The FanDuel Sportsbook at Audi Field will enjoy a grand opening Friday, more than a year after the company applied for its DC sports betting license.
How long it takes mobile to launch, if ever, is a different story.
FanDuel has “no timetable” for a mobile DC sports betting launch, a company spokesperson told LSR.
FanDuel opts against limited mobile DC sports betting
The partnership between FanDuel and DC United allows for both mobile and retail sports betting but comes with a caveat.
There were two ways DC could launch sports betting:
- Allow operators to launch mobile sportsbooks accessible throughout most of DC and tax them 20%.
- Limit commercial mobile sportsbooks to a two-block radius of its sports team partner and tax them 10%, while allowing GambetDC a monopoly on the full mobile market.
With option two in effect, FanDuel opted not to join BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook in the limited market at this time.
BetMGM could benefit from FanDuel decision
Fans attending DC United games and looking to bet on a mobile sportsbook app instead of at the retail facility will not have to walk far.
Nationals Park is about a five-minute walk from Audi Field, meaning the reach of its two-block radius is even closer to the DC United pitch.
That sets up partner Nationals partner BetMGM to pick up some business FanDuel is letting go, for now at least.
Commercial DC sportsbooks still outpacing GambetDC
GambetDC has been operational for more than two years and has garnered a reputation for not being bettor-friendly with over-juiced odds provided by Intralot. The sportsbook has aimed to pay out 90% since February to be more competitive, an OLG official said at its 2023 budget hearing.
Despite attempts from within the District to help the DC Lottery to right the ship last year, GambetDC still has never come close to bringing in the same betting volume as the limited mobile and other retail sportsbooks.
That trend continued into May. GambetDC posted just more than $5 million in handle with $724,452 in revenue. That compares to the $12.2 million in handle and $1.3 million in revenue from BetMGM, Caesars and the Elys restaurant sportsbook combined.
Those commercial operators paid a combined $129,226 in taxes. The DC Lottery does not share its monthly take from the operations but has repeatedly lowered expectations since launch.
