Fanatics Sportsbook Gains License and Launches in Washington D.C.

The sports betting market in the nation’s capital is about to get a little more crowded.

Fanatics Sportsbook was approved for a license in Washington, D.C., and launched its platform this week. The operators gained access to the market through a partnership with the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League. The deal gives Fanatics a licensing partner, making it the Spirit's official betting partner.

The online sportsbooks officially launched on Thursday, making it the fifth operator to go live in the District.

Fanatics Continues to Expand

The launch marks the twenty-second state that Fanatics Sportsbook will be live in. The operator is growing quickly and is now one of the most widely available platforms in the industry. Some of that success can be attributed to its acquisition of PointsBet, but the operator has aggressively added new markets.

The question now is if Fanatics Sportsbook can compete in the US. Their expansion has been positive, but they are often finishing outside of the top five in revenue for most markets. Overexpansion has led to problems for many operators over the years, but Fanatics hopes their well-established brand will support the quick growth.

Washington Spirit Celebrates Partnership

The partnership is also a significant win for the Washington Spirit and the NWSL. The team was an inaugural member of the new league when it launched in 2020. The deal with Fanatics not only brings in money for the club but also partners them with one of the biggest sports brands in the country. 

“We’re excited to announce our groundbreaking partnership with Fanatics Sportsbook,” Washington Spirit CEO Kim Stone said of the deal. “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.”

DC Market Growing Fast

After years of the embattled GameBetDC serving as the only online sportsbook in the District, the market now has five. The former sole operator offered an unreliable platform that was riddled and may now be under investigation by the Distrcit’s Attorney General. That led to calls for a new operator with an established track record of success. 

Washington, D.C. voted to expand its sports betting market in June. The decision came only a couple of months after they replaced GameBetDC with FanDuel, much to the chagrin of the latter.