Fanatics Sportsbook debuted in Washington, D.C. on Thursday after entering into a partnership agreement with the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
Fanatics Sportsbook is now the team’s official sports betting platform. The D.C. sports betting market becomes the 23rd jurisdiction to welcome the online operator.
Washington Spirit ? Fanatics Sportsbook
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) September 12, 2024
The first @FanaticsBook partnership with a women’s sports team and the first sportsbook partnership in NWSL history!https://t.co/cVV3O9qhg3
“As we continue to build out our sports betting business, we are excited to partner with the Washington Spirit,” said Ari Borod, chief business officer of Fanatics Betting and Gaming. “We will look to grow the Fanatics Sportsbook alongside the growing popularity of women’s soccer and women’s sports generally across the country.”
Sports fans living in and visiting the Nation’s Capital can now download the Fanatics Sportsbook app and customers from the neighboring Virginia and Maryland sports betting markets can utilize a connected wallet with no interrupted service while in the District.
The Fanatics Sportsbook is now live in Washington D.C. ?
— Fanatics Sportsbook (@FanaticsBook) September 12, 2024
Sign Up: https://t.co/R4wXHh0dGv pic.twitter.com/6pvrfGR3PV
The Spirit play at Audi Field where FanDuel has a retail sportsbook location. This partnership with Fanatics will include in-stadium activations like pre-match trivia and a halftime penalty kick as well as stadium signage and digital marketing assets.
“This is another indication of the momentum surrounding the Spirit and women’s sports,” said 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 Spirit is an inaugural member of the NWSL and features a roster with numerous gold medalists, global award nominees, league champions, and rising stars.
Making moves
Fanatics Sportsbook has grown rapidly since entering the U.S. legal sports betting market last year.
The Florida-based operator launched in Louisiana in mid-September, and with the addition of the D.C. sports betting launch, it has now activated in 14 states in 2024 alone.
One of the PGA Tour’s biggest stars, Justin Thomas, also signed a partnership agreement with Fanatics Sportsbook ahead of the 2024 PGA Championship in May. In his role as an official sports betting partner of Fanatics Sportsbook, Thomas will highlight new product enhancements, create social content, and engage with the Fanatics community for the next year.
D.C. sports betting expansion
There was only one online sportsbook in D.C. up until July. FanDuel took over from struggling GambetDC on April 15 and helped the D.C. sports betting market set new all-time highs in its first full month of operation there.
Recent regulatory changes enacted in early July paved the way for a multi-operator competitive D.C. sports betting market with the likes of DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars going live this summer.
