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Fanatics partners Guardians to open first MLB ballpark sportsbook

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Fanatics Betting and Gaming (FBG) has opened a new retail sportsbook at the Cleveland Guardians’ Progressive Field, its first facility at a Major League Baseball (MLB) ballpark.

The sportsbook features two betting widows, four self-service betting kiosks and seven TV monitors. Consumers can bet on MLB games as well as other major sports such as hockey, basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer and golf.

Progressive Field is located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and has a capacity of more than 38,000.

“We’re very excited to partner with FBG to bring a retail sportsbook location outside Progressive Field,” Guardians’ vice president of corporate and premium partnerships, Ted Baugh, said. “This will provide our fans a very convenient in-person option to place bets.”

Fanatic retail sportsbook complements online

The retail facility comes after FBG last week launched its online sportsbook in a number of states.

Fanatics’ online sportsbook is live in Maryland, Massachusetts and Tennessee, as well as in Ohio.

The sportsbook includes live scores, plus lines and odds for teams and athletes. Also included are moneyline bets, spread bets, over-unders, player props, live-in-game-betting markets and same game parlays.

“We designed our new location to complement our online sports betting app and usher in a brand-new sports betting experience with the most rewarding online sportsbook in Ohio,” FBG chief business officer Ari Borod said.

Expanding Fanatics’ network with PointsBet

Both the online and retail launches form part of Fanatics’ wider expansion plans in the US.

In June, shareholders of Australian-based gaming operator PointsBet approved the sale of the business’ US assets to FBG.

Due to complete at the end of August, the $225.0m deal saw FBG purchase the business’ Banarch Technology assets. These were purchased by PointsBet in March 2021.

Once the deal goes through, PointsBet will receive a royalty-free license to use and develop the technology.

FBG, which currently runs on Amelco’s source code, said it plans to integrate PointsBet’s Banarch tech to “supercharge” its sports betting engine.