This week was supposed to be a big week for sports in the nation’s capital.

The Washington Nationals would have just started their season, eager to defend their World Series title. The Washington Capitals would have been winding up its NHL regular season, looking to secure first place in the Metropolitan Division and prepare for another long run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Washington Wizards, meanwhile, likely would have been in contention for the final playoff spot in the NBA’s Eastern Conference and getting ready, potentially, for some must-win games. DC United of MLS would be a couple months into its season and looking to build on last year’s playoff team.

The coronavirus pandemic has put all that, and more, on hold.

This week would also have marked the launch of sports betting in the District of Columbia. Instead, like pretty much every sport in the US, that, too, finds itself on hold for now.

Still, on Wednesday the DC Lottery announced GambetDC, the name for its sports betting app, on its web site.

Nicole Jordan, the director of marketing and communications for the DC Lottery, said the COVID-19 outbreak has caused officials to change the rollout plan for the sports betting app. In the coming days, the lottery plans to release more information about GambetDC and its functionality.

Once the major sports resume, GambetDC will be ready to launch, Jordan said. There will be a mobile app and a web site that will be available in most parts of Washington, DC.

About GambetDC

GambetDC will be operated by Intralot, which received a contract from the DC Council last year.

While some lottery-run sportsbooks limit the types of wagers available to bettors, Jordan said GambetDC will accept single-game, parlay, and teaser bets, as well as in-game and proposition bets. The app will offers odds on both pro and college sports, although college games that either take place in DC or involve Washington-based schools will not be on the board.

In addition to the mobile and online launch, Jordan noted a rollout to lottery retailers had been slated for late summer or the fall. That, too, might get pushed back as officials look to get the equipment in place in the stores.

The DC Lottery won’t have a monopoly on sports betting, although it will be the exclusive sportsbook in most parts of the city. Each of the District’s major sports arenas and stadiums can also offer sports betting, with each getting a two-block radius for exclusivity. Restaurants, bars, and other businesses also will have a chance to offer sports betting, too.

So far, only four entities have applied for either a sports betting operator or supplier license, which includes William Hill’s proposed partnership with Monumental Sports and Entertainment. None have been approved yet.

GambetDC will be available everywhere else in the District to those aged 18 or older, except for areas around the National Mall, such as the Washington Monument and Lincoln Monument. Other excluded areas include the Potomac River waterfront and Rock Creek Park. Those areas, as well as the Mall, are federal enclaves protected under law.

iLottery Next Up in DC

With work done on GambetDC, Jordan said Intralot and the DC Lottery will now focus on their next initiative, creating an iLottery platform.

Our job is to generate revenue for the city, and that’s where we’re working hard to do,” Jordan told Casino.org.

The platform will include a variety of games, including fast play games, that bettors can play online. It will also allow players to purchase tickets for daily draw games and such multi-state games as Powerball and Mega Millions.

Currently, 10 US states offer lottery games online.

https://www.casino.org/news/dc-lottery-reveals-sports-betting-app-focus-moves-to-ilottery-platform/