When you sign-up through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more >
After years of a substandard sports betting market, the nation’s capital is about to get a significant upgrade.
Washington D.C.’s Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) announced this week that FanDuel would be taking over for GamebetDC, tentatively starting on April 15. D.C. bettors will be able to use GamebetDC through April 14. Any standard bets placed on events after that will be paid out, but any future bets will be refunded.
The announcement has been a major relief for bettors in D.C., who have only been able to wager using the maligned GamebetDC. The platform has been plagued by bugs and issues that have sent some bettors to neighboring states to place bets. That has led to disappointing tax revenue numbers, a problem most states don’t have.
FanDuel is currently the most popular sportsbook in the US, joining DraftKings and dominating the market share across all states. However, some are concerned about the “tentative” date that has been set. Some expect the switch to FanDuel to be messy, with the date coming up quickly. While FanDuel is an industry leader, neither GamebetDC nor the OLG have shown much competency when setting up the market.
The OLG should have another update later this week, hopefully making the tentative date of April 15 official.
The market could expand even further in addition to the FanDuel launch date. A bill was proposed to add both of these platforms, giving bettors multiple options to wager. While FanDuel is a reliable option, the mess created by GamebetDC, the sole operator, has pushed multiple sportsbooks to allow it.
While FanDuel will almost certainly dominate the market, they would be forced to keep odds and promos competitive if BetMGM and Caesars enter the state.
Michael is an avid sports fan and a veteran bettor from Milwaukee. He learned the trade from his grandfather in Las Vegas as a kid and has turned that into a successful career. He cheers for all Wisconsin pro teams along with his Alma Mater Arizona State. He specializes in baseball betting, but has experience in football, basketball, and hockey as well. When he isn’t pouring over stats, he’s spending time with his two young children.
More info on Michael Savio
© Rebel Penguin ApS 2024 (a subsidiary of Gaming Innovation Group Inc.)
We support responsible gambling. 21+ Only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
WSN.com is run by iGaming Cloud Inc (a Gaming Innovation Group Subsidiary) and is registered with the New Jersey
Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) under affiliate vendor ID
89744,
with the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) under certificate of registration number SWR-000148, approved by
the
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board as a gaming service provider, under certificate registration number
117656-1,
possesses a Vendor Minor sports betting license from the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (account
number 94414163), granted a vendor registration number VR007603-20-001 by the Michigan Gaming Control Board,
an
interim Sports Wagering Supplier license, under license number SWS 066, issued by the West Virginia Lottery
Commission, a sports betting vendor registration, under registration number #100400, issued by the Director
of
Gaming Licensing and Investigations of the Virginia Lottery to operate in the State of Virginia, and a
Vendor
Registration issued by the Sports Wagering Committee of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation.
Advertising disclosure: WSN contains links to online retailers on its website. When people click on our
affiliate links and make purchases, WSN earns a commission from our partners, including ESPN and various
sportsbooks.