Washington D.C. Lottery postpones sports betting app's launch

The Office of Lottery and Gaming announced last week that the launch of GambetDC, D.C.’s online wagering app, has been officially delayed.

According to GambetDC’s website, the D.C. Lottery will be posting updates in the coming days, and is “prepared to launch the platform when it is safe for the sports world to return,” as professional and collegiate sports including baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer have been suspended and postponed nationwide amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The MLB and NHL have suspended operations indefinitely. The NBA will likely continue its suspension through June, and the MLS has postponed play until at least May 10. 

The online betting platform was expected to arrive in time for the Washington Nationals’ Opening Day game on April 2, DCIST reports.

The finalization of the online wagering app follows last years’ contract with the D.C. Council and Intralot, the company that also runs the D.C. Lottery. Through the contract, Intralot will be solely responsible for managing D.C.’s online legal sports betting program. Sports betting was first legalized in D.C. at the end of 2018.

Through GambetDC, users will be able to bet on professional sporting events including basketball, baseball, football, soccer, and hockey, and less mainstream sports like cricket and darts. Wagering is also permitted on collegiate athletics that take place outside of the District.

Per D.C. law, betting through GambetDC will be prohibited on federal lands like the National Mall, and within two blocks of major stadiums like Audi Field, Capitol One Arena, and Nationals Park.

In-app tools will allow users to manage their activity with pre-set time and bet limits, and people can request to be excluded from online legalized gaming activities for a pre-determined period. To claim any winnings, users will need to submit a legal form of identification and social security number. 

According to the GambetDC website, the D.C. Lottery anticipates rolling out in-person sports betting programs at licensed locations by fall 2020, after upgrading D.C. Lottery terminals and other equipment necessary to support a sports wagering program. Capital One Arena was the first local sporting venue to apply for D.C. lottery licensing in January, and in February, D.C.’s MLS team, D.C. United, partnered with Ceaser’s Entertainment, potentially paving a way for a sports book at Audi Field.