Washington DC Sports Betting Handle Sees Dip in December

Article ByStan Fox

January 23, 2021

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Posted in: US Sports Betting News, Washington DC Gambling News

Washington DC saw a decline in its sports betting handle in December, despite a 10% increase in handle for the state Lottery’s GamebetDC app.

According to the official website, William Hill reported an overall handle of $12.4 million in December, representing a 9.5% decrease from November ($13.7 million). The report also stated that DC bettors wagered $4.3 million through the Lottery’s GambetDC app in December, up 10.3% on the $3.9 million of handle in November. The combined handle of both William Hill and DC Lottery’s GamebetDC app totaled $16.7 million for December. It was down 5.1% from the combined total of $17.6 million recorded in November.

GambetDC and William Hill are the only two legal sports betting options in Washington DC. According to the latest figures released by the DC Lottery, both William Hill and the Lottery’s Gamebet app saw a month-on-month dip in betting revenue in December. GamebetDC generated $807,217 in revenue, representing an 8.6% decrease from November’s revenue, while the British bookmaker drew in $1.9 million in gross gaming revenue.

Gambet Vs. William Hill

Since launching the app in May 2020, DC residents have wagered around $18.7 million through the GambetDC app, winning back $15.2 million while leaving the Lottery with $3.5 million in revenue.

Since William Hill opened at the Capital One Arena in July 2020, the establishment has taken $61.8 million in bets while generating little over $10 million in revenue. William Hill announced late December it had launched its sports betting app in Washington DC, following regulatory approval. January is the first full month that the William Hill sportsbook app will be available to DC bettors. This app can be used with a two-block radius circling Capital One Arena (excluding federal buildings).

Though the William Hill app will be subject to restrictions regarding its online reach, January is likely to show better figures after disappointing numbers during December. The UK-based sportsbook is the official partner of the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, and Washington Mystics. Since the first two teams are in season, their arena traffic should swell William Hill’s betting handle.

More Competitors on the Way

On January 11, the Washington Nationals revealed a multiyear deal to make BetMGM its official sports betting partner. Under this deal, the Nationals will open a BetMGM Sportsbook adjacent to Nationals Park, in addition to its mobile app launch within the permitted area around the arena. Fans will not be able to access the sportsbook during Nationals games. However, they can place wagers on BetMGM’s mobile app.

In October, FanDuel announced it will open a retail sportsbook at Audi Field, home of Major League Soccer’s DC United, with which the New York-based company signed a multiyear partnership. FanDuel and DC United are hoping to launch the sportsbook in 2021, pending regulatory approvals from the DC Lottery.