FanDuel To Become Official Mobile Sportsbook In Washington DC

After years of lackluster performances as the sole districtwide mobile betting operator in Washington D.C., GambetDC will be replaced come spring. FanDuel is set to take GamebetDC’s place as the official sportsbook in the nation’s capital. FanDuel will provide Washington D.C. locals with the only online sportsbook accessible anywhere in the city. The official launch date has yet to be set.

GambetDC Out, FanDuel In For Washington DC

This change came as the Washington, D.C., Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) moved to make the change. The organization oversees the sports betting industry in D.C. Since GambetDC launched in 2020, there have been constant criticisms of how poorly the app has performed. Not only has the app failed to rake in expected revenue for the district, but residents have complained about the app as well.

“I have heard from many residents about the unease around the city’s woeful performance on sports betting. And I absolutely share those same sentiments,” said Kenyan McDuffie, Councilmember during an oversight hearing in January. “From issues around usability to customer service and seriously declining revenue, we know the current model simply is not working. These concerns have only grown over time.”

In 2023, the D.C. Lottery reported just $1.3 million in tax revenue through sports betting. It is estimated that approximately $10 million in tax revenue is now expected from sports betting following this move. GambetDC notoriously underperformed compared to other sportsbooks, leaving D.C. firmly behind Virginia and Maryland in sports betting despite launching before them.

The switch to FanDuel is expected to rectify a lot of the missteps GambetDC has caused.

Not A Surprising Move

For those who have paid close attention, this move has been coming for a long time. In 2022, D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman pushed a bill to end GambetDC’s monopoly on gaming. When speaking to TheLines.com, Silverman had this to say:

“One of the biggest arguments that was made to councilmembers to take this sole-source contract monopoly approach was to be the first mover before Maryland and Virginia,” said Silverman. “Well, we did that. Virginia now has legalized sports gambling. And what I hear from our residents who are frustrated with the lottery’s app is they’re just driving to Arlington, Virginia. They’re just driving across the Potomac River to bet on sports with their phones.”

While her bill was unsuccessful at the time, the negative press surrounding GambetDC did not come to an end. Now, the underperforming sportsbook is entering its last days as the face of Washington, D.C., sports betting.