Fanatics Betting and Gaming (FBG) introduced its first online casino apps on Aug. 31. Gamblers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia saw its “PointsBet, a Fanatics Experience” rebranding. The Fanatics online casinos are the result of regulatory approvals in eight legal online gambling states following its purchase of PointsBet USA‘s holdings for $225 million.
That change meant that when Bonus logged onto the app today from Philadelphia, the “PointsBet, a Fanatics Experience” logo appeared in the upper lefthand corner. Plus, the new app allowed a thumb-tap toggle between the sportsbook and casino functions.
While Bonus did have to download the new app, the old email and login information immediately activated the new app. (After completing the multifactor authentication process.)
Additionally, in the press release FBG emailed to Bonus yesterday, the company said the online casinos are in addition to its online sportsbooks in these eight states:
- Colorado
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- West Virginia
The announcement sent to Bonus says FBG will have “a portfolio of brands live in 11 legal sports betting states as football season begins, with more to close soon.
Fanatics Sportsbook is already live in Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Tennessee. (The overlapping state is Maryland, which had both brands.)
As FBG’s announcement informed Bonus yesterday:
As each state closes and officially becomes part of Fanatics Betting and Gaming, customers in such state will see PointsBet rebranded to ‘PointsBet, a Fanatics Experience,’ with additional state closings to continue throughout the year. Customers in Indiana and Illinois will see PointsBet rebranded to ‘PointsBet, a Fanatics Experience’ in the coming months, but the operating businesses of PointsBet USA in Indiana and Illinois will continue to be operated by PointsBet USA without interruption until Fanatics Betting and Games closes those states later this year.
Michigan Next of 4 Fanatics Online Casinos
Fanatics’ online casinos will include Michigan, but not yet. Plus, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia gamblers may see a proprietary FBG online casino launched later this year in the US.
For now, Michiganders will continue to use PointsBet Casino.
The FBG announcement said PointsBet USA sites remain for bettors in Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio until FBG can “close on select states individually.”
FBG CEO Matt King said of PointsBet USA in the FBG press release:
We are excited about what we are building at Fanatics Betting and Gaming and this acquisition accelerates our plans. We have a 10-year plan that focuses on the customer and not market share. We are going to acquire customers efficiently, allowing us to return savings to customers by investing in the customer experience at Fanatics Sportsbook and PointsBet, a Fanatics Experience.
Part of that experience is the FBG loyalty program and promotional items from Fanatics. FBG’s parent company is a sports merchandise etailer.
FBG sent Bonus information today about one of those promotions, called The Fanatics Jersey Drop:
New customers, who sign up for Fanatics Sportsbook on iOS and Android or PointsBet on iOS and Android, even in states that are not yet branded PointsBet, A Fanatics Experience, between September 1 and September 18 and opt into the The Fanatics Jersey Drop promotion.
A wager of $50 or more “on any market (minimum -500 odds)” will earn them “a reward credit to purchase team merchandise” valued at up to $150 on the etailer’s site for “any sport, any player, any league.”
This promotion is different from one that got FBG in hot water in May in Ohio.
As PlayUSA reported:
The Ohio Casino Control Commission demanded the sports apparel vendor pull a promotion in which potential Ohio players receive ‘bonus wagers’ equal to the value of the purchase price of some sports merchandise. Fanatics wisely pulled the promo.
PlayUSA and Bonus are Catena Media publications.
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