As the summer solstice approaches, the commencement of the 2021-22 college football season draws closer. In line with this anticipation, Virginia sportsbooks and their counterparts in Washington, DC, have introduced college football futures markets for bettors to explore.
Betting on college football can be a bit challenging for gamblers in the DMV region. Understanding the regulations and restrictions in the three jurisdictions is crucial to know where and how you can place bets on specific markets and teams. These laws significantly influence this particular segment of the industry.
Where can I bet college football futures?
Currently, all approved sports betting apps in VA and DC offer a variety of live markets. These markets encompass bets on conference title winners, as well as the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship. Furthermore, certain books provide options for wagers on individual teams’ total wins and the player who will secure the 2022 Heisman Trophy.
The presence of certain players and teams on these apps greatly varies depending on your location. This is due to the fact that the law in Virginia prohibits sportsbooks from accepting bets on local schools and athletes. Therefore, you won’t come across any future bets for University of Virginia or Virginia Tech on those platforms.
If you’re set on placing those bets, you have the option to visit the nation’s capital. Washington, DC also has comparable laws where sportsbooks are not allowed to accept bets on college teams within the city or on collegiate events taking place there. However, it’s clear that the Cavaliers and Hokies do not fall under those restrictions.
However, even in Washington, DC, there are specific geofencing regulations that bettors should be mindful of. This is due to the fact that the law in DC favors the DC Lottery, but also permits some level of competition.
Location matters in the District
Currently in DC, there is a William Hill Sportsbook located at the Entertainment and Sports Arena, which is the home of the Washington Capitals, Washington Mystics, and Washington Wizards. Additionally, Nationals Park houses a BetMGM Sportsbook. These establishments have the ability to provide online betting services, but exclusively within a two-block perimeter surrounding their respective venues.
Mobile betting throughout the district is exclusively operated by the DC Lottery, granting them a legal monopoly. However, GambetDC, the platform offered by the DC Lottery, has faced significant backlash from users. The majority of complaints center around the platform’s uncompetitive odds, limited market options, and infrequent promotional offers.
Therefore, if you desire to place bets on BetMGM or William Hill in DC, you’ll have to be in close proximity to those stadiums to actually place your wagers. This might seem like a lot of effort for what it’s worth, but luckily, there is another alternative on the horizon.
In the upcoming months, Virginians will have a new opportunity to place bets on the UVA Cavaliers and VT Hokies as legal sportsbooks are expected to launch in Maryland. This is anticipated to happen in the fall, predominantly in physical locations. Notably, Maryland law does not provide any specific exceptions for college sports.
Now that we have all the necessary information on how and where to place bets, it’s time to dive into the exciting part. Let’s explore the current standings of D1 FBS teams in the futures markets offered by the mentioned sportsbooks. It seems that there is a widespread agreement on their potential success at the moment.
Odds on DMV teams at regional sportsbooks
This summary will specifically discuss BetMGM and William Hill as they are the only two brands currently available in both DC and Virginia. Additionally, BetMGM is expected to have a significant presence in Maryland due to its partnership with the Baltimore Ravens and MGM’s casino operations in the state.
Among the longer shots to win the 2022 championship, BetMGM in DC includes several regional D1 FBS teams. Virginia Tech stands as the team with the shortest odds, with +10000. Virginia follows at +15000, while Maryland and Navy both have odds of +25000.
Additionally, BetMGM DC offers betting markets for Maryland’s regular-season win total, currently set at six with -125 odds for the Under. Moreover, BetMGM provides conference title futures for Maryland, with the Terrapins being +8000 to win the Big Ten. In terms of the ACC, the Hokies have odds of +2500, while the Cavaliers have odds of +3500.
At present, William Hill in DC offers a Heisman futures market with various odds. Hendon Hooker, the quarterback for Virginia Tech, is listed at +6000, while Braxton Burmeister, another Hokies QB, is currently at +10000. Taulia Tagovailoa, the quarterback for the Terps, also stands at +10000 in the same market.
Wagering on college football futures remains a distinctive opportunity, thanks to the specific regulations imposed by the DMV. However, there are currently legal avenues to participate in this activity, and these options are expected to grow further in the coming years.
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