BetMGM and Caesars Launch Mobile Sports Betting in D.C.

FanDuel’s short-lived monopoly on mobile sports betting in the District of Columbia is set to end on Monday as BetMGM and Caesars prepare to expand their operations in the area.

BetMGM has confirmed to SBC Americas that it will launch its betting app across the district at noon ET on Monday. The company plans to host a celebration event at Nationals Park on the same day.

Caesars also plans to go live with its operations across D.C. on Monday. Both companies’ launches are contingent upon final testing.

These two brands have already been able to offer mobile wagering within a two-block radius of their respective physical sportsbooks. Caesars has one at Capital One Arena. This presence has given them a head start over other potential operators in the area, as they have already navigated regulatory hurdles with the D.C. Lottery.

sportsbook partnership with D.C. United soccer team’s Audi Field.

Legislation Opens Up D.C. Market

The district’s sports betting market is expanding thanks to legislation championed by D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie. The legislation was incorporated into the D.C. budget and will take effect on Monday.

Other sportsbooks might now follow BetMGM and Caesars’ lead. Fanatics Sportsbook and DraftKings were among those who had lobbied for online sports betting access earlier this year.

Last month, amid discussions about potential market expansion, FanDuel President Christian Genetski wrote to council expressing that FanDuel would consider terminating its Intralot agreement and applying for a Class A operator license if their rivals were allowed entry.

According to the D.C. Lottery’s website, four Class A operator licenses are permitted, each tethered to one of the following venues:

• Audi Field
• Capital One Arena
• Nationals Park
• St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena

St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena is the only venue that does not yet have a sports betting partner.

Additionally, an unlimited number of Class B licenses are available to D.C. businesses. These businesses are not primarily operated for sports betting but wish to offer wagering within their physical location.

New Licensing Opportunities

A new license class, Class C, will allow D.C. sports franchises that play 90% of their home games in the district to partner with one sports betting operator for online wagering. This means that while Nationals Park is tethered to BetMGM, the Nationals themselves could collaborate with another operator.

Potential new operators will need approval from the lottery and must meet regulatory stipulations.

Source: BetMGM, Caesars to launch mobile sports betting across DC on July 15, SBC Americas, July 10, 2024.