The Fanatics Sportsbook, after more than two-months of beta testing, will debut in both Ohio and Tennessee on Monday, May 1.

The launch has one caveat, though, as the sportsbook will only be available for existing Fanatics customers. A Fanatics Sportsbook representative told Saturday Down South that Fanatics customers will receive a code to access the sportsbook through email next week, officially putting an end to the sportsbook’s beta testing.

There is no timetable to open the sportsbook up to all bettors, but the sportsbook representative said more details will be provided during the SBC Summit North America 2023 conference on May 9 to 11.

The representative also told Saturday Down South the sportsbook hopes to debut in two additional states by mid-June.

Fanatics Sportsbook making its debut

The Ohio and Tennessee news was first reported by the Wall Street Journal late Thursday.

The sportsbook has been beta-tested in both Tennessee and Ohio leading up to the state debuts. Fanatics is currently live in one state, Maryland, through a brick-and-mortar sportsbook at FedExField, home of the NFL’s Washington Commanders.

No details were provided on what constitutes a “Fanatics customer” and who will be eligible to receive a sportsbook code, but if you’ve bought merchandise from the sports apparel giant recently and live in Ohio or Tennessee you stand a good chance of receiving an access code.

In Tennessee, Fanatics Sportsbook will be a standalone online sports betting operator as the state only allows online sports betting. It will officially become the tenth live online sports betting operator in the state.

Fanatics Sportsbook currently holds both an online and retail sports betting license in Ohio. The sportsbook is partnered with the NHL Columbus Bluejackets as both its online and retail sports betting service provider. It is also licensed as a retail sports betting provider for the Cleveland Guardians and Hollywood Gaming Racing Dayton.

Two additional states by mid-June?

Fanatics Sportsbook plans to offer the same access deal to customers in both Massachusetts and Maryland by mid-June. The sportsbook operator is currently fully licensed in Maryland and needs one more approval in Massachusetts to be able to launch.

This week, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission unanimously approved the Fanatics Sportsbook house rules and operations by a vote of 5-0. The final step before being fully licensed and ready for launch is to have its certificate of operations approved in the Commonwealth.

It will be the same deal in both Massachusetts and Maryland, as Fanatics customers will receive an access code through email to use the sportsbook.