Washington D.C. sports betting app delayed to March, William Hill sole license applicant

The app to place bets on sports is scheduled to launch in Washington D.C. in March, state gambling regulators said Friday, and the only application for a sportsbook license so far involves UK bookmaker William Hill looking to operate at Capital One Arena.

The legalization of sports betting in the District allows residents and visitors to place wagers at stores with gambling kiosks, arenas, licensed restaurants and bars and on a city-owned app. But the program has been slow to launch amid litigation and controversy over the city’s handling of sports betting legalization.

Officials hoped the program would launch in September with the start of the NFL season. They pushed lawmakers to suspend procurement rules and award a no-bid contract to Greek gaming giant Intralot to oversee mobile betting. The city faced a lawsuit over the no-bid contract, and a judge temporarily blocked the city from moving forward.

The D.C. Lottery, which is overseeing sports betting, says the app, later aimed for January, should be live in March, The Washington Post reports. Only adults over the age of 18 can use the app, and only within city limits.

The D.C. Lottery began accepting applications for sports betting licenses in December. As of Friday, the sole applicant was American Wagering, a company led by executives of the British bookmaker William Hill, which has struck a deal with the owner of Capital One Arena, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, to operate a sportsbook at a site formerly occupied by the Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille, which is currently under construction.

Capital One Arena also has yet to file to add sports betting to its alcohol license. It filed for a "Class A" provisional sports betting license on Dec. 23. DC Lottery said the application review is expected to take 30 to 45 days, as reported by NBC Washington. The “Class A” designation is reserved for D.C.’s four major sporting venues, including Audi Field, Nationals Park, and the Entertainment and Sports Arena.

Ted Leonsis, whose company owns the Washington Wizards and Capitals, has been a major booster of sports betting. Regulators met with the applicant on Friday. A lottery spokeswoman said regulators met with other prospective sports betting operators who have not formally submitted applications yet. D.C. United and Caesars Entertainment have been negotiating plans to open a sportsbook at Audi Field this year.

Alcohol regulators have also allowed sports gambling at 13 bars and restaurants and are considering applications from 16 more. Those establishments still need approval from gaming regulators before taking bets.