To further solidify its dominance in the Washington, DC market, William Hill has recently introduced a mobile sportsbook at Capital One Arena.
The William Hill Sportsbook app has been given the green light by the DC Office of Lottery and Gaming. Following the approval, William Hill promptly released the app on Monday for Apple and Android users to access.
Unfortunately, placing bets will require users to be within close proximity to Capital One Arena, which can be somewhat inconvenient.
In July, a temporary sportsbook called “popup sportsbook” was launched by William Hill at the Capital One Arena. Situated in close proximity to the Virginia border, this arena serves as the home base for the NHL’s Washington Capitals and NBA’s Washington Wizards.
However, the William Hill app now has the capability to accept online wagers, albeit with certain restrictions in place.
How the William Hill app works
While the William Hill app provides additional betting options for DC sports bettors, it is not without its flaws.
Throughout the majority of the nation’s capital, only the DC Lottery’s official online app and platform, GambetDC, is authorized to accept online wagers.
Instead, William Hill has transformed Capital One Arena into a retail location. In addition to the temporary betting windows, it has been announced that there will be a significant renovation to create a permanent entertainment and lounge area by early 2021, as part of William Hill’s expansion within the arena.
Despite the availability of its new app, William Hill is unable to accept online wagers from all locations in Washington, DC. However, you can place your bets using the app as long as you are situated in one of the following areas:
- Within Capital One Arena
- Not including federal buildings, there is a two-block radius surrounding the arena.
According to officials, the William Hill app will provide a wide variety of betting markets, just as it usually does. Additionally, users will have access to other features such as parlays and live in-game betting.
How DC’s market could affect Virginia
Despite its obvious limitations, William Hill reigns supreme in DC sports betting. In November, the betting operation based at Capital One Arena raked in an impressive $13.7 million in bets. On the other hand, despite its fully online presence and overall convenience, GambetDC only managed to secure $3.9 million in wagers.
Regarding Virginia sports betting, the first legal sportsbooks in the commonwealth might be available online as soon as next month. However, it is unlikely that the DC sportsbooks will pose significant competition.
To place a bet at GambetDC or William Hill, Virginians would initially need to be physically present in Washington, DC. However, the sportsbooks in Virginia will operate entirely online across the state. Moreover, individuals will have the convenience of registering, depositing, betting, and withdrawing funds directly from their computers and mobile devices.
Virginia sportsbooks will face intense competition in a market that may accommodate 12 operators. Consequently, they are expected to entice customers with appealing sign-up bonuses and various offers, making it unlikely for new players to seek alternatives in DC. Additionally, there is a possibility of a William Hill online sportsbook entering the Virginia market.
However, for Virginians who decide to visit Capital One Arena for its regular selection of professional and collegiate games, the William Hill app could serve as a pleasant advantage for those interested in betting.
Related Articles
