Interactive
US – Washington DC lottery to launch sports betting app by the end of the month
By Phil - 28 May 2020
The D.C. Lottery has confirmed that its online sports betting platform, GambetDC, will go live by May 31 with customers able to place bets in early June.
The D.C. Office of Lottery and Gaming stated: “While we recognise there will be a limited number of events to wager on, this ‘soft launch’ will provide us with an opportunity to roll out the GambetDC website to potential players in the District in preparation for the return of sports.”
“The website will be available to the general public with this release. The native iOS and Android apps will be unveiled in early June. A full-scale advertising and marketing campaign promoting GambetDC will launch as soon as there is a more robust schedule of major sporting events,” it added.
The D.C. Lottery initially wanted to launch its betting platform last September, but was hit with a lawsuit over the contract given to Intralot, its lottery operator to also oversee mobile betting.
Nicole Jordan, Director of Marketing and Communications for the lottery said: “We are revising our sports wagering launch strategy based on the current state of world events, but will be posting information about the platform in the coming days, including introducing the brand and its functionalities. The Lottery and Intralot are prepared to launch the platform when it is safe for the sports world to return. GambetDC, the sports betting platform powered by the DC Lottery, is tested and ready to go live. At this time, almost all sports leagues around the world have suspended play indefinitely due to growing concerns around the COVID-19 virus and, as a consequence, there are little-to-no games or bets to offer. This goes for the Lottery’s offering, as well as any other sports books operating in the US and globally.”
There will be certain areas within the District where betting using GambetDC is prohibited. These areas include all federal enclaves such as the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial that fall within the area defined under the Shipstead-Luce Act that includes the monumental core of the District, along the Potomac waterfront and Rock Creek Park.
Players are also not able to place bets with GambetDC within 2 blocks of major stadiums such as Audi Field, Capital One Arena and, Nationals Park and St. Elizabeths East Entertainment Sports Arena.
William Hill has already partnered with Capital One Arena to operate its sportsbook. judge temporarily blocked the city from moving forward.
With most sports events cancelled, DC’s bettors will be able to place bets on the Bundesliga (Germany’s top soccer league), NASCAR and the UFC. The PGA Tour is expected to start again in the second week of June, while the NBA, NHL and MLB continue to discuss options for returning to play. The platform won’t offer horse racing wagers will not be offered through the platform.
