Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino Secures Ontario Registration Ahead of Canada Launch

Fanatics is set to launch in Ontario after securing an iGaming operator license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

The approval paves the way for the digital sports platform to enter Canada’s premier online gambling market, which already hosts 48 licensed operators and 83 active websites.

A Fanatics spokesperson told Casino.org that the company will share further launch details in the coming weeks. The Fanatics Sportsbook currently operates online across 23 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., while Fanatics Casino is live in four states.

Fanatics will join big brand names like Hard Rock Bet and DAZN Bet that have launched in Ontario over the past six months.

Fanatics Prepares for Ontario

“I think this is just more confirmation that Ontario is a global leader in regulated online gaming,” a senior industry source told Casino.org. “There are a handful of large operators not yet in the Ontario marketplace, and it sounds like those operators plan to launch in the province.

“Ontario remains a very attractive market because it offers a robust regulatory framework and a commercially attractive environment with a reasonable tax rate. Every year iGaming Ontario sees record revenues, and I suspect this year will be no different.”

However, Fanatics’ arrival re-ignites questions surrounding market saturation in the province.

Ontario’s Market Keeps Growing 

After four years of open, competitive play—standing toe-to-toe with the government-owned Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) platform, Proline—Ontario’s private operator base generated over $4.2 billion in gross gaming revenue during Year 4. All of which begs the question: where does Ontario top out?

Player adoption suggests there is still room to grow. In May, iGaming Ontario and the AGCO released an Ipsos study showing that 91.1% of online gambling respondents now play on regulated sites—a 7.4 percentage point jump from 83.7% the previous year.

Standing Out Gets Harder

“One could argue the market reached saturation some time ago, so new entrants are likely coming in with their eyes wide open,” said Amanda Brewer, Senior Vice President of Policy & Communications at the Canadian Gaming Association.

“Since everyone operates under the same rules and many offer similar games, success increasingly hinges on user experience, app design, customer service, and loyalty rewards,” Brewer explained. “If a new operator believes they have a secret sauce no one else has thought of, I wish them the best of luck!”

In such a hyper-competitive environment, Brewer expects any incoming operator to conduct rigorous due diligence—assessing the tier-level breakdown of competing brands, overall operator count, and the balance between sports- and casino-focused products.

“I suppose Fanatics believes it can be a market disruptor, much like DAZN,” she added.