Washington, D.C. area sports bettors are in for a treat come June, as local online lottery platform, GambetDC, plans to roll out a new downloadable app that will allow for mobile wagers to be placed on major athletic competitions.
Per an Executive Director Order from the government of Washington D.C., the new sports betting app will allow for wagers on professional auto racing, baseball, basketball, boxing, football, golf, hockey, and mixed martial arts, just to name a few.
Major NCAA athletics will be included in the offerings, but collegiate contests that occur within D.C., or involve a District-based team, are not allowed to be wagered upon.
Other minor sports such as rugby, Australian rules football, cricket, cycling, darts, lacrosse, and tennis, are allowable by the order, but these categories are not likely to generate much interest, so whether they are offered by the app is up to GambetDC.
Washington Redskins fans that want to place a wager on the NFL while at FedExField will need to hold their horses because the app will be disabled while bettors are inside of regional stadiums.
This wagering app will not be an outlet for lazy government employees trying to work the system, either, as federal building enclaves are also excluded from any mobile sports betting activity.
Other than these no-bet zones, mobile wagering is accessible everywhere else inside Washington, D.C.’s city limits. Bettors do not have to live in D.C. to use the app. As long as gamblers are standing inside of the city’s borders, all bets are on.
The minimum age for legal sports betting with the downloadable sports betting application is 18 years old. The app – powered by Intralot – will be ready to download on iPhones, iPads, and Android devices in early June.
These popular smartphones and tablets will be able to easily access the application and handle wagers, but what can D.C. bettors expect to find available to bet on with so few sports on the docket at the moment?
Although major sports leagues are all huddling to figure out a game plan for a return to action, there are a couple of professional athletic organizations that will be up and running in time for GambetDC’s app debut.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is an approved sport, and betting on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is receiving top billing during the COVID-19 layover. Their next Fight Night event will occur on June 6, and it has the potential to generate several fresh betting lines at rollout time.
On June 11, the Charles Schwab Challenge will reignite the PGA Tour schedule. Worst case scenario forecasts project that the sports betting app will definitely be available by then, so wagering on golf will also likely be on the table on opening day.
NASCAR races are being held again, with full contests occurring without fans in attendance. Car racing betting is sure to receive a lot of action once the new betting app drops in June.
GambetDC will have plenty of time to iron out all the kinks in time for the unveiling of a full calendar of sports this fall. D.C. area bettors will have plenty to wager on until then.
Of course, if you don’t see any lines you like on GambetDC’s app, or if the lines are too expensive for hometown teams, you can always use a legal offshore sportsbook to place all the wagers you want.
D.C. residents can sign up for free, take advantage of several different bonus offers, and even play casino games, live dealer games, poker, and more at these online destinations.
