BetMGM said Monday it will open a physical sportsbook at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. this year, marking the area’s second physical sports wagering facility.
The company, a 50-50 joint venture between MGM Resorts and Entain PLC, said the agreement will include a partnership with Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals that will include the use of BetMGM’s mobile wagering app within the area surrounding the ballpark.
“This new partnership with the Nationals is our most in-depth partnership with a team and showcases the multitude of ways we’re able to engage fans in and out of stadiums,” BetMGM Chief Revenue Officer Matt Prevost said in a statement.
In the agreement with the Nationals, BetMGM will have signage inside the ballpark with the firm’s designation as the team’s official sports betting partner.
Sports betting regulations approved by Washington D.C. city leaders in 2019 allows for physical sportsbooks to be operated at the venues housing the District’s professional sports franchises.
William Hill U.S. will soon operate a sportsbook at the Capital One Arena – home of the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NBA’s Washington Wizards within a sports bar and tavern being built by Monumental Sports, owner of the arena and terms. The opening is scheduled for early spring.
Since last year, William Hill has operated sports betting windows at the arena’s ticket offices.
Under the District’s sports betting regulations, mobile sports betting platforms that are connected to the venues’ sportsbooks can only operate within a few blocks surrounding the venue. Gamebet DC, a mobile sports betting app operated by the D.C. Lottery, is the only citywide sports betting site.
Analysts and sports betting operators are hopeful the city leaders will eventually change the regulations.
The deal with the Nationals could give BetMGM a firm foothold in the region. The company, which is active in 11 states, already operates sports betting in West Virginia, hopes to launch sports betting this year in Virginia, and is expected to be the sports betting operator at MGM National Harbor in Maryland once the state approves regulations.
MGM National Harbor already operates an eight-seat box at the stadium located on the field adjacent to the Nationals dugout.
The sportsbook will be located in the space currently serving as Center Field Social, across Center Field Plaza from the Nationals Team Store. The location will not be accessible by fans while they attend a Nationals game. But fans will be able to place bets through the BetMGM mobile app.
The physical sportsbook will be open year-round with an opening planned for this summer with betting windows, electronic betting kiosks, as well as a restaurant component.
In a statement, BetMGM said its branding will appear on the team’s social media and digital platform and exclusive benefits will be created for customer loyalty program members for both the gaming operator and the team.
“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 together,” said Lerner Sports Group Chief Operating Officer Alan Gottlieb.
FedEx Field, the home stadium for the NFL’s Washington Football Team, is located in Landover, Maryland.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
