Fanatics was a bit more prone to take positions on exotic markets
- Fanatics bettors will pay slightly higher taxes on NFL moneylines compared to most other major sportsbooks. However, point spreads and totals were priced at standard -110/-110 odds
- The vigorish on Super Bowl futures was 19.1%, and on NFC/AFC Conference Championship futures, it was 14.5%. In both cases, that’s considered better than average.
The one area where Fanatics Sportsbook really stood out was its NFL alternative lines. Not only does the app post more than 60+ early alt spreads and totals for every NFL game, but the house edge averages out to under 5%.
In short, Fanatics Sportsbook should be on every smart line shopper’s smartphone, if only because it takes minor positions on some lines and offers great betting odds on alternative lines.
Fanatics Sports Betting App
While there’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about the Fanatics Sportsbook app, it does challenge quite a few traditional development norms. In some cases, its ambitious design philosophy pays off, and in others, it falls short of the target.
The differences are apparent right from the get, starting with Fanatics’ extremely visual and unconventional homepage. Instead of merely listing odds for live and upcoming games of interest, the homepage weaves in banners and displays for odds boosts, promoted prop bets, futures markets, and marquee events.
Also, it appears that the homepage is suited to a bettor’s preferences. For instance, someone who constantly browses Premier League lines is more likely to see soccer markets listed above the fold. It’s certainly an innovative approach to sportsbook design and one that sports fans should appreciate, but it all feels too dizzying.
Furthermore, there simply aren’t enough lines posted on the homepage. Whereas other online sportsbooks may list 50-100 events, Fanatics tops out at about 20.
Bettors can access different betting markets from one of the many navigational bars scattered throughout the homepage, or more reliably, by tapping “Schedule.” From this page, betting odds are listed in a more traditional format. However, there are a few issues.
The first is that there’s no apparent way to display leagues in a condensed view. This isn’t a huge deal when it comes to markets like football and baseball, but for sports like soccer that span hundreds of leagues, pinpointing games can be frustrating.
On a more positive note, the app loads incredibly fast, lines update quickly, and the software is highly responsive to user input. The bet slip is a little glitchy but a simple patch should address any withstanding issues.
Fanatics Betting App: Special Features
Fanatics Sportsbook has integrated a few nuances into its app, that if fully realized, could eventually shape how others evolve their mobile betting platforms:
- Advanced search feature: From the homepage, bettors can search by league, team, or event, and Fanatics Sportsbook will return all available bets within the specified market. They can even query by player. For instance, if a bettor types “Pete Alonso” into the search bar, they’ll get immediate access to all of his player props, as opposed to having to dig through various submenus and categories.
- Quick bets: Bettors can save three different “Quick Bet” sizes in their bet slips. From that point forward, they can simply tap on the bet size they’d like to use, and it’ll be instantly inputted into the wagering field. This proves a huge time saver for bettors who consistently use the same unit sizes.
- User customization: Not only does Fanatics Sportsbook use algorithms to personalize your homepage, but you can go to the account management section to customize your Quick Bet features, odds display, and notifications.
- Same Game Parlays: Popular SGPs were part of Fanatics Sportsbook’s launch product and are already well fleshed out. Eligible markets have an integrated SGP tab where bettors can easily piece together their wagers. Fanatics displays odds for all SGP legs, which is a nice touch that other sportsbooks would be nice to employ. Bettors can place SGPs one at a time or combine multiple SGPs from different games into “SGP Stacks.”
Fanatics Sportsbook In-Play Wagering
It’s fairly evident that Fanatics Sportsbook realizes the importance of providing a solid in-play experience. For major sporting events, in-play menus have as wide a scope as pregame markets.
Live betting lines update quickly, and the odds are generally in line with industry norms. For instance, if a pregame spread is listed at -110/-110 then the in-play line is usually just a tick higher, usually around -113/-113 to -115/-115. The extra juice is offset by market uncertainty.
As mentioned, there’s no way to exclusively access in-play markets, but most live games are listed from either the homepage or within individual market pages.
In order to keep up with the competition, Fanatics will need more in-play features. Right now, there are no microbetting options and bettors don’t have the ability to stream events or view advanced game stats from within the app. The ability to place granular bets on the outcome of the next at-bat in baseball, or next possession in basketball, and to view them unfolding in near real-time is quickly becoming industry standard.
Fanatics Sportsbook Customer Service
Fanatics Sportsbook offers a dedicated Help Center that’s well-fleshed out and intelligently categorized. Bettors should have no problem finding answers to the most queries. Help Center topics can be sorted by topic or by “Trending”.
BettingUSA found the latter option particularly helpful because it led us to the most common questions other bettors had about the app,
There’s also an option to chat with support. Upon initiating the chat option, customers will first have to navigate an automated system that was surprisingly helpful — a first for the sports betting industry. In addition, it was fairly easy to bypass the system and chat with an agent via live chat, send an email, or submit feedback.
The Fanatics Sportsbook Origin Story
Fanatics Sportsbook has been in the works for several years at a minimum. The earliest indication that removed all doubt occurred in June 2021, when Fanatics hired former FanDuel CEO Matt King as the head of Fanatics Betting & Gaming.
Fanatics also made a play at the New York sports betting market in 2021 by submitting a bid for one of the state’s nine online sportsbook licenses. The bid failed after New York regulators selected other operators that already have experience in the US market. However, Fanatics may get another crack at the New York market after completing its purchase of PointsBet, which has NY market access.
Fanatics Sportsbook has only ramped up its preparations since. In May 2022, Sports Business Journal reported that Fanatics had posted a LinkedIn note that included notices of 40 job openings at Fanatics Betting & Gaming. Later, Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin announced plans to sell his stake in Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, the parent company of the 76ers and New Jersey Devils, because league rules prohibit team owners from operating sports betting platforms.
In October 2022, Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin said his company would offer online sports betting in every regulated US state except New York in time for the 2023 NFL season. Rubin has since walked that prediction back a bit, but he still says the company will be live in upwards of a dozen states by then.
Fanatics Sportsbook Acquires PointsBet US
In early 2022, rumors began swirling that Fanatics was considering buying and rebranding an established sports betting operator. Rubin initially denied the rumors when he stated:
“We’ll grow organically and by M&A, but we’re not interested in any M&A in the US… In the US, the companies are losing so much money, they just aren’t attractive acquisition targets for us yet. Overseas, there’s much better businesses that could be interesting.”
However, the acquisition rumors persisted. One report indicated Fanatics was in talks to acquire competing online sportsbook Tipico, but talk of that deal faded without action.
Instead, Fanatics Sportsbook announced a $150 million deal with PointsBet to purchase the company’s US assets, including its sports betting and online casino operations. If approved by shareholders and regulators, the deal would grant Fanatics Sportsbook access to a sizable chunk of states with legal online sports betting via PointsBet’s existing market access agreements.
Fanatics Sportsbook State Markets
Fanatics Sportsbook has aggressive expansion plans and is steadily expanding its reach as it launches in new states. Check back often for the latest on which states Fanatics Sportsbook serves.
Fanatics Sportsbook FAQ
Expert Opinion: Is Fanatics Sportsbook Legit?
Yes. Fanatics Sportsbook is the product of Fanatics, Inc, the nation’s largest sports merchandise and collectibles retailer. In addition, Fanatics Sportsbook will only operate in states where it has sports betting licenses.
That’s not to say Fanatics Sportsbook has been fine-tuned to perfection. The app is a bit glitchy, the UI can be jarring, and there’s a desire for more betting markets. Yet, on the whole, it’s a well-conceived betting app that offers fair odds, modern conveniences, and solid kickbacks.
Fanatics Sportsbook’s biggest challenge will be scratching out market share in the highly competitive online sports betting industry. Operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings have been involved in daily fantasy and sports betting for over a decade. They have name-brand recognition, experience, and established user bases.
However, Fanatics, Inc. has the benefits of immense funding, a wide advertising footprint, and a database of over 80 million existing customers. Getting its name in front of potential bettors will be the least of its challenges.