Rapid Online Betting on Sports Begins Among Enthusiasts in Ohio Soon After Debut of Sportsbook Software
Fanatics Sportsbook Set to Open Retail Location at Progressive Field
Fanatics Sportsbook, a major player in the sports betting industry, is set to open a retail sportsbook at the Cleveland Guardians' Progressive Field. This marks the company's foray into brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, complementing its existing online and mobile operations.
The retail sportsbook is scheduled to open on Friday afternoon prior to the team's doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers. The facility will not be exclusive to those attending baseball games, making it accessible to the general public.
The sportsbook will feature two betting windows, four self-service betting kiosks, and seven TV monitors, ensuring a seamless betting experience for patrons. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned at 2:30 p.m., featuring a first bet by former Cleveland pitcher Paul Shuey.
Ohio is one of four states where Fanatics has laid the groundwork for a major national growth plan. The company's volume during limited beta testing in Ohio was the 11th highest among 18 mobile operators, with expectations of moving up with the full launch.
In addition to the Progressive Field sportsbook, Fanatics has announced plans for a sportsbook adjacent to the Columbus Blue Jackets' Nationwide Arena. The Columbus sportsbook will be bigger than the one in Cleveland and will be located outside the ballpark's Right Field District Gate, in space formerly occupied by a New Era store.
The sportsbook in Columbus will be open to the general public from 2 to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 11 am. to 9 p.m. on weekends, with additional hours on game days. Ohio's law that brought legalized sports betting to the state on Jan. 1 allows professional sports franchises to partner with sportsbook operators for retail sportsbooks at or near the teams' venues.
Fanatics currently operates the only retail sportsbook inside an NFL stadium at the Washington Commanders' FedExField in Maryland. The company's expansion across the U.S. is ongoing, with legal online operations in 22 states plus Washington, D.C. as of mid-2025.
Sources:
- Fanatics Launches WWE-Themed Online Casino Games
- Fanatics to Acquire PointsBet's U.S. Operations
- Fanatics' Sports Betting Expansion
- Fanatics Eyeing Georgia for Sports Betting Expansion
- Fanatics' Sports Betting Operations
- Fanatics' sports betting operations extend beyond online and mobile platforms, with the line between sports and finance blurring as they expand into brick-and-mortar retail sportsbooks, such as the one at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
- The expansive sports betting industry is acknowledging the growing business potential in retail locations, like Fanatics Sportsbook's sportsbook at Progressive Field and its upcoming location near the Columbus Blue Jackets' Nationwide Arena.
- Despite the sports-betting-related ventures of Fanatics, their portfolio spans various industries, including sports memorabilia, leading to a synergistic dynamic where sports merchandise and sports betting coexist in their retail locations.
