Fanatics has gone live in several states and has its sights set on Pennsylvania in the near future. Fanatics officials told PlayPennsylvania that the app will launch in early 2024.
The imminent debut of Fanatics will give the Keystone State 21 total online casino operators.
Fanatics officials took PlayPennsylvania through a demo of its online casino, which provided some interesting nuggets.
Since Fanatics already has significant brand awareness, the new operator could pose serious competition to other PA online casinos and sportsbooks within the state.
Takeaways from Fanatics Pennsylvania online casino
After acquiring PointsBet earlier this year, Fanatics has been making waves around the country and is almost ready to launch in the Keystone State in early 2024.
Fanatics has a presence in multiple states, but debuted its first online casino in West Virginia earlier this month. Customers can expect a similar migration process West Virginia players are currently going through.
Fanatics is merging the online casino within its sportsbook app for now. The company is making sure the casino is easily accessible to customers. However, for right now, that is the only way to access its casino.
Fanatics Chief Product Officer, Scot McClintic, told PlayPennsylvania that a separate casino app is coming, but still has some hurdles to overcome:
“We just know that if we were to drop a casino-only app into the app store, customers are going to have a certain level of expectation that we want to be able to satisfy. As we deliver more and more on the casino roadmap, that would mean more in-house games, more redemption options, better bonusing, then we’ll be in a position to launch Fanatics Casino separately.”
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Potential games and feel for Fanatics casino online PA
Fanatics’ online casino is expected to partner with some of the top game manufacturers to include slots, table games and live dealer options. The new operator partnered with Boom Entertainment, which obtained a sports betting and online casino manufacturing license from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) in July, to help unveil a Fanatics-themed blackjack game.
McClintic said:
“We really focused on making the blackjack experience have that premium feel. All of the details from how the cards flip over, the speed, the animation were painstakingly thought through.”
Fanatics also included the functionality of customers being able to deposit more money into their account during a hand of blackjack without having to leave the game.
Players can also earn FanCash while playing Fanatics casino games, which can be redeemed as bonus bets or through the operator’s website to buy team merchandise. Here’s how to earn FanCash through the online casino:
- Slots: 0.5% of wager
- Table games: 0.13% of wager
Could there be a changing of the guard in the PA online casino industry?
It’s going to take a lot to dethrone some of the top operators in the state, such as DraftKings Casino PA, FanDuel Casino PA and BetMGM Casino PA. However, if there’s one thing Pennsylvania has proved, it’s that new operators can succeed in the market.
Pennsylvania is not only the largest, but it’s also the fastest-growing market in the country.
The state set a US record of $187.3 million in September revenue and almost topped it in October, posting $186.9 million. The industry does not appear to be slowing down, either.
The Keystone State welcomed four new operators in 2023. Those are:
- Tropicana Casino PA (April)
- Bally Casino PA (June)
- Golden Nugget online casino PA (August)
- Jackpot City PA (December)
Each of the three operators to launch before this month has experienced varying degrees of success. Since Fanatics has such a strong customer base, it’s possible that it will hit the ground running upon a 2024 debut.
The competition has already risen after DraftKings attempted to buy PointsBet out from under Fanatics. While Fanatics has a steep hill to climb, especially in Pennsylvania, some of the top operators have taken notice of the company’s impending arrival.
