Fanatics Becomes First Sportsbook to Offer Prediction Platform

Michael Savio
By: Michael Savio
Sports Betting
Photo by Negative Space, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo by Negative Space, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Key Takeaways

  • Fanatics has launched its new prediction platform in ten states
  • The platform is live in four states that have regulated sports betting markets
  • FanDuel and DraftKings are expected to launch their own platforms soon

Fanatics may have just changed sports betting forever.

The sportsbooks stunned the industry by launching their new prediction platform in ten states through a partnership with Crypto.com. The platform will offer markets for sports, despite warnings from regulators considering pulling their sportsbook licenses. The initial launch included four states with legal sports betting markets. 

The launch makes Fanatics the first major online sportsbook to offer prediction markets.

Fanatics Beats FanDuel, DraftKings to Market

Before today, the expectation was that either FanDuel or DraftKings would become the first major sportsbook to market. The industry giants have been public about their plans to launch prediction platforms, including for sports, soon.

Fanatics had been reported to pursuing a prediction platform, but the quick launch left many around the sports betting industry stunned. Now, the growing sportsbook will have a major headstart on its two rivals, with a chance to win over their customers.

Underdog already has a prediction platform, but they only offer sports betting in North Carolina. They abandoned plans to expand it, choosing to focus instead on the new industry.

Launch Includes Four Sports Betting Markets

Unlike their top rivals, Fanatics is not limiting its sports markets to states without regulated sports betting. 

The operator's initial launch included Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Maine has two online operators, while the other three are monopolies. While this will draw the ire of regulators, residents may be eager to look for more sports betting options, making the risk worth it.

The next round of launches for Fanatics is also expected to include Florida. While the market is one of the country’s largest, the Seminole Tribe owns a monopoly on it. That could make it vulnerable to sports prediction operators like Fanatics.

Is The Battle to Stop Sports Contracts Over?

While the bipartisan opposition to sports prediction platforms remains strong and has seen some legal success, that hasn’t stopped three of the country’s top sportsbooks from pursuing them. That shows operators believe the industry isn’t going anywhere, and it's easy to see why.

ESPN made an announcement this week that it would integrate DraftKings’ sports prediction platform into its platforms as part of a new partnership. While not directly involved in the operation of the platform, Disney, which owns ESPN, is now invested in the industry’s future. 

Disney is a massive ally, as is the soon-to-launch platform from Trump Media. Add in the support of the country’s two largest sportsbooks, and it seems the power and resources are far too great for the opposition to overcome. While political uncertainty could change that, it doesn’t appear these controversial markets are going anywhere. 

Michael is a writer from Denver who covers the sports betting industry for Casino.com. He has been covering the industry for over four years, focusing on providing accurate and easy-to-understand information for readers. When he’s not covering the industry, he’s betting on sports or exploring everything that Colorado has to offer.