Washington D.C. Sports Betting Applications Open

After a long and tedious political battle (that is still raging), Washington D.C. sports betting applications are now being accepted. The Lottery said they would begin taking applications December 3rd and expect the process to take 30 to 45 days to review applications and begin approving licenses.

While the District handed the monopoly on citywide mobile sports betting to its Greek lottery operator, Intralot, licenses are also available for mobile and land-based wagering in up to four sports arenas, as well for as any venue that wishes to offer retail betting, provided sports betting is not its main business.

This last category of licensee, which will include bars and restaurants, will also be permitted to offer mobile betting, provided it does not extend beyond the walls of the venue. The Lottery hoped to launch the Intralot mobile app in January. But a spokesperson said Wednesday the outlook has been revised to “sometime during the first quarter of 2020.”

The app’s development was temporarily halted by a judicial injunction after a lawsuit challenged the Intralot contract. The suit was based on the grounds that it was awarded without the customary procurement procedure. While the case is pending, a judge agreed to lift the injunction in October so that work on the app could resume.

You can read more on the Washington D.C. sports betting applications process at Casino.org.