D.C.’s online sports betting market is growing again as Fanatics Sportsbook has secured market access.
Fanatics has partnered with the Washington Spirit to become the NWSL pro women’s soccer team’s official sports betting partner. The deal gives it the right to launch its online sports betting platform across D.C. and includes marketing assets such as in-stadium signage, digital marketing and activations at the Spirit’s Audi Field stadium.
Fanatics is a league-wide sponsor of the NWSL, but this is the company’s first deal with a pro women’s sports team.
The company already operates a sportsbook inside Commanders Field in Landover, Maryland, five miles east of Washington, D.C. It is expected to launch online sports betting across the district on Sept. 12.
“As we continue to build out our sports betting business, we are excited to partner with the Washington Spirit,” said Fanatics Chief Business Officer, Ari Borod. “We will look to grow the Fanatics Sportsbook alongside the growing popularity of women’s soccer and women’s sports generally across the country.”
“We’re excited to announce our groundbreaking partnership with Fanatics Sportsbook,” said Washington Spirit CEO Kim Stone. “This is another indication of the momentum surrounding the Spirit and women’s sports. This collaboration gives us the chance to enter the sports betting space with a trusted brand, all while staying true to our commitment to integrity, empowering women, and creating great experiences for our fans.”
D.C. will be Fanatics Sportsbook’s 23rd U.S. jurisdiction. It launched in its 22nd state, Louisiana, in mid-August. As well as online sports betting in those markets and its retail sportsbooks near Washington, D.C., Fanatics operates retail sportsbooks at Progressive Field and Nationwide Arena in Ohio. It added to its land-based gaming presence just last week by opening a sportsbook at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City on Sept. 5.
DC market continues to swell
Just two months ago, FanDuel was the only commercial sports betting operator allowed to offer wagering across D.C. through its partnership with the D.C. Lottery. The Flutter-owned sportsbook has a partnership with Audi Field.
Since then, the district has opened up its market to welcome BetMGM, Caesars and DraftKings, the latter of which is paired with Audi Field’s other tenant, MLS soccer team D.C. United.
Last month, revenue figures showed that D.C’s overall online sports betting handle was up 254.1% year over year in July, the first partial month with multiple district-wide operators live. D.C.’s mobile sportsbooks collectively took $27.3 million in bets and made a total of $3.9 million in revenue in July.
Year to date, D.C.’s online sports betting handle of $162.8 million is up 65.4% compared to January to July 2023.
Meanwhile, Caesars, which went live with D.C. mobile sports betting on Jul;y 17 through a tether to Capital One Arena, has struck an agreement with the D.C. Office of Lottery and Gaming to exclusively offer sports betting kiosks for retailers. Caesars has been authorized to supply self-service kiosks to 53 businesses in D.C., replacing GambetDC as the district’s previous retail supplier.
