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DC Finally Gets Multiple Sportsbooks

Sean Tomlinson

Last Updated: July 19, 2024 11:27 AM EDT • 1 min 24 sec read.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels passes a ball during an OTA workout at Commanders Park as we look at multiple sportsbooks now being active in Washington D.C.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels passes a ball during an OTA workout at Commanders Park. Photo by Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports.

For the first time ever, several of the best sportsbooks are now active in Washington, D.C.

There was some disagreement earlier in the week between Mayor Muriel Bowser and the city council. That resulted in FanDuel temporarily going dark and ceasing operations.

The district's 2025 fiscal budget includes the framework for expanding the marketplace after FanDuel was previously the only one among the best sports betting sites permitted to operate throughout the entire district.

But FanDuel is back up now after the mayor returned the budget without a veto or a signature, and regulatory changes have led to Caesars and BetMGM expanding in the district too while growing the DC sports betting scene. Those two books were previously only permitted to operate within a two-block area of retail locations at Capital One Arena and Nationals Park.

FanDuel began accepting bets again on Wednesday, and Caesars and BetMGM started doing the same that morning. DraftKings also said through it's X account that it will be joining the party.

All active books will surely be offering DC sportsbook promos.

Change was in the air

There's been a push to boost a struggling market that brought in only $4.3 million in tax revenue over four years, with GamBetDC underperforming as the sole option previously.

Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie led the drive to expand and include more of the best sports betting apps. With the budget nearly across the line, the market can welcome more options and competition.

"Expanding access to our mobile sports betting app across the district will only enhance the fan experience, and we look forward to deepening the connection we’ve established with them since our historic opening in 2021,” Caesars digital president Eric Hession said in a statement, according to the Washington Examiner. “We’d like to thank Mayor Bowser, chairman Mendelson, councilmember McDuffie, and the D.C. Council for their leadership on sports betting, as well as the Office of Lottery and Gaming.”

There are now both Type A and C licenses in the district. Under the former, sportsbooks now give 20% of revenue earned to the city, in addition to the cost of a license. And Type C permits allow books to partner with a local sports franchise to offer online betting. Those agreements will result in 30% of revenue being taxed.

Written By:
Sean Tomlinson
Sean Tomlinson has been in the sports media wilderness since 2009, and he joined Sportsbook Review in 2021. His work has been referenced in The New York Times and Forbes. He's also made appearances on The Fan 590 and TSN 1050. Sean is a regular bettor who places bets daily while using a handful of books. Most frequently, he uses FanDuel and bet365 due to the quality experience on those apps. While he'll often take an analytical approach, Sean enjoys the fun, recreational side of betting too, and embraces alternative markets on events like the Westminster Dog Show or Eurovision, or the many novelty props tied annually to the Super Bowl, for example. Beyond sports, Sean is also interested in the betting markets tied to politics, and especially those connected to American elections. He sees betting as a way to explore and engage in a deeper way, and takes that same view to his work. He plays poker periodically too, and is an avid fantasy sports player. Sean also previously spent time with Bleacher Report and theScore, all after earning his media studies degree from the University of Guelph-Humber.