Fanatics Betting and Gaming on Its Way to Massachusetts

• Fanatics Betting and Gaming approved by state regulators for a Category 3 online sports betting license
• Operator has one condition it must meet before launch
• The Massachusetts Gaming Condition wraps up its licensing work on tethered Category 3 online sports betting licenses

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) approved Fanatics Betting and Gaming for a tethered Massachusetts online sports betting license this morning after several days of discussion in executive session. The new sports betting operator, which is not yet live in any states it holds a license, is part of Fanatics Inc.

Soon enough in Massachusetts you’ll be able to buy a James Harden jersey, and place a bet on the talented 76ers point guard, all through the Fanatics Sportsbook brand.

When Will Fanatics Betting and Gaming Launch?

Fanatics Betting and Gaming will be tethered to the Plainridge Park Casino. It’s the second online operator to be tethered to Plainridge Park, as the MGC approved Barstool Sportsbook as an online sports betting partner for the casino two weeks ago.

The hearing for the new sports betting operator began on Jan. 4 and stretched over the last two days with executive sessions.

As part of the license approval, Commissioner Eileen O’Brien asked the operator to have a board-approved responsible gaming plan in place prior to launching in the commonwealth. Representatives for Fanatics Betting and Gaming agreed to the condition.

Prior to the start of the hearing earlier this month, it had been the hope Fanatics would give its first glimpse of its online sports betting platform to the public, but it was revealed that the product demonstration would take place in an executive session, outside of the public realm.

As for when the operator would take its first bet, not just in Massachusetts but in other states it holds a license, Fanatics Betting and Gaming CEO Matt King previously said it’s the hope of the company that it will launch its sports betting services in Q1 2023. King said Fanatics will be able to launch in line with the planned online sports betting start in March.

King also said its the goal of the company to be live in all available U.S. markets by September 2023.

The MGC still plans to launch online sports betting in Massachusetts by early March. Fanatics Betting and Gaming also holds approved sports betting licenses in Ohio and Maryland.

Fanatics Powered by Amelco

One piece of information that was revealed in the hearing is that the upcoming Fanatics online sports betting platform will be powered by source-code and software from Amelco, an international sports betting software and B2B supplier company.

Rumors of Fanatics acquiring source code from Amelco first emerged back in April 2022. Rumors were first reported of company’s interest in Amelco’s code by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, though Fanatics representatives denied the report at the time.

“We did partner with Amelco…to purchase their core-code base. This is important, because it is a proven code base and operating platform in the U.S., as well as internationally, so we feel very good that we were able to build our business on the back of a world class and proven sports wagering technology,” King previously said during the hearing.

Amelco has provided the code for a number of international online sportsbooks and several U.S. sportsbook operators as well. These include:

• BetSaracen (Arkansas online sportsbook for Saracen Casino)
• FOX Bet
• Fubo Gaming (out of business)
• PlayUP
• WynnBET

Amelco will provide Fanatics’ player account management system and online sports wagering system.