Fanatics has complied with a request from the Ohio Casino Control Commission in discontinuing a promotion that provided potential sportsbook bonus bets to customers purchasing merchandise online.
The Fanatics Sportsbook is still in the beta-testing stages of operating in its first two states — Ohio and Tennessee. On Thursday, Sports Handle reported on a Fanatics promotion connecting its merchandising arm with its new sports betting operations. A number of individuals making purchases at the Fanatics.com site were being offered the chance to obtain bonus bets of an equivalent amount — up to $500 — if they became sportsbook customers.
The Ohio commission regulating sports betting raised objections to the promotion, though its spokesperson would not elaborate as to the reasoning.
“Fanatics has ceased the promotion in question,” OCCC spokeswoman Jessica Franks told Sports Handle Friday. “The commission appreciates Fanatics’ attention in this matter.”
A Fanatics representative confirmed that the company had immediately complied with the commission’s request to drop the promotion. The representative declined further comment.
