The temporary William Hill sportsbook retail location at Capital One Arena is likely to transform into a permanent destination for sports bettors in the near future.
In August, William Hill made a successful launch by setting up a sportsbook “popup” shop at the Washington, DC arena, conveniently situated a short distance away from the Virginia border.
Today, officials revealed the renderings of the entertainment venue, showcasing the company’s vision for its future permanent location. Anticipated to launch in early 2021, the company has eagerly shared its plans for this exciting venture.
Following another remarkable monthly sports-betting handle at Capital One Arena, William Hill has now unveiled the latest figures. Initially, in August, William Hill recorded a total of $9.1 million in wagers during its first full month. However, the handle witnessed a substantial growth of 34%, reaching $12.2 million in September.
The DC location has formed a partnership between William Hill and Monumental Sports & Entertainment. Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) is the proud owner of Capital One Arena, along with its prominent occupants: the NHL’s Washington Capitals, NBA’s Washington Wizards, and WNBA’s Washington Mystics.
William Hill’s upscale permanent sportsbook
With its new permanent location at Capital One Arena, William Hill is offering an unprecedented sports fan experience that is truly one-of-a-kind.
WH became the pioneer in offering sports betting within a prominent U.S. professional sports complex upon its DC launch in August.
Nevertheless, the existing rendition of William Hill merely consists of a handful of designated ticket counters. Nonetheless, the company did make an effort to add some literal decorations to create a sportsbook ambiance in the temporary space.
According to David Grolman, President of Retail Operations at William Hill US, the new permanent location may provide an enticing experience for sports enthusiasts.
We are thrilled by the unexpected success of the William Hill pop-up sports book, and we are now eager to take the sports fan experience to the next level with our permanent location at the Capital One Arena. Our goal is to create an unparalleled game-day experience, combining a comprehensive sports book and restaurant, all designed to capture the electrifying atmosphere of live sporting events.
Taking over the former site of the Greene Turtle restaurant, the multi-level space will feature 12 betting windows and 10 self-service kiosks. Accompanying this will be a grand entertainment area, enveloped by 1,500 square feet of custom LED lighting. Paying tribute to local sports teams, the space will be adorned with abundant memorabilia. Additionally, it will house a radio and TV broadcast studio, a sizable video board, VIP sections, and a private dining/event area.
Construction will commence for WH and MSE once they obtain the necessary regulatory approvals. The anticipated opening date is set for “early 2021,” although the specific date remains undisclosed.
Online competition for GambetDC?
The revamped William Hill location would offer an intriguing feature with the inclusion of online betting.
However, online betting is only available in limited capacity.
Patrons who are inside the Capital One Arena complex will have the opportunity to place bets using the William Hill mobile platform.
This strategy will effectively enable WH to attract wagers from its sportsbook users, as well as those attending the arena on game day.
Nevertheless, the sportsbook operator lacks the ability to provide a comprehensive online betting option across the entirety of Washington, D.C. The exclusive platform for online wagering is GambetDC, the official app offered by the DC Lottery, which holds the sole authorization to accept bets in the majority of the city.
Despite being in competition for only a month, William Hill has already surpassed its only rival, GambetDC. In August, William Hill received $9.1 million in wagers, while GambetDC only managed $2.1 million. This trend continued in September, with William Hill accumulating $12.2 million in wagers compared to GambetDC’s $3.3 million.
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