Sports betting in the DC area is set to receive a boost as local land-based sportsbooks begin opening their doors. In partnership with local sports betting platform GambetDC, local businesses will begin offering onsite sports betting opportunities from July 29.
Sportsbooks will open at locations including Ben's Next Door, Lou’s City Bar, Takoma Station Tavern and Dirty Water. In celebration, Friday July 30 will see some of these establishments host launch events to showcase the new self-service betting kiosks provided by GambetDC.
"The pandemic was the biggest challenge I've ever had to experience; we lost 85% of our staff," said Kamal Ali, owner of Ben's Next Door. "Getting our night shift back has helped, but there still is work to be done. Now we've got this new way to bring people in for them to have fun, and it's going to be wonderful."
The sports betting kiosks will feature famous DC sporting figures such as Rick ‘Doc’ Walker, Fred Smoot, Santana Moss and Brian Mitchell.
Mark Helliwell, managing partner of Lou's City Bar, said: “Our goal is to be the top sports bar in the district, so adding sports betting was an easy decision. With GambetDC, we have a partner that's as invested in our success as we are, and we can't wait to get started."
GambetDC will take a 5% commission on all sports betting sales and a 1% commission on the cashing of sports betting products.
Speaking on the decision to launch sportsbooks in local businesses, Nicole Jordan, director of marketing for DC lottery said: "We are excited to support these iconic local businesses and to help them return from the pandemic better than they were when it started. Together, GambetDC and these local businesses are going to prove that betting on DC is always a good decision."
