Fanatics Enters Missouri Sports Betting Market with Boyd Gaming Deal
Missouri’s soon-to-launch sports betting market has attracted another major player. Fanatics Betting and Gaming confirmed on August 25 that it will partner with Boyd Gaming to bring both online and retail sportsbooks to the state. The move makes Fanatics the eighth operator with confirmed market access ahead of Missouri’s expected December launch.
Fanatics joins a crowded field of operators preparing for launch day. DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, PENN/ESPN BET, and Circa Sports have already secured access through Missouri’s licensing framework. Under state rules, most sportsbooks must align with either a casino or a professional sports franchise, while only two “untethered” licenses were available. DraftKings and Circa claimed those earlier this month.
Fanatics-Boyd Partnership Details
Under the agreement, Fanatics will operate its mobile sportsbook through Boyd’s Missouri license and open two Fanatics-branded retail sportsbooks at Boyd’s Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City and Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles outside St. Louis. Pending regulatory approval, both online and retail betting options are expected to be live by December.
Once operational, players will be able to download the Fanatics Sportsbook app on iOS and Android. Alongside traditional betting markets, the app will feature Fanatics’ loyalty perks, including up to 10% FanCash rewards on wagers and “Fair Play” injury protection for bettors.
Missouri could generate more than $4.5 billion in annual handle and about $500 million in yearly revenue. This makes it one of the nation’s most competitive sports betting states from launch. But the launch is more than just a cash grab, as it continues Fanatics’ rapid growth strategy.
Following its 2024 acquisition of PointsBet, the company now operates in 22 states and Washington, D.C., with retail locations in eight states. Fanatics has quickly become one of the top sportsbook brands in the U.S., trailing only DraftKings and FanDuel while surpassing Caesars and BetMGM in market share in some regions.
Missouri could generate more than $4.5 billion in annual handle and about $500 million in yearly revenue, making it one of the nation’s most competitive sports betting states from launch.
For Boyd Gaming, the deal comes after ending its long-running partnership with FanDuel, including the $1.8 billion sale of its 5% ownership stake in Flutter Entertainment. Boyd still operates its own sportsbook in Nevada but will rely on Fanatics to lead the way in Missouri.