Alex Smith is now the top dog for all things legal & regulatory at Fanatics Inc., overseeing legal compliance across their USA iGaming & Sports Betting operations.
Since joining the company in 2021 as their VP of Legal & Regulatory Compliance, Smith will now also be part of Executive Leadership, directly reporting to Matt King (CEO). With this promotion, he will lead the company’s overall legal, regulatory, government engagements & compliance as they expand in regulated markets.
Sara Tait has also joined the company as their new SVP, head of Legal & Regulated Industries. She will report directly to Alex Smith and will handle all of the legal issues associated with regulated gaming products, including iGaming & Sports Betting. Tait will also act as a liaison between Fanatics and both state & federal regulators. As part of her responsibilities, she will ensure that the company meets compliance obligations across all of the jurisdictions in which they operate, manage their licensing effort, and protect consumers.
Fanatics is pursuing a state-by-state rollout strategy across the US and is attempting to navigate the various regulatory environments with very strict licensing and compliance requirements at both state and federal levels. Smith’s and Tait’s promotions are a testament to Fanatics’ commitment to bolstering its legal & compliance arrangements to continue to expand in regulated jurisdictions.
Matt King, CEO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming, said:
Alex was one of our first hires, and he helped build our legal and regulatory apparatus that has allowed us to launch products rapidly in legal sports betting, iCasino, and prediction markets. As we continue to grow, Alex is the perfect person to lead our legal and regulatory functions into the future.”
Alex Smith added praise for his new colleague:
Sara is a well-respected former gaming regulator who also has experience in the private sector, making her the ideal choice to lead critical legal and regulatory efforts. The legal landscape for sports betting, iCasino, and prediction markets is constantly evolving, and having someone with expertise on both sides of the regulatory fence will be invaluable as we continue our growth trajectory.
These appointments highlight Fanatics’ commitment to robust compliance and regulatory governance as it scales its presence in the US iGaming and sports betting markets.
