Nevada Mobile Sports Betting Regulations Keeping Fanatics and ESPN Bet Out

The US mobile sports betting landscape is set to get more crowded as Fanatics continues to expand, and ESPN Bet is set to launch next month. While both will be available in at least 14 states, Nevada won’t be one of them.

Fanatics and Penn Entertainment (ESPN Bet Operator) have stated that they will not attempt to enter the Nevada market. They are the latest mobile sportsbooks to skip licensing in the Silver State thanks to the state’s requirement for bettors to register in person. That means each online operator must partner with a casino, which is easier said than done. 

Nevada, and Las Vegas in particular, is home to many casinos that have launched their own mobile sportsbooks. That has made it challenging for mobile sports betting platforms to break into the state, and it limits how many users they can attract. This requirement is why DraftKings and FanDuel do not have a presence in the state, preventing ESPN Bet and Fanatics from even considering it.

While the state’s regulations keep mobile sportsbook operators out, DraftKings and FanDuel have discussed the potential of establishing a presence in the state as the national market grows. Licensing in Nevada may not be appealing now, but assuming operators aren’t looking for solutions is a mistake.

“We're in one of the most competitive markets in the world. Anyone who thinks that it's over in the first inning is just foolish,” DraftKings CEO Jason Robins said of an expansion into Nevada. 

Nevada Regulations Set to Protect Local Sportsbook

Nevada is the country's most unique sports betting market thanks to legal sports betting for decades. Las Vegas and Reno are filled with resorts & casinos that have invested heavily in building world-class sportsbooks. Online sports betting threatens many retail locations, so Nevada has chosen to protect them by creating an in-person registration requirement. 

BetMGM and Caesars have dominated Nevada's online sports betting market, thanks to their massive properties on the Las Vegas Strip.