As Fanatics Sportsbook prepares to launch in Massachusetts, it has yet to officially announce its welcome offer to new users.
While we do not know what specific promo will be available, we do know which promo won’t be available.
The company will not be running its merchandise deal that made headlines in Ohio in Massachusetts, a Fanatics Sportsbook spokesperson told PlayMA in an email on Friday. The spokesperson said Fanatics will “likely test other promos” in Massachusetts.
Whatever promo the company goes with, it will join a solid list of MA online sportsbook bonuses.
No merchandise promo coming to Massachusetts
Aside from sports betting, Fanatics has established itself as the leader in licensed sports apparel and collectibles.
Its sportsbook app has been live in Ohio since early May. It recently ran a promo where Fanatics offered sports fans a special bonus bet when they bought merchandise on the Fanatics website.
For example, if you bought a t-shirt of your favorite team on the Fanatics website for $35.99, when you went to check out, you would see an extra item in your cart. The extra item would be a bonus bet to use on the Fanatics Sportsbook app.
In this example, since you bought $35.99 worth of gear, you would get a bonus bet worth $35.99.
This was a way Fanatics attempted to utilize its existing database of merchandise customers. It wants to convert the 21-and-above customers to sports betting customers.
However, the Ohio Casino Control Commission quickly put a stop to that promo after news of the offer gained traction on social media. Fanatics Sportsbook is no longer offering the bonus-bet-for-merchandise-purchase promo in Ohio, and it won’t even attempt to offer that bonus when the Fanatics Massachusetts app launches.
A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission told PlayMA any Fanatics promotion would have to comply with state laws and regulations for MA sports betting apps, and didn’t have comment beyond that.
Fanatics Sportsbook in Massachusetts
Instead of the merchandise deal, when Fanatics MA launches as early as late May, it will likely offer a promo code with a welcome bonus like other online sportsbooks in the state. That is more common among sportsbooks.
For example, the BetMGM MA bonus code gives first-time users up to $1,000 in bonus bets.
Or, Fanatics could go the route of DraftKings, FanDuel, WynnBET and Barstool and not require a promo code at all to get a bonus offer. All you would have to do is sign up, create your account, and deposit funds to claim.
Fanatics is eager to enter a Massachusetts sports betting market that is already delivering big numbers. In April, sports fans in Massachusetts wagered a total of $546.2 million on MA sports betting apps.
ALSO READ: Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin Walks Back Sportsbook Launch Expectations In 2023
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