The newest Fanatics Sportsbook at FedEx Field could share a house with the Washington Commanders, but it won’t be listing them as favorites too often this year.
Early Vegas sports betting odds for the Commanders have them favored in just two games for the 2023 season, including Week 1’s home opener against the Arizona Cardinals.
The team hired offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy in the offseason and will start the season with 2022 fifth-round pick Sam Howell competing with veteran Jacoby Brissett for the starting quarterback position. Despite being preseason underdogs, the Commanders will look to improve on their 8-8-1 finish from 2022 and make a push for the playoffs in the ultra-competitive NFC East.
When the season begins, the Commanders will be under a new owner for the first time since 1999. New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Josh Harris agreed to terms with previous owner Dan Snyder last month to buy the Commanders for $6 billion. However, it still needs to be approved by the NFL.
Lovers Sportsbook will continue FedEx Discipline busy all the year
There are currently 15 Las Vegas online wagering apps available for players. The Fanatics Sportsbook at FedEx Field opened in January as the first sportsbook in an NFL stadium. It features 5,000 square feet of space, nine betting windows, 21 kiosks, 38 TV monitors, two LED video walls, and a full-service restaurant.
Per NFL regulations, the sportsbook will not accept wagers on Commanders’ home game days. However, fans will have access to the sportsbook on those days to eat, drink, and watch games.
Open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to midnight, the sportsbook provides a venue for Prince George’s County’s nearly 1 million residents throughout the year. It expects to become a lively environment come football season, especially when the Commanders are on the road.
Fanatics Sportsbook has accepted over $1.8 million in wagers through April, including $377K in April. This ranked seventh among Maryland’s twelve retail sportsbooks, something to look to improve this fall.
Will Commanders respond to brand new owner?
Dan Snyder’s 24-year tenure as owner of the Washington Commanders will finally come to an end before the beginning of the 2023 NFL season. His history was marked by no Super Bowl appearances, controversial decisions, sexual misconduct allegations, and fraud.
Though his $6 billion deal is not official yet, Snyder’s remaining days have been marked since 2021 and are now limited. The league, its owners, and Commanders’ fans will all welcome the change.
But what will it mean for the Commanders moving forward?
Despite recent improvements, such as this upcoming season’s new video boards and audio systems, FedEx Field remains one of the NFL’s older and less appealing stadiums. It’s not exactly a shining beacon for the team representing our nation’s capital.
Snyder couldn’t secure a deal for a new stadium, another strike against his record. Harris is already working on building a new $1.4 billion stadium in Washington.
Despite Snyder’s flaws, the team hasn’t been awful on the field since Ron Rivera became its head coach in 2020. New ownership will have deep pockets and could revitalize the franchise in a city hungry for football success.
Harris and the Commanders face a tough road ahead. Their division rivals are coming off playoff runs in 2022. But if they play their cards right, they can inject life back into the organization.
Fanatics could possibly be coming to Las vegas soon
Reputed for years as a leader in sporting merchandise, Fanatics entered the gambling market in January with its entry into Maryland. Now, it is expanding its presence massively in a short time frame.
Fanatics announced that it acquired PointsBet’s US assets for $150 million earlier this week. The deal could give Fanatics access to 15 states, including PointsBet Sportsbook in Virginia.
Unlike many other mobile sportsbook operators, Fanatics took its time entering the market. CEO Michael Rubin said the company was taking a longer-term approach to becoming the top sportsbook in the US within the next 10 years.
It seems this acquisition is the next step on their path towards achieving that goal.
