FanDuel Officially Takes Over From GambetDC

FanDuel has officially replaced GambetDC as the primary sports betting app in Washington DC, bringing an end to GambetDC’s disappointing tenure.

Gambet has faced years of disappointing sports betting outcomes in the District while serving as the sports betting partner for the Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) and Intralot.

Kenyan McDuffie, the head of the D.C. Council Committee on Business, recently expressed concerns about the district’s sports betting scene. He noted that many residents have voiced their dissatisfaction with the poor performance of the system, citing issues with usability, customer service, and declining revenue. McDuffie emphasized that the current model is not effective and changes are needed.

Introducing FanDuel, the new and improved sports betting app that aims to bring energy and professionalism to the Washington, D.C. legal sports betting market. With a history of underwhelming results and mismanagement, FanDuel is expected to revitalize the industry and provide a better betting experience for users.

Starting Monday at noon ET, FanDuel became the exclusive mobile app for the DC metro area. While other top sports betting sites are available in the area, they can only be used within a 2-block radius of their physical sportsbook locations.

What FanDuel is expected to fix

The DC lottery’s partnership with GambetDC faced challenges from the beginning due to the subpar quality of the platform. Users often complained about usability issues with the Gambet app, as well as the uncompetitive odds set by the company’s oddsmakers.

FanDuel introduces the DC market to one of the most popular and user-friendly legal sports betting platforms globally, along with competitive markets, top-notch interface, bonuses, and a strong reputation for Washington, D.C., users to experience.

Intralot will continue to oversee the DC-wide sports betting app, with FanDuel as its primary contractor. The transition to the leading U.S. legal sports betting brand is anticipated to greatly improve operations for both the Lottery and Intralot.

According to Frank Suarez, executive director of OLG, FanDuel’s top-notch services will help the District generate maximum tax revenue from current contracts this year and provide an exceptional experience for residents aged 18 and above.

FanDuel provided Underscoreg Review with an email detailing their plans for the takeover of Washington, D.C.

• D.C. residents and visitors can access the FanDuel app in the District as of noon today. Restrictions are in place on federal land, including the National Mall, White House, Capitol, Congressional office buildings, East Potomac Park, and Rock Creek Park.
• The GambetDC app will stop accepting wagers on its mobile app and website on Monday, April 15 at 11:59 p.m. ET, and is no longer accepting deposits. Users will have until Oct. 15, 2024, to withdraw their funds.
• The GambetDC to FanDuel transition at retail locations will occur via a phased approach later, before the end of 2024.
• FanDuel is still promising to deliver all the benefits I shared in March.

Washington, D.C., expansion

The shift from GambetDC to FanDuel as the primary sports betting provider in the DC market follows discussions about expanding the District’s platform.

Kenyan McDuffie, a member of the D.C. council, has suggested expanding legal sports betting by allowing current brick-and-mortar license holders to have a greater role in launching their platforms throughout the jurisdiction.

According to his proposal, BetMGM at Nationals Park, Caesars at Capital One Arena, and FanDuel at Audi Field would have the ability to provide their services across the entire district, rather than being limited to the sports venue and a two-block radius surrounding it.

Exclusivity on the line

Intralot’s exclusive agreement to provide sports betting services for the D.C. lottery will come to an end in mid-July. This means that the decision on the future of sports betting in Washington, D.C. will need to be made by the entity overseeing the District’s legal sports betting landscape in the near future.

Can Intralot and FanDuel’s new partnership continue to dominate mobile sports betting in the District, or will Councilmember McDuffie’s plan for expansion prevail?

The lottery is currently considering a two-year extension for Intralot in D.C., delaying any potential expansion. FanDuel stands to benefit if the Lottery Commission holds off on approving an expansion.

The pending decision could either greatly benefit FanDuel by increasing their market share, or further hinder the efforts of BetMGM and Caesars to establish themselves as major players in the Washington D.C. market.