Ep 528: Fanatics Betting & Gaming’s Rapid Rise: Ari Borod Keynote Interview

Jun 2, 2025

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Monday's episode of iGaming Daily, brought to you by Optimove, is a must-listen keynote conversation, Ari Borod, Chief Business Officer at Fanatics Betting and Gaming.

Sitting down with SBC Media's Jessica Welman, the two takes a look into one of the fastest-growing companies in the sports betting and iGaming industry. Drawing from his prior leadership roles at FanDuel and Action Network, Borod discusses how he helped build Fanatics Betting and Gaming from the ground up in July 2021.

Borod breaks down Fanatics’ unique second-mover strategy, explaining why they chose product quality over ad spend to differentiate from giants like DraftKings and FanDuel. Leveraging the larger Fanatics commerce ecosystem, the company used its extensive database, brand loyalty, and smart cross-marketing strategies to drive growth without sacrificing profitability. He also unpacks the importance of customer-first features like prolonged beta testing, integration of FanCash loyalty rewards, and the acquisition of PointsBet’s Banic trading platform to improve competitiveness and retention.

The episode also explores how Fanatics is innovating beyond sports betting with the expansion of its casino app and the introduction of the “Fair Play” initiative, which refunds users for unlucky outcomes like injuries. Borod shares insight into future growth areas, including upcoming Fanatics Fest events, and how Fanatics plans to continue redefining the online gaming experience through data, loyalty, and customer trust.

Host: Jessica Welman
Guest: Ari Borod
Producer: James Ross
Editor: James Ross

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