Washington, D.C. Sports Betting: Lessons Learned
Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court in May 2018 opened the door for any state to follow in Nevada's footsteps in offering a full range of sports betting, lawmakers across the country have faced a bit of a dilemma.
Should they enact a law authorizing such gambling as quickly as possible to bring in a significant new tax revenue stream - or take a more cautious approach? The latter meant sacrificing such dollars in the short run, but also gaining the advantage of learning lessons - both positive and negative - from the experiences of those "early adapters."
While it is not one of the 50 states, Washington, D.C. - the nation's capital - at first sought to be one of those role models. The city council approved The Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act in December 2018, and Mayor Muriel Bowser signed it into law a month later.
But it wasn't until June 2020 - only partly because everything was stalled for months by the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down most sporting events - that the district's lottery finally launched its own mobile monopoly called "GamBetDC."
Later that year, gaming company William Hill launched its sports betting product, though it only operated within a two-block radius of Capital One Arena (home to the NBA's Washington Wizards, the NHL's Washington Capitals, and the Georgetown University men's basketball program).
In May 2021, William Hill opened a retail sportsbook within that same arena.
Correcting the original error
After some initial struggles with GamBetDC - including uncompetitive betting lines compared to neighboring Maryland - the council reversed course in 2024 and allowed three other national operators, such as FanDuel, to offer its product within the district.
That put the GamBetDC betting app out of business, which was not surprising after it turned out that the council had hired Intralot - the city's lottery provider - on a no-bid contract to make a forgettable foray into the sportsbook business.
In January 2025, District Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced that Intralot and a subcontractor agreed to pay the district a combined $6.5 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that they had submitted false invoices and in several other ways deceived district regulators to win the deal.
As of spring 2026, Caesars and Fanatics also are active in an increasingly competitive industry in the district - good news for the district’s consumers.
While some states have elected to offer one operator a monopoly on sports betting, the preferred model has become having a bidding process and then choosing an established, major sportsbook company.
Audi Field, the site of D.C. United Major League soccer home games, has joined Capital One Arena in offering a retail sportsbook. FanDuel runs the Audi Field location, while Caesars manages the Capital One Arena site.
Nationals Park - home to Washington's MLB franchise - has an on-site sportsbook in partnership with another big name. There also are three bars and restaurants that have added sports betting to their menus in the district, and more licenses are available if others choose to join.
What a difference a competitive betting industry makes
The ultimate lesson that the Washington, D.C. sportsbook experience offered to legislators in slower-moving states is the raw numbers.
In 2022, the betting handle - the amount wagered - in the district was $216.2 million. In 2023, it actually dropped to $169.8 million.
Then the competitive landscape launched in 2024 - and immediately the handle more than doubled to $462.5 million. That was no fluke, either, as the handle remarkably nearly doubled again in 2025, to $855.6 million.
The current marketplace has been a boon to the sportsbooks as well as to taxpayers who have seen millions in additional annual new tax revenue from the council's wise change of heart.
While Washington, D.C. has no casinos within district limits, MGM National Harbor - one of the country's highest-grossing casinos - is located nearby in Oxon Hill, MD.
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