• About
  • Contact
This site contains commercial content
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Bill Tracker
    • Arizona
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Georgia
    • Illinois
    • Iowa
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Mississippi
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • West Virginia
  • MI
  • VA
  • NJ
  • PA
  • TN
  • IN
  • CO
  • Betting Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Common Beginner Mistakes
    • Guide To ‘Risk-Free’ Bets
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Bill Tracker
    • Arizona
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Georgia
    • Illinois
    • Iowa
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Mississippi
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • West Virginia
  • MI
  • VA
  • NJ
  • PA
  • TN
  • IN
  • CO
  • Betting Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Common Beginner Mistakes
    • Guide To ‘Risk-Free’ Bets
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • 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.

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 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.

Related Posts

On Tap April 19
Betting

What’s On Tap: The Week Ahead In Sports Betting: 2021 Oscars, NFL Draft Preview, Louisiana Sports Wagering Hearing

April 19, 2021
Block-With-Word-Recap
Business

Get A Grip: The Week In Sports Betting: NFL Sports Betting Touchdown, Arizona Legalizes, Connecticut Seeks Sportsbook Partner, Washington, More

April 17, 2021
Load More

Top Sportsbooks In Your State

1
Monkey Knife Fight
Rating / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
PrizePicks
Rating / 4.2
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.

Get Email Updates

State Sports Betting Guides

VA captial

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

by Brett Smiley
February 12, 2021

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

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

by Brett Smiley
January 22, 2021

Pennsylvania Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonuses

by Brett Smiley
August 25, 2020

nj flag

New Jersey Sports Betting — Sportsbook Bonus Offers, Power Rankings, And Wagering Info

by Brett Smiley
September 10, 2019

Most Read Stories

Handicapping NY MSB

Handicapping The Race To Become A Sports Betting Platform Provider In New York

April 15, 2021
Texas Huberty sports betting

Huberty Set To Make Push For Sports Betting In Texas

April 13, 2021
arizona sports betting

Arizona Senate Approves Sports Betting, DFS Bill Amid Heated Debate

April 12, 2021
maryland sports betting

Maryland General Assembly Sends Sports Betting Framework To Governor

April 12, 2021

Problem Gambling

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA/MI), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN).

Subscribe

Search Sports Handle

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Contact

No Result
View All Result
  • US Sports Betting
    • Bill Tracker
    • Arizona
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Georgia
    • Illinois
    • Iowa
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Mississippi
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • West Virginia
  • MI
  • VA
  • NJ
  • PA
  • TN
  • IN
  • CO
  • Betting Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Common Beginner Mistakes
    • Guide To ‘Risk-Free’ Bets
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News

Please share your location to continue

[ 'FBIOS', 'Twitter for iPhone', 'WebView', '(iPhone|iPod|iPad)(?!.*Safari/)', 'Android.*(wv|.0.0.0)' ]
[ 'FBIOS', 'Twitter for iPhone', 'WebView', '(iPhone|iPod|iPad)(?!.*Safari/)', 'Android.*(wv|.0.0.0)' ]