The DC Lottery has announced the launch of its online sports wagering platform in the state of Washington D.C., though the roll out of a supporting mobile app has again been delayed until June.
Developed in partnership with Intralot, the Gambet DC platform had been due to go live in March, but the launch was pushed back due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Players in the state can now register for an account via the Gambet website and place sports wagers, though options are currently limited due to the ongoing suspension of many major sports events as a result of the outbreak.
Per sports wagering laws in Washington D.C., betting will be permitted on all major sports events and collegiate sports, though players will not be able to bet on events featuring college teams located in the state.
“Our team at the DC Lottery is excited to introduce GambetDC, which will serve to modernize our product portfolio and assist in our mission to maximise the revenue returned to support the District’s vital programs and services,” the District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming’s executive director Beth Bresnahan said.
“While we recognise there will be a limited number of events to wager on at this time, this soft launch will provide us with an opportunity to roll out the GambetDC wagering website to potential players in the District and be best prepared for sports wide scale return to play.”
Intralot group chief executive Chris Dimitriadis added: “Our state-of-the-art digital sports betting platform, Intralot Orion, will allow players in the District of Columbia to enjoy the convenience of easily wagering anytime, anywhere allowed, while offering them an unparalleled gaming experience.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership with the DC Lottery and provide them with our next-generation portfolio and advanced services to drive its performance and accelerate its growth.”
The launch of the platform and scheduled roll-out of the app in June seemingly mark the end of a legal dispute between mobile app developer Dylan Carragher and the District.
Carragher had challenged the District over the decision in February last year to extend an existing contract with Intralot without a bidding process.
In his lawsuit against District, Carragher argued that the deal violated the Home Rule Act that established the powers of Washington D.C. In September, Judge Joan Zeldon issued a temporary restraining order suspending the contract until the decision on the injunction was made.
However, the Washington D.C. Superior Court in October denied the request for an injunction to block the no-bid contract with Intralot, meaning the Lottery was able to resume work towards launching the sports betting platform.