BetMGM became just the third mobile sportsbook to launch in the beleaguered Washington DC market on Thursday thanks to an exclusive partnership with the Washington Nationals and Nationals Park. It brings the ability for bettors in the DC market to place a mobile wager in and around the MLB team’s home stadium.
Previously the home of just the underwhelming Lottery-run GambetDC platform and William Hill which operates out of Washington DC’s Capital One Arena, BetMGM bring some much-needed high-end competition to a market that has so far underperformed since its launch as one of the first legal sports betting jurisdictions in the country.
Washington Nationals Keeping up With the Joneses
US sports teams have not been shy in seeking new opportunities to enhance their customers’ overall viewing experience and a betting component seems to the most popular way to do so. The Nationals win with the launch of the BetMGM sportsbook and so do the fans of the team, who get an elite provider to enhance their Nationals viewing experience.
Alan Gottlieb, Chief Operating Office of Lerner Sports Group, commented: “As our official sports betting partner, BetMGM further enhances the greatest in-venue fan experience in Washington, D.C. through its state-of-the-art entertainment products and services. The BetMGM mobile app will enable our fans to engage with the game in new and exciting ways, while the BetMGM sportsbook connected to Nationals Park will provide Nationals fans and the D.C. community with a first-class gathering place to celebrate their passion for sports.”
Geofencing Inhibitions
There are some funky rules in the DC market that limit the potential effectiveness of both William Hill and BetMGM to have their product span the entire DC market. Only the Lottery-run GambetDC is able to operate uninhibited throughout the entire DC market.
BetMGM, like William Hill will be limited by geofencing that will keep BetMGM wagering customers to either Nationals Stadium or the two-block surrounding radius. Their betting app won’t work beyond those borders.
So far, customers of the existing William Hill app haven’t let that stand in the way of making the British-listed betting brand the more popular of the two providers that ran in DC prior to BetMGM coming on board. Hopes are that the geofencing rule won’t deter BetMGM users either.
Users will still be able to access the BetMGM website from anywhere in Washington DC but will need to be inside the 2-block radius to place a bet.
A potentially revealing audit of the Washington DC platform, that was due in May but hasn’t released its findings just yet may just see the geofencing rules changed so customers of competing legal sports betting sites can place a wager from the comfort of their homes. Stay tuned for that.
Cornering the Northeast
BetMGM has not been shy about making a name for itself in and around the DC market. MGM resorts currently has a strong presence in Maryland with MGM National Harbor Casino which straddles the border with DC. With Maryland in line to launch their own sports betting platform possibly by the start of the NFL season, expect MGM to be a major player in that market.
BetMGM is also one of the top-rated and most successful sportsbooks among the seven that are currently operating in Virginia, which also borders DC.
“Launching in Washington, D.C. at Nationals Park sets the stage for our plans to expand BetMGM within the region, as we’ve already seen great success in Virginia,” said Adam Greenblatt, CEO of BetMGM.
BetMGM is thus a recognizable name within the Northeast US region and gives MGM Resorts an overwhelming sense of optimism that their brand will quickly rise to the top of the rather sparse Washington DC market.
Moving Forward
BetMGM, as in all of the markets with which they currently have a presence will be looking for dominance within the DC scene. It is pretty tough to bet against them based on their recent moves and the fact that they have such a strong presence in the region.
Plans are for a retail sportsbook at Nationals Park to open in the near future. COVID restrictions have slowed the process of a retail presence down, and there are no tangible retail construction plans that have come to light just yet.
For now, BetMGM customers will have to rely on betting kiosks at Nationals Park or the elite BetMGM mobile app to get their wagering fix. But at least they are another option in the slim DC scene.
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