Sports Betting Options Open in Washington D.C.
Players Have Choice from Seven Online Operators as of July 1
There is a whole new sports betting world in Washington D.C. as of July 15.
The nation’s capital will see seven online operators taking betting action. Prior to this, the only place to bet was at Nationals Park.
This is big sports betting news as there are now multiple wagering options in Washington D.C.
According to sources Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM are operating retail books in Washington. The BetMGM retail book at Nationals Park is now open to fans over 21 during games. Furthermore, this expansion enhances the game-day experience for attendees. Caesars plays host to a 20,000-square-foot retail book at Capital One Arena.
BetMGM celebrated its District-wide launch at Nationals Park with musical performances starting at 7 a.m. ahead of a planned noon time to go live. Caesars has confirmed it will launch on Monday but has yet to issue any specifics.
Washington DC Legal Sportsbooks: A Timeline
2024
- June 25, 2024: The DC Council gives final approval to its FY2025 budget, which includes a provision to open the digital sports betting market, as reported by iGaming Business. This move allows up to seven online sports betting operators to operate in DC, expanding the presence of Washington DC Legal Sportsbooks.
- May 21, 2024: FanDuel’spresence in DC begins paying big dividends. The DC Office of Lottery and Gaming announces that the FanDuel mobile sportsbook app generated approximately $30 million in handle and $5 million in gross gaming revenue during its first 30 days of operation. The District’s per capita sports wagering revenue, previously $2.71, is now expected to rise to over $19 based on FanDuel’s first 30 days.
- April 15, 2024: FanDuel replaces GambetDC as the primary sports betting app of Washington, D.C.
- April 8, 2024: FanDuel announces that it will replace GambetDC as the primary mobile sportsbook of Washington, D.C.
- March 1, 2024: Washington, D.C. reports steady sports betting revenue with $1.9 million in February and $2.4 million in January.
2023
- December 14, 2023: Monumental Sports owner Ted Leonsis and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announce a $2 billion plan to move the Capitals and Wizards to Potomac Yards in Alexandria, Virginia.
- July 4, 2023:The District of Columbia passes a budget that strips annual funding for problem gambling, which comes from DC sports betting taxes.
- June 7, 2023:DC sports betting handle reaches $14 million in April, a $4 million drop from March. Revenue was also down about 37% to $1.4 million.
- February 6, 2023: FedExField, home of the Washington Commanders, becomes the first NFL stadium to open a retail sportsbook with the launch of Fanatics Maryland Sportsbook, marking Fanatics’ entry into sports betting.
2022
- November 17, 2022: Caesars dominates the Washington, D.C. sports betting market with $7.3 million in handle in September. GambetDC, however, notches $7.5 million in October, compared to $17.3 million combined between Caesars, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Elys.
- October 24, 2022: A new bill is introduced that could allow the expansion of mobile sports betting in DC, potentially bringing more sports betting apps, including DraftKings and FanDuel, to the market.
- June 1, 2022: Elys Game Technologies announces it will operate the sportsbook at BetDupont in partnership with District Hospitality. This partnership would represent the company’s fourth execution of its restaurant sportsbook solution, pending successful licensing.
- May 16, 2022: The District’s three commercial sports betting operators (BetMGM, Caesars, and Grand Central) report $13.2 million in betting handle during April 2022, leading to $828,629 in revenue. GambetDC takes in $5.2 million in bets in April 2022, with $602,646 in revenue.
- February 25, 2022: The District of Columbia reports a six-month low in sports betting handle for January, with BetMGM, Caesars, Grand Central, and the GambetDC app combining for $18.6 million in handle for the month, despite record highs in other jurisdictions.
- February 13, 2022: GambetDC suffers a catastrophic failure on Super Bowl Sunday, with the app being unavailable on iOS devices due to a failure to renew its security certificate with Apple.
“BetMGM to Launch Mobile Sports Betting App Across D.C., July 15” – PoPville https://t.co/OayMMVAuM9
— PoPville (@PoPville) July 12, 2024
The online betting universe continues to grow, and moreover, this is another example of how betting options are becoming more plentiful.
For gambling news, betting analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine
