DraftKings DC Plans to Join Growing, But Stalled List of Capital City Sportsbooks

DraftKings DC Plans to Join Growing, But Stalled List of Capital City Sportsbooks

Add DraftKings DC to an expanding list of betting options in the nation’s capital … eventually.

The Washington, D.C., online sports betting market is primed for significant expansion, but some sportsbooks put plans on hold earlier in the week.

The reason? DC sports betting licenses are tied to the district budget, and Mayor Muriel E. Bowser has yet to sign off on the overall spending package.

Even FanDuel — which has a contract to operate sports betting for the D.C. Office of Lottery and Gaming — shut down its districtwide online market due to the uncertainty. The company initially told the Washington Post it would resume operations “upon final approval of the FY2025 DC Budget.” FanDuel has since pivoted. It began taking citywide bets again on Wednesday.

Two retail D.C. sportsbooks with expansion plans were also in a holding pattern, pending the budget bill purgatory. Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM already have two-block retail betting zones near Capital One Arena and Nationals Park, respectively.

Both companies planned to go live with citywide apps on Monday. BetMGM made its citywide debut on Wednesday.

“Through our partnership with the Washington Nationals, fans can now bet on their favorite teams with BetMGM across the district with our award-winning mobile app,” BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said.

FanDuel, BetMGM, and Ceasers would like to gain new customers before DraftKings DC launches its online service in the city.

The mayor has 10 business days to sign or veto the spending plan.

When DraftKings DC Arrives, More Sports Betting Apps Could Follow

DraftKings confirmed its arrival plans on Tuesday, July 16. Within months, the Washington, D.C., online sports betting market could grow from Greece-based Interlot’s obscure GambetDC sportsbook to four of the biggest players in the sports betting space.

The district’s sports betting market needed a shake-up: GambetDC’s $40.1 million in accepted wagers (handle) over eight months of football odds and March Madness bets fell well short of 2023-24 expectations.

On April 15, FanDuel sportsbook replaced GambetDC. Through May, the far more familiar app pulled in $61 million during a much slower time of year for sports betting.

The district taxed FanDuel revenue at 40% as the D.C. Lottery’s citywide sports betting vendor, however. FD will lose that advantage when Caesars, BetMGM, DraftKings DC, and others go citywide.

FanDuel plans to stay in the city through its partnership with Audi Field at a 20% tax rate instead. In fact, FanDuel is still a retail option at the Major League Soccer venue.

The proposed D.C. budget creates room for seven citywide licenses, so companies including ESPN Bet, Fanatics Sportsbook, and bet365 are also future options.

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About the Author
Russ Mitchell

Russ Mitchell

Lead Writer
Russ Mitchell joined Gaming Today as a lead writer in February 2023 after joining Catena Media in 2021 as a managing editor for the PlayIA and PlayVA brands. He covers sports betting industry, market developments, the college sports betting industry, and the four major North American pro sports leagues. He brings 25+ years of journalism experience to Gaming Today. He is a five-time winner of the Iowa’s prestigious Harrison “Skip” Weber Investigative Reporting award, a two-time National Newspaper Association award winner and a 50-time Iowa Newspaper Association award winner.

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