The Washington D.C. Council moved closer to implementing a competitive online sports betting marketplace last week, as the District’s FY2025 budget includes the Sports Wagering Amendment Act of 2024. The budget proposal still needs official approval from the council and mayor.
The sports betting language in the budget would allow for multiple sports betting apps to operate in Washington D.C. Currently, only FanDuel has District-wide digital sports wagering access, as it recently took over for GambetDC as the District’s primary betting app.
Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie has spearheaded the push for increased mobile betting apps. BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook both have retail sportsbooks in Washington D.C., but neither operator has widespread mobile sports betting access.
DraftKings and Fanatics Sportsbook are among the other betting apps to signal their interest in joining Washington D.C.’s sports betting marketplace.
Budget Inclusion Debate
The move toward an open sports betting market came with substantial debate at last week’s council meeting.
Councilmember Zachary Parker questioned why the sports betting bill should move through the budget, rather than through council committees. McDuffie cited the need to move quickly, allowing non-FanDuel operators to keep pace in the marketplace. Parker aimed to strip the sports betting language from the budget, but his amendment effort failed.
McDuffie blamed the D.C. Lottery for delays in a shift to the sports betting market. He wanted the lottery to move faster in considering replacing the contract giving Intralot control over the jurisdiction’s sports betting market. Instead, the lottery allowed FanDuel to become a subcontractor of Intralot to replace GambetDC. The lottery wasn’t immediately forthcoming with FanDuel being named the subcontractor.
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“This process was slow because the Committee [on Business and Economic Development] has been really blocked at every turn by the Office of Lottery and Gaming,” McDuffie said. “For months, they refused to publicly disclose the identity of the new subcontractor.”
Some councilmembers also shared concerns about the potential impact to sports betting kiosks in some small businesses. McDuffie attempted to ease those concerns by saying that “there will be a requirement that kiosks are available to those small businesses that want to have them” whether it be through FanDuel or a different operator.
Suarez Set to Leave
Not only is Washington D.C.’s betting marketplace shifting, but there’s also a notable change coming within the D.C. Lottery. Frank Suarez, the executive director of the Washington D.C. Lottery, will leave the lottery on July 31 to take a new position with the Connecticut Lottery.
“Frank Suarez has provided excellent leadership as the Executive Director of the Office of Lottery and Gaming over the last three years,” a D.C. Lottery spokesperson told Sports Handle. “We wish him the best as he embarks on his new position as the President and CEO of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation.”
Suarez often butted heads with McDuffie, with the two disagreeing on the best path forward for the District. For years, Suarez argued that GambetDC was the best option for Washington D.C. sports betting. Despite his belief in GambetDC, the app continuously fell short of revenue projections and angered customers with its subpar odds and clunky user interface.
He changed his tune on GambetDC earlier this year, suggesting FanDuel should take over for GambetDC as an Intralot subcontractor. Suarez admitted bringing FanDuel to the District could have major revenue benefits. The move away from GambetDC has proved to be financially beneficial for the District, with FanDuel dwarfing GambetDC’s handle and revenue totals since it became the primary sports betting app in the District.
McDuffie, however, still believes an open market with multiple sports betting operators is best for the District. Based on the budget proposal, it seems as if McDuffie is moving closer to getting his wish and his days of arguing with Suarez are nearing an end.
