With the growth of legal sports betting taking over in the United States, it only makes sense that the Nation’s capital has joined in on the fun. Washington DC approved sports betting by the end of 2018, but it took the District a long time to get things up and running.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the launch to be delayed by a month or two, with the first bet being placed in May 2020. Both retail and online sports betting has been approved, but Washington DC is going about each form of betting a bit differently.
Retail Sports Betting Options in Washington
Most sports betting markets allow for retail betting to take place at the casinos at that location, but that is not what DC lawmakers had in mind. Instead, the majority of retail sports betting will be done at the sports stadiums and arenas in DC.
William Hill has already launched sports betting at Capital One Arena, and BetMGM will be offering betting at Nationals Park. FanDuel has a deal in place to set up a sportsbook at Audie Field, and more will be on the way.
Sports bars and other establishments in the DC area can also apply for a sports betting license, and there will be plenty of retail locations to be found.
Online Sportsbook Apps in Washington
When it comes to online sports betting in Washington DC, there is only one option. The DC Lottery has rolled out its own online sportsbook app, and it has drawn plenty of criticism since it launched, and not many improvements have been made.
The Gambet DC App is the only available online sportsbook, and it was officially launched in May 2020. Mobile or online sports betting drives the market in most states, but that is not expected to be the case in DC.
Gambit DC is powered by Intralot, and that provider has had plenty of issues in other states throughout the United States as well.
Popular Teams in DC
Washington DC is obviously known for politics, but this is also a terrific sports location. There are some very popular professional teams in DC and the surrounding areas, and these teams help drive sports betting.
The Washington Football Team is the most popular team with DC locals, and they are looking to build a brand new stadium in the coming years. Washington has a strong and proud tradition, and that has helped form a loyal fanbase.
The Washington Wizards of the NBA are another popular team in the area, despite not being very good most of the time. NBA betting is second only to NFL betting in the US, and the Wizards will bring in plenty of action.
When it comes to Major League Baseball, the Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles are the two local teams. Baltimore has traditionally been the better team, but the Nationals just won the 2019 World Series title.
The Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League have also won a title recently, and they are a popular sports team in that area. Betting on hockey is not extremely popular, but the Capitals will bring in some bets.