D.C. opens sports betting licence race amid legal and ethical scrutiny
Washington, D.C. will begin accepting applications for sports betting licences on 3 December. The move follows months of debate and legal delays. Four major sports arenas, including Capital One Arena, will be among the first venues to offer wagering.
The process arrives amid scrutiny of a councilman's role in shaping the legislation.
The licensing period will last between 30 and 45 days for initial applications. Venues with provisional approval can start operations while their full applications are reviewed. Licences will cover both mobile and in-person betting at sports arenas, retail betting sites, and certain bars or restaurants.
Capital One Arena has already partnered with William Hill to become the first stadium offering sports wagers. Other arenas may follow, though no fixed number of licences has been set. The city's Intralot mobile app, however, faces further delays. Its launch has been pushed back to early 2020 due to ongoing legal challenges and issues with geolocation technology.
Strict rules will apply to where betting can take place. The app will be blocked on federally owned land and within two blocks of any licensed arena. This restriction aims to limit betting near government properties and major sports venues.
The rollout comes as DC Councilman Jack Evans remains under FBI investigation. An independent ethics report found that Evans' push for sports betting legislation benefited his private business clients without proper public disclosure. The findings have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest during the law's development.
The first sports betting licences in Washington, D.C. are set to arrive in early 2020. Capital One Arena will lead the way, while other venues await approval. Meanwhile, the delayed mobile app and ongoing legal issues could shape how quickly the system expands across the city. The FBI's investigation into Evans' involvement adds another layer of uncertainty to the process.
