From early bookmaking to today’s digital platforms, Washington DC’s sports betting journey has shown an immense evolution. The district has undergone significant regulatory changes and market shifts, especially with FanDuel’s rise as a dominant force in 2024, signaling a completely new era for bettors in the capital.
DC sports betting background
The District of Columbia does not have a long record in sports betting due to the lack of legislative push before the PASPA annulation. While the other US authorities have had busy years getting an advance, DC had not passed any dc sports betting law since the 1908 ban on horse racing in the district by Congress. Washington DC also did not pass a sports betting law to regulate Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), which were considered games of the skills and thus exempt from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA).
2018: Legalizing sports betting: DC’s path after PASPA
In May 2018, the US Supreme Court deemed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) unconstitutional. This allowed each American state to regulate its own betting market, also putting an end to Nevada’s monopolistic influence on sports betting in the USA.
Not long after that, DC introduced bill B22-0944 to create a possible framework for legal sports betting. The bill, also known as the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act, would allow retail and online sports bets in Washington DC. The DC Lottery became the regulatory and licensing body for mobile gambling. After three bill amendments, in December 2018 the SWLAA reached Mayor Muriel Bowser, which would help legalize sports betting in DC in early 2019.
The signing of the Sports Wagering Amendment Act in 2019
Bowser signed off on Bill B22-0944 in January 2019 as expected, which prepared the landscape for legal DC sports betting to be launched in the capital. But, unlike other US areas, bills in Federal city must be submitted to the US Congress prior to being confirmed as laws. This procedure was completed in May 2019, and this is how DC’s legal sports betting industry began existence. Two months later, the District of Columbia’s Office of Lottery and Gaming finalized the local rules and regulations, making legal wagering reality.
2020 – The first DC sportsbook GambetDC open doors
Sports betting has been lawful since 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic obstructed the first sportsbook’s launch for an entire year. On May 29, 2020, DC had its first-ever online sportsbook GambetDC opened to the public, but it was left disappointed by the operator’s incredibly poor odds. Operated by the Office of Lottery and Gaming, GambetDC also launched its online sportsbook app accessible anywhere within the jurisdiction.
2021: Other big players enter the scene
On May 26, 2021, Caesars launched its retail sportsbook at the Capital One Arena, becoming the first commercial sportsbook in the District of Columbia. Players can only access it online within two blocks of its retail location. After William Hill/Caesars landed its mobile app in Washington DC, in June 2021, BetMGM made its move launching its geo-restricted mobile app and retail sportsbook at Nationals Park. GambetDC had to compete against two industry giants, which wasn’t successful.
The other sportsbook that made its debut, opening its Class B ‘Grand Central Sportsbook’ on October 5, 2021, was Grand Central Restaurant and Bar. It ran two betting kiosks and a staffed betting window.
2022: FanDuel launches its first retail sportsbook in DC
On July 8, 2022, FanDuel positioned itself in DC with a brand-new retail location at Audi Field. This was an important event, namely the first time a sportsbook opened in a Major League Soccer (MLS) stadium (Audi Field) in the USA. Although FanDuel had a geofenced mobile app at the time, the company chose a retail-only approach, with no set timetable for a mobile launch.
2022 was also the year when Caesars revealed that they will replace their ‘Caesars by William Hill’ platform with an updated Caesars app for sports betting, after having acquired and rebranded William Hill in 2021. In 2023, DC lawmakers nullified a ruling that had ensured guaranteed funding for gambling problem initiatives, met with angst from responsible gambling organizations.