FanDuel to assume sports betting operations from Gambet in Washington DC
US sports betting market leader replacing much-maligned sportsbook platform as new subcontractor for Intralot
Bettors in Washington DC will soon have access to the leading online sportsbook in the US after the Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) announced on March 9 that FanDuel would be taking over sports betting operations from the embattled Gambet.
In doing so, FanDuel will become the new subcontractor for European operator Intralot.
As part of the transition from Gambet, the FanDuel Sportsbook mobile wagering app will be available to anyone within the geographic borders of the District of Columbia, with the transition expected to take place in the spring. Intralot will also pay a $5m fee to the OLG to convert the platform.
“FanDuel’s industry-leading offering will ensure that the District maximizes tax revenue under its existing contracts this year while delivering a best-in-class experience for 18+ residents,” said OLG executive director Frank Suarez.
In addition to replacing the much-maligned GambetDC app, the OLG will also begin phasing in FanDuel’s sports betting kiosks at more than 50 retail lottery outlets across Washington DC.
Powered by Intralot – which was the recipient of a $219m no-bid contract from the DC Council back in 2019 – the GambetDC platform has been available since 2020 but plagued by a host of issues including poor pricing and subpar UX and UI.
The situation came to a head during a meeting between the OLG and the Council in January, when Kenyan McDuffie, the chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development (CBED), didn’t hold back in describing the current state of sports betting in the nation’s capital.
“I’ve heard from many residents about their unease with the District’s woeful performance on sports betting,” McDuffie said. “And I absolutely share those same sentiments, from issues around usability, customer service, and seriously declining revenue. We know the current model simply is not working.”
The American Gaming Association (AGA) echoed that sentiment, criticizing the District for repeated mistakes dating back to awarding of the no-bid contract to Intralot.
According to the OLG, the shift to FanDuel’s platform will be of particular benefit to the small businesses that house the kiosks, many of them minority-owned, which can expect to see 1.5 to 2 times greater revenue from sports betting upon the transition.
The OLG added that an assumed revenue rise from sports betting would be funnelled into DC’s general fund allowing to fund “critical programs”.