Welcome to Washington, D.C., .
According to FanDuel, the lone sports betting app in Washington, D.C., went live at noon today. FanDuel took over as the district s only sports betting app, replacing the much-maligned GambetDC in America s capital.
The Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) announced in March it had a deal with FanDuel to be Washington, D.C. s one sports betting operator.
FanDuel Now Live in D.C., But With Restrictions
FanDuel is now the official sports betting subcontractor for Intralot, Inc., OLG’s lottery and sports betting system vendor. FanDuel will not be accessible for customers on federal land, including the National Mall, White House, Capital, Congressional office buildings, East Potomac Park, and Rock Creek Park.
According to a FanDuel statement, the sports betting company guaranteed the District it will provide a minimum of $5 million in tax revenue for the upcoming contract year, July 2024 through July 2025. Every year thereafter the operator guarantees at least $10 million per year for the following four contract years, for a guaranteed total of $45 million in revenue over its first five years of operation in the District.
“FanDuel’s industry-leading offering will ensure that the District maximizes revenue under its existing contracts this year while delivering a best-in-class experience for 18+ residents,” said Frank Suarez, Executive Director of OLG, in a press release.
GambetDC is still live, but will stop accepting wagers on its mobile app and website tonight at 11:59 p.m. Users will have until Oct. 15, 2024, to withdraw their funds from the app.
According to the GambetDC FAQ section, any open bets for events prior to July 1, 2024, will remain open until the bet is settled. Any bets for events after June 30, 2024, will be cancelled and customers will be provided refunds of their stakes for those bets.
An Office of Lottery and Gaming spokesperson told Sports Betting Dime it decided to refund the stakes of any open bets after June 30, 2024, instead of an alternative refunding process.
For example, Massachusetts Gaming Commission members recently WynnBET, which ceased operations in the state, to offer either at a minimum the original stake of the bet or fair market value for bets that may cash prior to its customers.
We refrain from commenting on actions taken by other jurisdictions. Our primary objective is to ensure a seamless and comprehensible transition for our players. Following an internal assessment of various alternatives, we have determined that the most appropriate course of action for our customers is to refund the bets, the OLG spokesperson said.
The GambetDC to FanDuel transition at retail locations will occur through a phased approach and will be completed before 2024 is over.
New Sports Betting Bill Introduced
FanDuel may also have additional competition if one Washington, D.C., lawmaker gets his way.
Washington D.C. council member Kenyan McDuffie recently introduced the that would expand Washington, D.C.’s sports betting market to potentially include up to seven online sports betting skins. A sports betting operator would be required to partner with a Washington, D.C. sports franchise that plays 90% of its home games in the district. This would leave the follow franchise and stadiums eligible for an online sports betting license under his bill:
Audi Field
Capital One Arena
DC United
Nationals Park
Washington Capitals
Washington Nationals
Washington Wizards
Currently, Caesars Sportsbook hosts a retail sportsbook at Capital One Arena, FanDuel hosts a retail sportsbook in Audi Field, and BetMGM hosts a retail sportsbook in Nationals Park. While FanDuel will soon be allowed to offer online sports betting throughout the district, BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook can only offer online sports betting to customers who are within a two-block radius of their retail sportsbook.
