Less than two weeks after Fanatics Sportsbook is going live in the state.
The launch of Fanatics’ sports betting app is of the soft variety, with limited hours available to Connecticut bettors this week. The hours are from 3 to 11 p.m. Tuesday; from noon to midnight Wednesday and Thursday; and 24 hours a day from Friday through Sunday. The company will also be limiting access, with only 2,000 customers allowed online.
The platform’s full launch will occur next Monday. By offering Connecticut sports betting, Fanatics will now be operating in nine states.
Direct competition 76x6g
The company’s launch in Connecticut puts it in a head-to-head-to-head battle with the nation’s market leaders, DraftKings, as those are the only three books obtaining rights to operate in the state. Last year, FanDuel and DraftKings ed for nearly 85% of the gross gaming revenue in Connecticut, leaving about 15% for PlaySugarHouse.
Clearly, Fanatics hopes to improve upon that number.
“Fanatics is the only true sports brand in the gaming space and has established itself as an innovator in the industry,” said Greg Smith, president and CEO of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, in the announcement two weeks ago. “We have been impressed with the Fanatics team, their aggressive entry into the U.S. sports betting market, and we are excited to see how they redefine the sports betting customer experience here in Connecticut.”
In addition to the online sports betting site, Fanatics Betting and Gaming will be upgrading the 10 Connecticut Lottery-run retail sports betting locations in the state, with new signs, better odds screens, and self-service kiosks. Bettors will start seeing the changes this week at Bobby V’s in Stamford and Windsor Locks; Sports Haven in New Haven; Winners in Hartford, Manchester, Milford, New Britain, and Waterbury; The XL Center in Hartford; and Aroogas in Shelton.
