Proposal would expand sports betting options in DC

Mariel Carbone
·2 min read

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Newly proposed legislation aims to overhaul D.C.’s current sports betting system, expanding options for gamblers throughout the city.

Earlier this week, at-large councilmember Kenyan McDuffie proposed the Sports Wagering Amendment Act of 2024. In part, the legislation allows for more competition in the industry.

“Our current model isn’t working, this bill will bring needed competition into the sports wagering marketplace,” McDuffie said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Wednesday.

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If passed, the legislation would allow sportsbooks, like BetMGM, to launch their mobile betting apps in most parts of the city. Currently, consumers are only able to use the apps within a two block radius of a sportsbook’s brick and mortar location.

It would also create a new type of sports wagering license, which would allow sports teams who are based in D.C. to partner with a mobile betting app of their choice.

“(The legislation) allows current Class A retail sportsbook operators (located at Audi Field, Capital One Arena and Nationals Park) to provide their mobile apps city wide,” McDuffie stated. “It also creates a Class C mobile sports wagering license to sports teams who meet certain criteria, including being headquartered in the District of Columbia and playing 90% of their home games at a facility with a Class A retail sportsbook.”

The proposal comes as city leaders grapple with how to revamp D.C.’s failing sports betting system.

Earlier this month, D.C.’s Office of Lottery and Gaming announced a plan to replace its sole sports wagering vendor GambetDC with FanDuel.

GamBetDC has been the center of controversy since it launched in 2020 due to complaints that the mobile app is glitchy and cumbersome. The app crashed during the 2022 Superbowl. And, city officials have said the District lost revenue during its first year in operation.

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According to McDuffie, GamBetDC has only generated $4.3 million in revenue in the last four years.

The councilmember is hopeful more competition can generate more money.

Under the proposal, the first $300,000 in revenues must be used to fund programs through the Department of Behavioral Health that prevent, treat and research gambling addiction. The next $1,000,000 would fund sports and extra curricular programing for DC Public Schools.

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