William Hill continues to dominate as the leading sportsbook in Washington, DC, while BetMGM at Nationals Park has established itself as a prominent player in the local sports betting scene.
The partnership between BetMGM and the MLB team allowed for the launch of BetMGM at the Washington Nationals’ ballpark in June.
Similar to William Hill at Capital One Arena, BetMGM bettors at Nationals Park are required to be physically present at the venue or within a two-block radius in order to place a bet.
Despite the evident frustration, both William Hill and BetMGM are confirming our existing knowledge: bettors will actively seek superior alternatives to GambetDC, which is supported by the District-wide and DC Lottery.
June 2021 handle for BetMGM at Nationals Park
In June, bettors in the nation’s capital placed bets worth $19.5 million, as per the sports betting data released by the DC Lottery. In comparison, Virginia sports bettors wager approximately 10-15 times that amount on a monthly basis.
Since launching a pop-up shop in June and a mobile app in December, William Hill’s monthly handle in Washington, DC reached its peak at $15,700,8150, which accounted for 80.4% of all wagers.
On the other hand, GambetDC accounted for 17.6% of the wagers, which amounted to $3,440,931.
After its launch on June 11, BetMGM accounted for $376,662 or 1.9% of the total bets placed during its initial 21 days of operation.
The following is a comprehensive breakdown of revenue for the month of June 2021.
| Operator | Handle | Hold | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Hill | $15,700,815 | 10.1% | $1,592,425 |
| GambetDC | $3,440,931 | 15.1% | $517,990 |
| BetMGM | $376,662 | 21.5% | $81,070 |
GambetDC was established by the DC Lottery as a quasi-monopoly, but despite its wide reach in accepting wagers from almost any non-federal property in DC, bettors are smartly exploring other options due to GambetDC’s notorious reputation for offering poor lines and odds.
BetMGM’s prospects look promising, particularly due to its upcoming addition of a retail sportsbook at Nationals Park later this year.
BetMGM in Virginia instead?
BetMGM has established itself as a strong competitor in the Virginia sports betting market, extending its reach across the border.
Monthly sports betting handle by operator is not provided by the Virginia Lottery. However, during a meeting in April, Kevin Hall, the Executive Director of the VA Lotto, informed the Virginia Lottery Board that BetMGM had captured the third-largest share of bets (14%) during the initial months of wagering. In this market, which currently includes seven operators, BetMGM trailed behind the first-to-market operator FanDuel (53%) and DraftKings (24%).
Furthermore, for individuals residing in Washington, DC, BetMGM in Virginia presents itself as a feasible option. Considering that a majority of DC residents are situated in close proximity to the Virginia border, accessing the platform becomes even more convenient.
Hence, traveling to Virginia might prove to be simpler compared to journeying to a two-block radius encompassing Nationals Parks or Capital One Arena to wager on something.
As long as the nonsensical market in DC persists, DC sportsbook operators will continue to encounter this challenge. Nevertheless, there is hope as the Office of the DC Auditor is presently examining GambetDC, which operates on the Intralot platform. The outcome of this audit may potentially create more opportunities for BetMGM and William Hill to expand their operations in DC.
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