Fanatics Reportedly Becomes an NFL Official Sportsbook After the League Spent Five Months Without One

Fanatics has reportedly been signed as an official NFL sportsbook, giving it the right to use league imagery including the shield alongside its own logo. Neither Fanatics nor the NFL has announced the deal through their own channels, and the sum paid has not been disclosed.

The league had gone almost five months without an official sportsbook partner after its previous arrangements expired. Those covered DraftKings, Caesars and FanDuel. Caesars had long been rumoured to be weighing whether to renew, while reports indicated talks with DraftKings and FanDuel continued, so a second or third partner could still be added.

Until one is, Fanatics may hold the slot exclusively, which would be a notable position for a challenger against the two operators that dominate US sports betting. Confirmation is expected shortly before the regular season, which opens on September 9 with New England at Seattle.

Fanatics has also said it will begin monitoring abusive and threatening online behaviour from the 2026 NFL season, part of a wider positioning around protecting the sport from harassment and fraud.

The company has been vocal about its competitors in the event-contract space. Anthony D'Angelo, head of responsible gaming at Fanatics Betting and Gaming, recently criticised Polymarket and Kalshi for failing to give customers sufficient protection. He acknowledged sports betting can cause harm too, but argued that established regulatory frameworks and the working relationship between operators and regulators prevent a great deal of it. Both platforms are under mounting pressure, with Polymarket now blocked in South Korea and Denmark and Kalshi barred from seven market categories in Washington state.