Fanatics Sportsbook Review 2024: Expert Tested

Fanatics is one of the newest betting sites to enter the US market. And because of its young age, you may be wondering how good the platform is for the average sports bettor.

In this review, I will answer any questions that you may have about Fanatics so that you can make an informed decision as to whether or not this site is fit for your goals.

We use a points-based system, to calculate an objective, overall star-based rating. For more information on how we rate view here.

Overall rating – 4 stars

Overall, I give a rating of 4 stars based on an average of 73.6% and an overall score of 66.2.

Fanatics has a great selection of markets, awesome pre-match betting, and solid customer service.

However, its website is non-existent, the app needs improvement and the range of deposit and withdrawal methods is limited.

Here’s a breakdown of how Fanatics performed:

Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of Fanatics:

Pros

• Great range of markets

• Pre-match and live betting is awesome

• Solid customer support

Cons

• The app could be better

• No website

• Limited deposit and withdrawal options

Safety – 4.5 stars

Fanatics has a great safety rating, thanks to the fact that it holds several US gambling licenses and uses state-of-the-art security technology.

However, it doesn’t have the track record of other US sportsbooks, because of its age.

Licenses

Fanatics holds a gambling license in the following states:

• Colorado

• Connecticut

• Kentucky

• Maryland

• Massachusetts

• Michigan

• Ohio

• Indiana

• Pennsylvania

• Tennessee

• Virginia

• West Virginia

If you live in one of the states mentioned, then it’s good news as you’ll be able to use Fanatics legally. However, if you do not live in one of these states, you don’t have the legal right to use Fanatics for gambling.

Fanatics’ reach is pretty limited compared to top competition like ESPN Bet and DraftKings. However, this is partly due to the company’s recent formation, and they’re always working on expanding their reach into new states.

Security

From a security standpoint, Fanatics offers great protection thanks to its use of state-of-the-art, 128-bit SSL encryption software.

This helps to keep your personal data secure and stops any hackers from gaining access to your account and sensitive information.

Track record

The Fanatics brand is a household name in the US sports industry. However, the company does not yet have much of a track record in the betting space specifically.

Nevertheless, you can rely on the fact that, if Fanatics has put its name on it, the product is going to be safe.

Therefore, you can be confident that Fanatics is a safe platform, and will always treat you and your money honestly and fairly.

Pros

• Plans to expand its legal right to operate in over a dozen states

• State-of-the-art security software

• Household name

Cons

• Limited track record in the betting space

Mobile betting app – 3.5 stars

Fanatics has built multiple websites in the clothing space before, and this experience resonates throughout the design of the mobile app.

However, compared to top competitors like DraftKings, the app isn’t as easy to navigate and use in an everyday setting.

Look and feel

Fanatics’ mobile app uses a very standard layout, with two navigation tabs at the top and bottom of the screen.

The top bar includes a ‘Discover’ tab which provides relevant markets based on your past use of the app, and the other is a promo section, which helps you keep up to date with the latest promos relevant to your account.

The bottom bar features a home page shortcut, a schedule tab for upcoming events, and a dedicated page for your bets.

The app is available in a light or a dark mode, which can be changed at any time in the settings section.

Making a bet

To make a bet through Fanatics, follow these steps:

• Make sure you’re logged into your account and have sufficient funds to bet (see the ‘Deposits and Withdrawal’ section for more details)

• Navigate through the markets until you find the event that you would like to place a bet on

• Find your desired bet and click on it

• This will bring up a bet slip, where you can choose how much you’d like to wager

• Once you’re ready, hit ‘Place Bet’ to confirm the order

User experience

The Fanatics mobile app offers a decent user experience. However, various features simply aren’t as good as competitor mobile apps.

The biggest positives come by way of the overall design and layout of the app. Everything is situated where it should be, which made adjusting to the app much easier than I expected.

The actual color scheme, both light and dark, is also modern and attractive, not to mention easy to stare at during live games.

However, I did come across several negatives which tarnished my overall experience with the app. For one, the search bar (located on the home screen) wasn’t quite as good as I was expecting.

There were multiple occasions where I was just taken to the general market, instead of the game I wanted to bet on, for instance. It’s also annoying having to switch back to the home page every time you want to search.

Another thing to note is that the mobile app looks slightly different depending on which state you’re in. The recently launched app for Indiana, for instance, has a search function pinned to the bottom of the navigation.

Apps in other states, however, don’t yet offer this function. Hopefully, Fanatics will fix this disparity shortly.

Because it’s such a new app, the potential to experience bugs and glitches is also much higher than with other more established brands.

While I didn’t experience any of these myself, some users have reported various technical issues with the mobile app, which seriously takes away from the overall betting experience.

Check out our roundup of the best sports betting apps in the US to see how Fanatics compares.

Pros

• Good design

• Decent navigation

Cons

• The search function isn’t great

• Apps look different in different states

Website – 1 star

Fanatics receives a low website rating for the simple fact that it doesn’t have one!

While you can appreciate that the company hasn’t been in the betting space for a very long period, the lack of at least a basic website is very disappointing.

No website

The biggest problem with Fanatics’ website is that it has no website in the first place! The reason for this is likely because the platform is so new.

However, ESPN Bet- a company that was released after the launch of Fanatics Sportsbook – does feature a website, so this excuse doesn’t have much merit.

Sure, the majority of sports bettors in the US opt to use a betting site’s mobile app over its website, but there are still times when you can’t beat the advantages brought by seeing a live game up on the big screen.

Future plans

While Fanatics hasn’t expressly stated that it is working on a website, some of its previous actions suggest that it’s in their interests.

For instance, the company recently bought out PointsBet – another sportsbook.

Among other business advantages, this move will make it much easier for the company to build a website, and therefore we could see a Fanatics website hit Google in the next year or so.

Pros

• Plans to build a website in the future

Cons

• No website to review!

Deposits and withdrawals – 3.5 stars

Compared to other top US betting sites, Fanatics does feature a distinct lack of deposit and withdrawal options.

On the plus side, it does offer a unique withdrawal tracker to monitor the state of withdrawn funds.

Deposits

Users can deposit money into their Fanatics account in the following ways:

• Bank transfer

• Apple Pay

• Bank Wire

• PayPal

However, many states won’t have access to all of these payment types, notably PayPal. Furthermore, credit card and crypto payment methods are completely missing from the equation.

On the plus side, deposits are completely free to make and will land in your account instantly.

The minimum deposit is also very low at just $5, with the expectation of bank wire which has a minimum deposit of $5,000!

Making a deposit

To deposit money into your Fanatics account, follow these steps:

• Log in to your account and head to your account page by clicking on your profile picture in the top right-hand corner of the screen

• Click ‘Add a Deposit Method’

• Fill in the required fields and select the amount you’d like to transfer

• Hit Confirm

Withdrawals

Withdrawals will be made to the same payment method that you used to deposit money. They’re completely free to make and come with varying withdrawal amounts.

For a bank transfer, the minimum withdrawal is very low at $1. A withdrawal via check bumps this figure up to $10, and the minimum withdrawal for wire transfers is $10,000.

Depending on the withdrawal method you use, a withdrawal may take anywhere from two to ten days to process. Luckily, you can track progress through Fanatics’ withdrawal tracker, which will show where your withdrawal is in the process.

This is a nice touch but doesn’t mask the fact that withdrawals can take a long while.

Making a withdrawal

To make a withdrawal through Fanatics, simply follow the same steps for a deposit, but instead of clicking ‘Add a Deposit Method’ choose the ‘Withdrawals’ icon.

Then select the amount you’d like to withdraw and follow the on-screen instructions.

Pros

• Low minimum deposit and withdrawal amount

• Handy withdrawal tracker

Cons

• Few deposit and withdrawal methods are available

• Withdrawals take a while

Markets – 4.5 stars

Fanatics does a surprisingly good job at offering a wide selection of markets, making the platform viable for fans of pretty much any sport.

Major leagues

Fanatics has a great relationship with most of the major US sports leagues, thanks to long-standing relationships through its clothing company. As a result, coverage of the big four leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) is as good as it gets.

Fanatics also has a strong foothold in the world of college betting, with a large staple of basketball and football teams to bet on.

These are some of the most enjoyable markets to bet on, and it’s great to see Fanatics covering them so well.

Other sports

Fanatics also does a great job at covering some of the lesser-known markets and has a wide range of different sports available.

Particularly good is Fanatics’ coverage of international soccer. The coverage is about as extensive as it gets, and can even match some of UK betting sites’ coverage.

The only big market that I didn’t see covered was eSports. Therefore, if you are looking to bet on eSports tournaments and games, a site like ESPN Bet may be a better choice.

Pros

• Great selection of markets

• Both major and niche sports covered

Cons

• Some markets like eSports are missing

Pre-match betting – 5 stars

Fanatics’ pre-match betting service is flawless, thanks to its broad coverage and excellent parlay builder.

Coverage

Fanatics does a great job of covering its selection of markets pre-match, and the coverage of major leagues particularly impressed me.

For the NHL for instance, you’ll be able to make dozens of different wagers moments before a game or expand your bet across a wider timescale through a futures bet.

The odds, from my research, also tend to be very similar to the market average, meaning you’ll almost always be getting the best risk-reward ratio on offer.

What’s also great to see is that Fanatics covers its niche selection of markets just as well as its major leagues.

If you’re betting on a soccer game for instance, you’ll have dozens of outcomes to bet on, including player fouls and the half-time score, rather than simple bets like the number of goals and winner.

Parlay builder

Risky bettors will also be pleased to know that Fanatics offers a pre-game parlay service.

A parlay allows you to merge multiple bets into one bet, and if you’re wrong on just one outcome, the whole bet will fail. If, however, you’re correct, the total payout will be much higher.

Even same game parlays are on offer, enhancing the overall usability of this service even further.

Pros

• All markets covered extensively

• Parlay builder is flawless

Cons

• None

In-play betting – 4.5 stars

Fanatics does a great job at covering live games, with a great selection of live markets and a high-quality live streaming service.

However, the live interface isn’t quite as smooth as some competitors.

Markets

Fanatics offers great live coverage of the majority of its markets. All of the odds update in real-time to give you the most accurate reflection of the state of the match.

The actual variety of bets that you can make is also great. They range from minute-to-minute plays to end-of-match predictions based on the current state of the game.

Another great feature is the ‘Cash Out’ option, which allows you to jump ship and cash out your bet early if you think that your team will lose come the final bell.

This is subject to some restrictions but is a great way to minimize your losses if you sense the tide of the game turning.

The only drawback to the live betting service is the user interface. It’s not bad in any particular way, but I have had a better live betting experience with sites such as BetRivers.

Platforms like BetRivers are just a little easier to navigate in the middle of a game.

Nevertheless, it’s still easy enough to navigate through the live markets, and you won’t run into many issues in an everyday setting.

Live streaming

Fanatics also offers a complimentary live streaming service, so you can watch your bet win or lose in real time.

Plenty of sports are covered, notably including the NFL. However, the exact sports offered vary from state to state.

Pros

• Great selection of live markets

• Handy cash-out feature

Cons

• The interface isn’t as good as some competitors

Welcome incentive – 4 stars

Fanatics’ welcome incentive is a very attractive offer for new users. However, to get the maximum bonus, you need to spend the best part of $1,000, and fund your account every day.

2024 incentive

Fanatics is currently offering a $1,000 deposit bonus. The platform will match your deposit every day for ten days, up to the amount of $100.

So, if you were to max out your deposit limit every day, you would receive a total of $1,000 in bet credits.

This all sounds great until you realize that you need to fund your account every single day, and if you’re looking to receive the maximum payout, you would need to part with a total of $1,000.

For the majority of casual bettors, this figure is unrealistic and takes away from the initial attractiveness of the offer.

How to redeem

To redeem this offer, follow these steps:

• Create a new account and wait for verification

• Once your account has been verified, the offer will be automatically applied for ten days

• Every time you deposit up to $100 in this period, your account will be credited with additional bet credits to that amount within 72 hours

Comparative offers

The attractiveness of this offer all comes down to how much you’re willing to spend. If you don’t mind putting $1,000 into the platform, then few other sites can keep up with the reward on offer.

If however, it’s not in your capacity to drop $1,000 on a betting site, other offers like bet365’s no-sweat first bet may be a little more attractive.

Offers like this tend to appeal to a mass audience a bit more, as they don’t involve you parting with so much cash so quickly.

Fan Cash

It’s also worth noting that every bet you make will earn you some cashback via Fanatics’ currency, ‘Fan Cash.’

This can be used to make future bets or buy various apparel from the company’s clothing store.

Pros

• Attractive offer if you have the funds to benefit from it

• FanCash is a great idea

Cons

• Not a great offer for the average person

Customer service – 4.5 stars

Fanatics has a very strong customer support system in place, with multiple ways to contact a team member.

However, queue times can be pretty long during peak hours.

Live chat

The easiest way to reach out to a customer support assistant is through Fanatics’ dedicated 24/7 live chat service. This is easy to find through the mobile app, and the agents know their stuff.

However, during peak times, you may experience some delays in connecting.

Telephone

If you prefer a more personal touch, Fanatics also has a phone line to reach out to. Like the Live Chat, this service is nearly flawless, aside from the queue times that can ramp up during peak periods.

However, the fact that phone support is even offered is a great feature in itself, as so few US betting sites offer this service.

Email

Finally, you can reach out to a customer support agent through email. When I sent an email in, I received a reply within a day, and I honestly couldn’t fault the service.

Pros

• 24/7 live chat

• Telephone service

• Strong email support

Cons

• Wait times can be long during busy periods

Final thoughts

Ultimately, Fanatics has covered a lot of ground in a short space of time. Its selection of markets and live betting experience are particularly good, not to mention user-friendly.

However, before Fanatics can be considered a top US betting site, it needs to work on its mobile app, develop a website, and establish a track record in the betting space.

How to gamble responsibly

Before we end this article, we need to caution you to always bet responsibly.

To ensure you’re being cautious, betting sites implement various responsible gambling practices that will help you keep your betting habits in check.

• Limits: Online sports betting apps allow you to set betting limits, i.e. limit how much you can bet in a day, a week, or a month.

• Cashouts: You can withdraw your winnings quite easily from any betting platform. This prevents you from spending all of your winnings. There’s also the option for early cashout, so you can still get paid if the bet is starting to go sideways.

• Help & resources: Betting apps provide access to resources for problem gamblers and point them to organizations that can help with gambling addiction.

To help with gambling, we created a 'how to bet on sports' guide, that helps new sports bettors understand the industry better, to play safer and more securely.

Responsible gambling organizations and charities in the US