BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook to Launch in Washington D.C. on July 15

BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook announced plans to go live in Washington D.C. on Monday, July 15. This means FanDuel will no longer hold a monopoly in the D.C. sports betting market.

BetMGM will launch its sports betting app in Washington D.C. on Monday at noon ET, Caesars Sportsbook will follow suit

BetMGM shared Wednesday that it will launch its betting app across the District on Monday at noon ET. The operator plans to host a celebration at Nationals Park that morning, which will include live music performances.

Caesars Sportsbook operates its retail sportsbook at Capital One Arena. This news comes as D.C. councilmember Kenyan McDuffie successfully lobbied to change Washington D.C.’s sports betting market through the budget.

McDuffie advocated for market expansion, altering FanDuel’s monopoly as an Intralot subcontractor. FanDuel previously hinted at its intent to end its partnership with the lottery and Intralot, if the market opens up.

Although FanDuel currently pays the District a 40% tax rate, operators pay a 20% tax under McDuffie’s bill. In March, FanDuel replaced GamBetDC as the District’s primary sports wagering vendor.

Following GamBetDC’s official launch in 2020, gamblers were soon deterred from placing wagers due to persistent crashes, unreliable odds, and poor user interface. 

Fanatics Sportsbook, DraftKings could soon enter the D.C. market

Although GamBetDC helped D.C. generate $4.3 million in revenue, it was still a far cry from the $84 million projection. This opened the door for FanDuel to enter the market.

D.C.’s mobile and retail sports betting had previously been managed by Intralot under GamBetDC since 2019. In May, the District drew $36.34 million in wagers with a total revenue of $5.63 million — both all-time records.

FanDuel was responsible for a staggering $29.73 million, more than 80% of the total handle. This will likely change now that BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook have arrived. 

Additionally, Fanatics Sportsbook and DraftKings are among the other operators who lobbied the Washington D.C. Council for online sports betting access earlier this year. Both operators are expected to join BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook in the D.C. market.

Operators are required to partner with one of the District’s sports franchises, according to the language in McDuffie’s bill. An operator will also need to be vetted by the lottery before being allowed to go live.

Sports betting apps pay the District an annual licensing fee as well.