The Los Angeles Lakers won a thrilling Christmas night game against Golden State, but they had to do it without star center Anthony Davis, who sprained his left ankle midway through the first quarter.
Lakers fans weren’t the only ones distraught about what had happened. Many bettors saw their prop bets vanquish before their eyes.
But those who bet on the Fanatics Sportsbook app still got paid because of the operator’s Fair Play Policy.
What Is Fanatics Fair Play?
Here's how the Fanatics Fair Play policy works: if a player you place a prop wager on gets injured in the first quarter, your bet will be refunded.
Fair Play standards on props and parlay wagers mean it will refund or credit a player's account if the player bet is injured and needs to leave the game.
The rules are sport-specific. For sports like football, basketball, or hockey, if your player leaves the game in the first quarter (or first period in hockey), then the Fair Play Policy applies. In baseball, if a player leaves the game before their second plate appearance, Fair Play is enacted.
Alerting Bettors About The Anthony Davis Situation
On Christmas Day, Fanatics informed bettors that they were aware of what was happening in the Lakers game by posting on its social media platforms.
On its X account, Fanatics Sportsbook posted: “Anthony Davis exited the game in the first quarter. Player prop bets will either be refunded in cash or settled as a win. If it’s part of a parlay, the rest of your bet will still play out. Any bet settled before the injury will stand.”
Anthony Davis exited the game in the first quarter.
Player prop bets will either get refunded in cash or settled as a win. If it’s part of a parlay, the rest of your bet will still play out. Any bet settled before the injury will stand. pic.twitter.com/firutoWnp8
— Fanatics Sportsbook (@FanaticsBook) December 26, 2024
For those who might not have been aware of the policy, they probably thought it was a Christmas miracle.
Over $684,000 Paid Out By Fanatics Sportsbook
Today, Fanatics announced that it paid out more than $684,000 to bettors whose parlays were saved by Fair Play.
The biggest bets that were won are listed on the Fanatics Sportsbook Instagram page. These include a 5-leg parlay that paid $6,500 and a 3-leg parlay that hit for $3,900.
What could have turned out to be a disappointing end to Christmas for many bettors was saved and Lakers fans are feeling the same elation, as Davis told ESPN after the game that he is planning on playing against the Sacramento Kings tomorrow.
"When a popular player like Anthony Davis exits the game in the first quarter, it can be a frustrating experience for our sports betting customers. We were the only sportsbook to honor SGP's, straights and parlays that were impacted by Davis' first quarter exit. Fanatics Fair Play is just another way we are enhancing the fan experience at Fanatics," said Kevin Hennessy, Fanatics Sportsbooks' VP of Industry Communications.
All’s well that ends well, and now, maybe the winning bettors will try their luck at the Fanatics Online Casino. You never know.
