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DraftKings Sportsbook Officially Joins Growing DC Market

Andrew Reid

Last Updated: July 29, 2024 6:20 PM EDT • 1 min 18 sec read.

Draftkings Sportsbook as we look at the details of the sports betting behemoth joining the DC sports betting scene.
Draftkings Sportsbook at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. Photo by: Rob Schumacher/The Republic/USA TODAY Network.

It's been an exciting couple of months for our best sports betting sites in the District of Columbia. Things got even better on Friday as DraftKings officially went live.

After years of lackluster results from what was formerly the only district-wide operator, GamBetDC, the DC sports betting scene had a major shakeup in April when FanDuel took over. However, changes to the scene weren't finished.

How it used to be

For years the market has been relatively stagnant in the nation's capitol. 

While GamBetDC ruled the scene (albeit poorly), there have long been other operators in DC, it's just that they faced major restrictions. 

Three of our best sports betting apps have long been active, but they had to operate within a two-block radius of professional sports teams' home arenas with which they had agreements. 

Before its takeover, FanDuel operated at Audi Field (D.C. United), while BetMGM could be found at and around Nationals Park (Washington Nationals), and Caesars Sportsbook was available near Capital One Arena (Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals).

You can find some excellent offers from the old guard in our DC sportsbook promos.

The new scene

Kenyan McDuffie, chairman of the D.C. Council Committee on Business was quoted a couple of months back saying, “I’ve heard from many residents about their unease with the district’s woeful performance on sports betting.   

He stepped up and championed change, and when the DC council passed its FY2025 budget, which came into effect on July 15, the district saw expanded sports betting come to fruition.

The market has become DraftKings' 29th betting market in North America, with operations coast-to-coast in the United States and a presence in the Ontario sports betting market in Canada. It also has one of our best real-money online casinos in numerous markets.

“It has been incredible to see legalized sports betting grow rapidly over the past six years, and with plans to launch our online sportsbook in D.C., DraftKings looks forward to expanding its presence in more than half the country,” said Matt Kalish, President, DraftKings North America.

If you want to check out the sports betting behemoth, be sure to use our DraftKings promo code.

Written By:
Andrew Reid
Andrew is a Publishing Editor at Sportsbook Review. He graduated from Acadia University with a degree in Kinesiology, working as a personal trainer and in injury rehab, and then attended the College of Sports Media in Toronto to attain a diploma in Radio and Television Sports Broadcasting. Andrew has been involved in the sports betting and fantasy sports space since joining the FNTSY Sports Network in 2014, where he worked as a producer, director, and occasional on-air talent on various shows focusing on sports betting and DFS content. Prior to joining SBR, he spent multiple years with the USA Today Network as an editor and writer. Living in Newfoundland, Andrew frequents grey market sportsbooks, but in the past, when he's lived in regulated areas, he's become well-versed with all of our best sportsbooks. As strictly a casual bettor, he enjoys making touchdown parlays with friends (bro-lays), sweating out golf cut parlays during majors, playing same-game parlays for fun, and chasing long-shot bets. He also enjoys using sportsbooks that have solid iGaming and casino platforms. As the old guy on staff, he has an affinity for industry news, which confuses some, but shh ... quiet ... the news is on.