• About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling
This site contains commercial content
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Colorado
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • Ohio
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetMGM Bonus Code
    • Bet365 Bonus Code
    • Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code
    • ESPN BET Promo Code
    • Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetRivers Promo Code
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Colorado
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • Ohio
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetMGM Bonus Code
    • Bet365 Bonus Code
    • Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code
    • ESPN BET Promo Code
    • Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetRivers Promo Code
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
No Result
View All Result

D.C. Lottery Won’t Launch Its Sports Betting Product Today

Mobile app on hold in face of COVID-19 and lack of sports

Jill R. Dorson by Jill R. Dorson
March 31, 2020
in Regulation
empty seats
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In a normal world, today would have been a big day for the D.C. Lottery. Fifteen months after the D.C. Council approved sports betting and nearly a year after the Office of Lottery and Gaming began work on developing regulations and licensing on the biggest new product in recent history, today would have been the day that Washingtonians could have finally legally placed a bet on sports.

But with COVID-19 sweeping the globe and U.S. major professional sports on hold since March 12, the world is anything but normal. And the D.C. Lottery, despite its preparations, won’t launch sports betting today.

“The Lottery’s sports wagering mobile and web platforms are tested and ready to go live. These platforms would be launched (today) if there were live sports available for consumers to place wagers,” an Office of Lottery and Gaming spokesperson told Sports Handle by e-mail. “At this time, almost all professional sports leagues around the world have suspended indefinitely play 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 U.S. and globally.”

Sports betting timetable open ended

As of now, the Lottery has no firm timetable for the launch of its product, though the plan is to “introduce the brand and its functionalities” in the next few days.

“We are revising our sports wagering launch strategy based on the current state of world events,” according to the spokesperson. “The Lottery and Intralot are prepared to launch the platform when it is safe for the sports world to return.”

First they promised sports betting in D.C. by the World Series. Then the Super Bowl. But now it looks like you may be able to wager on sports by Opening Day. https://t.co/H1M3uleqQV

— Martin Austermuhle (@maustermuhle) February 28, 2020

Had the Lottery chosen to move forward with its product today, it would have been the fourth to do so this month behind Michigan, Illinois and Montana, all of which launched within days of sports being suspended.

Sign Up For The Sports Handle Newsletter!
I also want to receive information and offers about online sportsbooks (eg. odds boost, welcome offers)

D.C. Lottery officials had planned to launch sports betting during what is usually an exciting and busy time of year sportswise — both the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and Major League Baseball’s opening day are spring rites of passage.

The Lottery’s decision to delay was likely a painful one, after a tumultuous year of delays and some scandal. The D.C. Council member who championed sports betting was expelled from the Council; the Council opted to bypass the bid process and hand the Lottery’s sports betting contract to Intralot; the proposed rules were heavily criticized and revised; and a mobile app developer filed a lawsuit against the D.C. Office of the Chief Financial Officer, which oversees the Lottery.

Among the reasons the D.C. Council and the city’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer pushed for speedy approval of sports betting was the potential revenue to the city. According to the City Paper, D.C. Chief Financial Officer Jeffery DeWitt is now warning that D.C. could have a $500 million budget shortfall.

D.C. wanted to be a first mover in region

Washington, D.C., lawmakers were among the first in their region to legalize sports betting. Delaware and West Virginia, which offer retail and statewide mobile sports betting, were the first and fourth states to take sports bets after the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned in May 2018.

Since then, Virginia lawmakers earlier this month approved retail and statewide mobile sports betting and are awaiting Governor Ralph Northam’s signature to make it legal. Maryland lawmakers will send the decision on sports betting to voters in November.

Monumental Sports to partner with betting company to open sports betting venue at Capital One Arena https://t.co/tVbpgVKLz2 #Fox5dc pic.twitter.com/UW0nsS9Cx9

— FOX 5 DC (@fox5dc) October 3, 2019

Besides the Lottery option in D.C., operators will be able to offer retail sports betting at sites throughout the city, including professional sports venues. So far, four applications have been submitted, including one for a Class A Operator’s license from American Wagering (William Hill), which will operate the sportsbook inside Capital One Arena. When that book opens, it will make history as the first inside a professional stadium, and bettors will be able to wager both at retail locations and via on-site mobile sportsbooks within the stadium and its exclusion zone.

SportRadar and Scientific Games are the most recent to file for licenses, and both are seeking supplier licenses. According to the OLG website, all three applications are under review. A fourth application, also for a supplier’s license, was submitted by a company called Media Troopers in February, and that one is listed as “received” rather than under review.

ShareTweetShare
Jill R. Dorson

Jill R. Dorson

Jill has covered everything from steeplechase to the NFL and then some during a more than 30-year career in sports journalism. The highlight of her career was covering Oakland Raiders during the Charles Woodson/Jon Gruden era, including the infamous “Snow Bowl” and the Raiders’ 2003 trip to Super Bowl XXXVII. Her specialty these days is covering sports betting legislation across the country. You can reach Jill at [email protected]

This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only.

Related Posts

welcome to virginia road sign
Industry

Betr Launches Its Real-Money Mobile Sportsbook In Virginia

September 6, 2023
Virginia city skyline
Analysis

Virginia Edges Over $11 Billion In All-Time Sports Wagering Handle

September 1, 2023
Load More

Top Stories

guitar-hotel-hard-rock-florida

Court Decision Clears Way For Hard Rock Bet To Launch In Florida … But Will It?

September 28, 2023
system error

Schuetz: Palpable Errors In Sports Betting, And The Palpably Bad Decisions That Follow

September 25, 2023
taylor swift donna kelce

Will Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce Relationship Make Sports Bettors Out Of More Women?

September 28, 2023
have-a-game-plan-bet-responsibly-screenshot

Bettors Know All About Responsible Gambling, But Most Don’t Use Tools

September 12, 2023

State Sports Betting Guides

Sports Betting in Kentucky

Kentucky Sports Betting – Welcome Offers & Best Legal Sportsbook Apps for 2023

by Dukes Wooters
September 28, 2023

Ohio (U.S. state) flag waving against clear blue sky, close up, isolated with clipping path mask alpha channel transparency, perfect for film, news, composition

Ohio Sports Betting – All Online Sportsbooks, Bonus Offers, and News 2023

by Brian Pempus
September 29, 2023

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

Michigan Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
September 6, 2023

VA captial

Virginia Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonus Offers

by Brett Smiley
September 1, 2023

nj flag

New Jersey Sports Betting — Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
September 6, 2023

Canada Sports Betting Guides

Canada Sports Betting – Best Sportsbook Apps 2023

British Columbia Sports Betting – Legal Update, Available Sportsbooks, and FAQ

Ontario Sports Betting – Legal Status And Where To Play

SportsHandle

  • Analysis
  • Casino
  • Features
  • Horse Racing
  • Industry
  • Legal
  • Legislation
  • Lottery
  • Opinion
  • Podcasts
  • Poker
  • Politics
  • Promotions
  • Regulation
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized

Better Collective

This website is owned and operated by Better Collective USA. Trademarks and copyrights referenced on this website are and shall remain the exclusive property of their respective owners and/or licensors. Please be sure to visit the operator’s website(s) to review their terms & conditions. We advise you to read these carefully as they contain important information. Copyright © 2023 USBets.com | Better Collective USA
21 Play Responsibly
Gamble Aware West Virginia
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
GameSense

Search Sports Handle

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling

No Result
View All Result
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Colorado
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • Ohio
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetMGM Bonus Code
    • Bet365 Bonus Code
    • Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code
    • ESPN BET Promo Code
    • Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetRivers Promo Code
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News