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New Retail Underscoreg Coming To DC

Flores Brian

Updated on February 15, 2023 at 5:15 AM EST. Read time: 2 minutes and 33 seconds. Find more information on Twitter and Google News.

Journalists look on as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) presents Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) with a basket with items from the San Francisco area, including Ghirardelli chocolate, to settle their friendly wager on the Super Bowl.
Journalists look on as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) presents Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) with a basket with items from the San Francisco area, including Ghirardelli chocolate, to settle their friendly wager on the Super Bowl in The Speaker’s ceremonial office at the U.S. Capitol February 11, 2020 in Washington, DC. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49s in Super Bowl LIV. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images via AFP.

Sports bettors in the Nation’s Capital can anticipate increased integration of sports betting and entertainment within the District.

Elys Game Technology, a company specializing in interactive gaming and sports betting technology, has partnered with T & L Hospitality to launch a retail sportsbook at a renovated hotel location near the DC/Maryland border in Washington, DC.

Subject to obtaining all required licenses, this new sportsbook in DC, located at a Days Inn, will be Elys’ seventh retail sportsbook in the area. The company intends to allocate nearly 5,000 square feet for the sportsbook lounge, with no indication of any betting windows or kiosks, suggesting that this lounge will likely enhance the DC online sports betting scene.

The partnership between Elys and T & L Hospitality exemplifies a mobile-first approach to growth in the DC sports betting market. Executive Chairman Michele Ciavarella highlighted in the company’s press release how this collaboration can support local businesses in becoming mobile-optimized, attracting new customers and increasing revenue through an interactive on-site sports betting experience. This is especially important for businesses looking to recover from financial setbacks during the pandemic.

A mobile-optimized retail sportsbook experience

To place bets at the new retail sportsbook in DC, patrons simply need to enter the lounge, scan a QR code, and use their phones to place wagers. They can also enjoy the 6,990-square-foot restaurant with bar and VIP room that is currently under development. Elys is implementing this same model in Ohio and Maryland.

Elys was awarded a Type C License by the Ohio Casino Control Commission and Ohio Lottery Commission, allowing the company to operate sports betting kiosks in grocery stores, restaurants, and bars within the Ohio sports betting market.

Elys is set to open eight sportsbooks in Maryland, including a partnership with Top Hat Sports Bar & Grill announced in October 2022, expanding their presence in the state’s sports betting market.

More sports betting expansion in the DC Metro area

The sports betting scene in the DMV area, encompassing northern Virginia, DC, and parts of Maryland, has seen rapid growth and expansion in recent months.

In January, the DC Lottery reported a total handle of nearly $8.8 million for sports betting in DC, surpassing the amounts wagered in the last three months of 2022. This growth was a positive sign for the DC sports betting market, which had seen a decline in total handle in November and December. October’s total handle of $7.5 million remained the highest for the final fiscal quarter of 2022.

In summary, DC saw a significant increase in revenue of over 70% year-over-year, indicating the growing potential of the District’s market with the upcoming addition of another retail option. On the other hand, Maryland’s sports betting market has thrived with over $1 billion in wagers since online sports betting launched in November 2022. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA) noted that three top sportsbooks are dominating the market in the Old Line State.

Currently, FanDuel leads as the premier online sportsbook in Maryland, boasting a betting handle of nearly $209 million. DraftKings and BetMGM follow closely behind with $131.9 million and $40.7 million in wagers, respectively. Recently, Betfred launched the eighth online sportsbook in Maryland on February 9, while Fanatics Underscoreg at FedEx Field became the state’s 10th retail location when it opened in January.

In January, MGM National Harbor was the most successful retail sportsbook in Maryland for northern Virginia sports betting enthusiasts seeking a top-notch in-person experience. The MLGCA report showed that the sportsbook collected over $7 million in handle.

With the expansion of sports betting in the DC metropolitan area, it will be intriguing to observe which additional sports betting platforms aim to enter one of the most fiercely competitive markets in the industry.

Written By:
Flores Brian
Grant is a former junior B ice hockey player, and a current believer that the Washington Capitals’ aging core still has another Cup run left in the tank. Grant’s owned and operated his own marketing agency since shortly after graduating from Virginia Tech in 2014. He pursued the profession because he figured it’d be a great way to get paid to do something he loves to do, write. After years of hammering puck lines and leading his fantasy football league as Commissioner, Grant started writing about sports betting and the casino gaming industry in 2021 and hasn’t looked back.