• Loading stock data...
Thursday, July 10, 2025

The Newcomers That Want To Upend Sports Betting’s Duopoly

  • Fanatics Sportsbook, ESPN Bet eye major market impact during NFL season
  • Differing strategies show ongoing evolution of sports betting landscape
Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

The 2023 NFL regular season began with a flourish that reinforced the league’s status as a massive American cultural force — and its dominance has also extended to betting. 

Already carrying heady projections for NFL betting activity that would shatter all prior records, U.S. sportsbooks recorded more than 242 million geolocation transactions over the league’s first week, a massive 56% jump compared to the opening week of the league’s 2022 season, according to fraud detection company GeoComply.

More than 1.1 million new player accounts were also created, a 40% increase year-over-year, GeoComply said.

Following a vigorous marketing push for customers, much of that wagering activity broke along existing market dynamics, confirming the industry duopoly of FanDuel and DraftKings that currently controls more than 70% of the domestic online sports wagering market.

But over the course of the NFL season, a pair of particularly well-resourced challengers — Fanatics and the forthcoming ESPN Bet — will take their first steps toward fundamentally reshaping the market.

“We are excited about our first big football weekend and seeing very positive results,” Matt King, Fanatics Betting and Gaming CEO, told Front Office Sports. “The Fanatics Sportsbook was the No. 3 most-downloaded sportsbook app [according to JMP Securities], even though we are only in four states.”

For now, FanDuel and DraftKings are staying the course, with the latter particularly calling the start of the NFL season “spectacular.” But the twin titans of U.S. sports betting are closely watching their incoming rivals.

“They’re not taking anything for granted,” Sara Slane, president of sports betting consultancy Slane Advisory and a former executive with the American Gaming Association, told Front Office Sports. 

“They obviously have great brand ID and have had a huge head start given how they’ve converted daily fantasy players, and were there Day 1. But it’s still relatively early days,” she added, referencing the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing states to set their own gambling laws.

Rubin’s Story

The Michael Rubin-led Fanatics began its sportsbook operations in earnest with last month’s debut in Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Tennessee. That initial rollout will be joined by 12 additional states — including key betting locales such as New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania — as it continues to integrate assets from its recently closed $225 million purchase of PointsBet’s U.S. operations.

Instead of the heavy consumer ad blitzes common to many of its sportsbook competitors, Fanatics is leaning on its existing database of more than 95 million customers built primarily through the company’s merchandising dominance, as well as a promotional partnership with NBC Sports inherited via PointsBet. 

That database, Fanatics says, allows it to lower customer-acquisition costs as much as 80% over its major competitors.

“We are just not focused on market share,” King said. “Customers are placing bets and getting merchandise, which is what we wanted to build from the start.”

Fanatics is also deploying a physical sportsbook strategy that includes a location at the Washington Commanders’ FedEx Field, as well as at the Cleveland Guardians’ Progressive Field and near the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Nationwide Arena.

With that, Fanatics is projecting it will reach profitability faster than any other sportsbook.

“Our unit economics are phenomenal,” King said on CNBC. 

Bristol Behemoth

PENN Entertainment — the operating partner of ESPN Bet following the landmark $2 billion deal from August — has been relatively quiet since last month’s announcement of the formation of ESPN Bet, which represents the sports media giant’s first full attachment to legal sports betting set for a November debut.

PENN president and CEO Jay Snowden said at a Bank of America conference earlier this month that he thinks the later opening is no bad thing.

“I also think the time of year that we’re launching, midseason, is actually great,” Snowden said. “I think we’re going to be able to make a lot of noise, get a lot of attention. You’re coming in at a point of the year where people have probably burned through most of their free-bet promos and deposit matches. So to be able to sort of reload midyear with a new app and new experience that’s fully integrated with ESPN, I think that speaks to the top of the funnel.”

As PENN overhauls the former Barstool Sportsbook, the attachment of the ESPN brand and promotion of the sportsbook across all of ESPN’s many platforms is aimed at making a major market statement. 

PENN has already said that it’s aiming for 20% market share by 2027, and that staying at 4% or 5% is “not going to be acceptable” for either the company or ESPN. Disney CEO Bob Iger, meanwhile, said, “We actually believe and trust in their ability to use this partnership to grow their business nicely, while we grow ours.”

Slane couldn’t help but laugh a bit when hearing PENN’s stated goal of 20% market share.

“Twenty percent always seems to be the magic number when new entrants come into the market. That always seems to be the target,” she said. “Nobody is saying they’re going to pass FanDuel or DraftKings, but 20% is still a lot and not easy. This is going to be interesting. There obviously wasn’t a lot of conversion before [for PENN] with Barstool, but the ESPN megaphone and all that it brings is something entirely different.”

That something will partly entail ESPN leaning into its massive digital portfolio of 370 million social media followers, more than 100 million monthly digital unique users, more than 25 million subscribers of ESPN+, and 11 million for its fantasy mobile app.

The biggest battle, however, will likely be waged on simple product quality.

“Gains are going to come through innovation,” Slane said. “There’s a lot that can still be done to offer a better product and create fewer friction points. A lot of the [betting] process needs to be easier. If that can happen, and the fan can have a better experience, there are consumers that can be won.” 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

A set of trading cards

Judge Rules Against Fanatics as Panini Case Gets Rancorous

A judge ordered Fanatics to turn over unredacted trading card licenses.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
Sports are shown on TVs behind a bar as guests enjoy the grand opening of DraftKings Sports & Social in Ohio.

California AG Has Declared Daily Fantasy Sports Are Illegal. Now What?

The opinion might spark a broader DFS conversation in the state.

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.

Featured Today

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
June 29, 2025

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.

Betway Parent to Complete U.S. Exodus, Blames Tax Volatility

“Recent regulatory developments” were cited. 
Jun 9, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis Ortiz (45) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field.
July 3, 2025

Guardians Pitcher Luis Ortiz Put on Paid Leave Amid MLB Gambling Probe

Reports say the investigation is tied to gambling.
Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) passes the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field.
July 3, 2025

California AG Says Daily Fantasy Sports Are Illegal

The AG rejected arguments that DFS are games of skill, not chance.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Jun 19, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the third quarter during game six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
July 1, 2025

‘Existential Threat’: Underdog Sports Sues to Stop AG’s Fantasy Sports Opinion

The California AG is expected to release his opinion by Thursday.
Mar 15, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley (5) celebrates in the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Little Caesars Arena.
June 30, 2025

Malik Beasley Is Latest Betting-Related Headache for NBA

It’s the third NBA betting scandal in the last year-and-a-half.
Quincy Taylor
June 17, 2025

Several Americans Banned in British Basketball Game-Fixing Scandal

Five former Surrey Scorchers players were hit with lengthy gambling suspensions.
Mar 30, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; LSU Lady Tigers guard Flau'Jae Johnson (4) shoots against UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) during the second half of a Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game at Spokane Arena.
June 17, 2025

Louisiana Sports Betting Set to Aid LSU and Other State Schools

Louisiana lawmakers have been creative in finding state money for NIL.