Fanatics sportsbooks secured a partnership with the Washington Spirit, granting it access to the D.C. sports betting market.
A Thursday announcement from both parties confirmed the deal, which is Fanatics’ first in women’s team sports. The Spirit is one of several teams and venues that may grant sports betting operators online betting privileges with a partnership deal provided the sportsbook achieves regulatory approval.
Fanatics joins BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings and FanDuel on the list of authorized operators in the fast-growing D.C. market.
Fanatics continues its growth
Fanatics, dubbed the “most rewarding sportsbook” in the joint-press release, has shown an unwavering commitment to expansion since it launched online in August 2023.
“As we continue to build out our sports betting business, we are excited to partner with the Washington Spirit,” said Ari Borod, Fanatics Betting and Gaming’s Chief Business Officer. “We will look to grow the Fanatics Sportsbook alongside the growing popularity of women’s soccer and women’s sports generally across the country.”
The deal is also an important milestone for the Spirit and women’s sports, which have grown in popularity in part due to the rise of sports betting.
The Spirit, an inaugural member of the NWSL, formed just 12 years ago, are second in the league table. The partnership will include in-stadium activation events such as trivia and penalty shootouts, in which fans will compete for Fanatics’ FanCash and other memorabilia.
This is another indication of the momentum surrounding the Spirit and women’s sports,” said Washington Spirit CEO Kim Stone. “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 better experiences for our fans.”
The D.C. shake-up continues
Fanatics is now live in 22 states and Washington D.C. It was granted the opportunity to join the D.C. market after local regulators pivoted away from a monopolized ecosystem to one with open competition.
Previously, Greek Gaming Company Intralot used GambetDC (and later subcontracted FanDuel) to service the entire D.C. area. BetMGM and Caesars, which had in-person sportsbooks at Nationals Park and Capital One Arena, were allowed to offer sports betting anywhere within a two-block radius of their retail locations.
The D.C. City Council in June unanimously approved a FY2025 plan, which allowed all existing Type-A operators to offer online sports betting throughout the district and new suitors to obtain Type-C operator’s licenses.
One of the biggest motivations for change was that the local sports betting market drastically underperformed expectations, generating roughly $80 million fewer in taxes than what was expected during the first four years.
Type-C licenses cost $2 million for the first five years and $1 million at every renewal. Operators will pay 30 percent of their gross gaming revenue in taxes.
In other D.C. news, Caesars announced last week that it was launching 52 betting kiosks in small businesses throughout the district. The kiosks will replace those installed by GambetDC.
