DC Bettors Gain Expanded Access To Sports Betting Apps

From Monday, July 15, DC sports bettors will have more of our best sports betting sites available throughout the district.

The city will shift from just one betting platform available all throughout the city to an open market with more sportsbooks launching across the district. BetMGM and Caesars have confirmed plans to expand their footprints in the DC sports betting scene following recent efforts led by DC Council Member Kenyan McDuffie.

The change

McDuffie championed changes to the city's sports betting framework through the DC Council 2025 budget, aiming to dismantle the citywide betting monopoly. 

Sportsbook operator FanDuel signed an agreement with DC Lottery’s GamebetDC platform in March this year after continuous underperformance, including a $4 million loss in 2021. The company has operated under an Intralot subcontract, paying a 40% tax for its monopoly privileges. 

Betting operators Caesars and BetMGM have operated sportsbooks in DC in partnership with sports franchises. However, they could only accept mobile wagers within a two-block radius of their retail sportsbooks located within their partners’ stadiums, leaving district-wide coverage off the cards until McDuffie’s reforms. Now, their DC sportsbook promos will be available district-wide. 

With McDuffie's reforms, sportsbook operators like Caesars and BetMGM will face a 20% tax rate on gross gaming revenues, as opposed to the previous 10% rate. Licensing fees will also double, with license application and annual renewal set at $1 million and $500,000, respectively.

The sportsbooks

BetMGM's announcement on Wednesday, July 10, detailed its intention to roll out its app across the capital in contrast to restricting access to a small radius around Nationals Park - the home stadium of its partner, MLB's Washington Nationals - as was previously allowed by its licensing terms. The launch, scheduled for noon on July 15, will be marked by a celebratory event at Nationals Park, including several live music performances.

Caesars Sportsbook, which operates in partnership with the Washington Wizards out of Capital One Arena, also confirmed Wednesday its plans to go live and offer its app across the city. 

Other changes?

Caesars and BetMGM aren’t the only operators expected to enter the newly expanded D.C. market. Previously, both DraftKings and Fanatics Sportsbook had expressed interest in setting up in the nation’s capital. 

However, new operators must undergo a vetting process before launching in DC. Since BetMGM and Caesars are already approved for online sports betting, their transition to broader access should be smoother. New sportsbooks must also have a “sports partnership” before entering the market, with a sports team registered with the MLB, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WSL, MLS, or NHL.