Massachussetts regulator approves Fanatics sports betting license, tethered to Plainridge Park Casino

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has voted to approve Fanatics' request for a temporary sports betting operator license. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve Fanatics for a category 3 sports betting operator license, which will be tethered to Plainridge Park Casino’s Category 1 sports wagering license.

Nonetheless, the company will need to undergo a full suitability review by the MGC's Investigations and Enforcement Bureau, after which it will also be requested to present an operations certificate and meet additional conditions to begin accepting sports wagers. 

Approval followed "multiple public meetings" of the MGC where Fanatics presented and Commissioners reviewed the entity’s application. Fanatics also agreed to approve an internal responsible gaming plan and provide that plan to the MGC.

The preliminary approval comes after the company announced earlier this month it will use Amelco's source code to power its sports betting product in the state. The MGC intends to launch retail sports betting at Category 1 licensees on January 31, with online and mobile wagering scheduled to follow in March.

"FBG will launch its online wagering platform in Q1 2023, and will deploy that product to the majority of legal online wagering states before September 2023, including the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in partnership with Plainridge Park Casino," the company said in a statement earlier this month.  

Launches have been anticipated in Ohio and Maryland. Fanatics previously secured initial approval in both jurisdictions, thus meaning that one of the two markets may mark its debut in Q1 this year.

In parallel, the MGC announced the appointment of Bruce Band to lead its new sports wagering division, in a role in which he will oversee the new division and coordinate with other divisions within the MGC including research and responsible gaming, IT, legal, and the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau.