One Major Operator Missing From DC Online Sports Betting Return

Written By Adam Hensley on July 19, 2024 - Last Updated on July 22, 2024
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Washington D.C. online sports betting has returned. Two big-name operators are now in the mix, but another is MIA.

DC customers now have online access to Caesars and BetMGM, in addition to FanDuel, which had been the only district-wide online sportsbook.

Absent is DraftKings, which promises to launch soon in the nation’s capital.

Budget delay halted online sports betting expansion

Both Caesars and BetMGM had planned to launch their online Washington D.C. sports betting apps earlier this week. But the Fiscal Year 2025 budget that allowed them to offer online sports betting district-wide was held up.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser sent the budget back to the DC Council on Monday this week unsigned. She had issues with a number of things in the budget, but not with the sports betting provision that opened up online sports betting across the district to all sportsbooks, not just FanDuel.

Even without the mayor’s signature, the online sports betting provision was allowed to go into effect. Then, the Washington Office of Lottery and Gaming officially gave the three operators the green light.

FanDuel halted its DC sportsbook

When Bowser returned the budget unsigned, FanDuel temporarily paused its online sports betting operation in DC. Customers were told the operator “hoped to be back soon.” The FanDuel app is available again in DC.

Previously, FanDuel was the only online sportsbook available district-wide. It took over for Gambet D.C. in April. The heavily criticized Gambet had been the only legal online option across the entire district since DC sports betting launched in 2020.

FanDuel was a welcome change, evident by a spike in handle in its first month of operation in DC.

Both Caesars and BetMGM have operated online sportsbooks in DC, but they were limited to the areas around their respective sports parks. Caesars had a retail sportsbook at the Capital One Arena, while BetMGM had a brick-and-mortar setup at Nationals Park. Customers could only access their online sports betting features within a two-block radius of the venues.

DraftKings missing from DC online sports betting market

FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars are three of the top four sports betting operators nationwide. Missing from that list is DraftKings. It doesn’t have access to the DC market. Yet.

DraftKings’ website said the sportsbook would launch soon in DC.

“Rejoice, Capitals, Commanders, Nationals, Wizards fans and everyone in between! Washington D.C. is approving mobile sports betting and DraftKings Sportsbook will soon be available for residents.”

It’s worth noting that the Washington Office of Lottery and Gaming earlier this week did not list DraftKings as one of its approved operators.

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Adam Hensley

Adam Hensley is a journalist from Des Moines, Iowa, with experience covering online sports betting and gambling across Catena Media. His byline has appeared in the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated and sites within the USA Today Network. Hensley graduated from the University of Iowa in 2019 and spent his college career working for the Daily Iowan’s sports department, both as an editor and reporter.

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