Sports Betting Weekly Update: Is That Bet Really Trustworthy?
In the dynamic world of U.S. sports betting, two major players, Fanatics and DraftKings, are making waves. As of August 2025, there is no confirmed merger between the two companies, but they remain fierce competitors.
Fanatics, known for its sports merchandise empire, has been aggressively expanding into the sports betting and iGaming markets. After increasing its bid for PointsBet to $225 million, Fanatics purchased PointsBet's U.S. holdings for $150 million. This move has boosted Fanatics' gross gaming revenue (GGR) market share from 3.8% in mid-2024 to 8.6% by June 2025, challenging the dominance of DraftKings and FanDuel.
On the other hand, DraftKings continues to focus on growth through innovation, acquisitions, and new market entries. Notably, DraftKings made a $195 million bid for PointsBet's American assets. The company reported strong Q2 2025 financial results with $1.51 billion in revenue and its second-ever profitable quarter as a public company. DraftKings is also preparing new mobile sportsbook launches, such as Missouri in late 2024, adding to its geographic expansion efforts.
The competitive landscape is evolving, with Fanatics as a rising force but without merger consolidation between these two major players. The NFL, for instance, has suspended Colts DB Isaiah Rodgers, among others, for violating sports betting policy. Meanwhile, the NCAA has adopted more lenient policies for sports betting violators.
In a separate development, EPIC Risk Management announced a three-year deal to provide gambling awareness educational programs to all MLS players. EPIC specializes in "lived experience" testimonials from employees who have overcome serious gambling problems and are now trained to help others avoid them.
Meanwhile, states are also making changes in their sports betting regulations. Massachusetts now requires '21+' on sportsbook logos visible from sports venues. In Ohio, a new rule prevents Fanatics from wedding its sports betting product to jerseys and hats. Illinois has signed on with U.S. Integrity for integrity monitoring services and also with ProhiBet, a partnership between U.S. Integrity and Odds on Compliance.
The Federal Court overturned a ruling blocking sports betting in Florida, opening up another potential market for these companies. However, the latest version of the budget is not yet available for review, and it's unclear if the tax hike remained in the conference committee compromise, which could impact the financials of these companies.
In summary, the U.S. sports betting industry is witnessing a significant shake-up with Fanatics challenging DraftKings and FanDuel's dominance. Despite no confirmed merger between DraftKings and Fanatics, both companies are executing their own growth strategies and making strategic acquisitions to strengthen their market positions. The competitive landscape is evolving, and it will be interesting to see how these developments unfold in the coming months.
