DC Sports Betting App Launching During A Month With No Sports


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DC sports betting

Legal Washington DC sports betting will still launch by the end of this month despite very few available sports.

DC’s Office of Lottery and Gaming confirmed the app will have a public launch by the end of March. The app is currently in the user acceptance testing phase to ensure functionality and compliance with DC and federal laws.

Quality assurance testing of the DC sports betting app is already complete.

“We are revising our launch strategy now based on the current state of world events/no games happening, but we will be ready to fully debut our sportsbook when it is safe for the sports world to return to the court, field, etc.,” said Nicole Jordan, director of marketing and communications for the OLG.

More information, including the name of the app and brand advertising, will be announced in the coming weeks.

DC sports betting through Intralot could be ugly

The global sports shutdown by the coronavirus will delay Intralot from likely offering some terrible odds. The DC Lottery approved plenty of markets but most are suspended or canceled.

Intralot went live with its first US sports betting operation in Montana last week. Leagues and tournaments were canceled or postponed shortly after the launch but we still got some insight into Intralot’s offering.

What we learned isn’t particularly inspiring: the majority of moneyline odds offered by the Montana Lottery’s Sports Bet Montana were worse for both sides compared to other US sportsbooks.

Intralot was the only possible supplier in Montana because sports betting was defined as a lottery game. Washington DC had other options but a councilmember with ties to a consulting firm that accepted money from Intralot helped push the deal through.

So far, Intralot has only won a lottery sports betting contract through a public bid in New Hampshire. DraftKings Sportsbook operates the app in New Hampshire.

Intralot not the only option

More reasonable Washington DC sports betting likely is still possible.

The District is also allowing bars and restaurants as well as sports venues to apply to launch their own sportsbooks as Class A and B licensees.

Those apps will not be available throughout the District like Intralot’s will be and instead will be geofenced.

For example, William Hill is partnering with Monumental Sports for a sportsbook in Capital One Arena. William Hill is currently the only other operator that has applied.