A sportsbook is arriving at Capital One Arena, Ted Leonsis announced at the American Gaming Association Sports Betting Executive Summit Wednesday.
Ted Leonsis is the CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns and operates the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Mystics (WNBA) and Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C.
The sportsbook will be replacing the arena's Greene Turtle bar, as had been previously speculated, the Fan DC Radio reports. The Greene Turtle will remain open until April 9, the date of the Wizards' final home game, then will be transformed into the "Shell Raiser Lounge" for the Capitals' Stanley Cup playoff run.
But after that, that space will become the arena's sportsbook.
JUST IN: Washington Capitals & Wizards owner Ted Leonsis says Green Turtle bar inside Capital One Arena will turn into a sportsbook. Will be able to be entered from outside, on inside depending on sport. Will have operator that will create distance between team ownership. pic.twitter.com/4M6nE9vTEr
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) 27 de marzo de 2019
"There will be a sportsbook in the building accessible from outside, depending on the league, depending on the event, it may be accessible from the inside as well," Leonsis said.
The D.C. Council voted to legalize sports betting in February and is expected to start taking bets before the end of 2019. Under the bill, the D.C. Lottery would oversee sports betting in the city.