Washington, DC is currently experiencing a halt in mobile sports wagering due to Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) not yet signing the fiscal 2025 budget.
Anticipation was high that Bowser would approve the new budget on Monday, which would have marked the beginning of a new era in mobile sports wagering for the nation’s capital. This new phase was expected to end the brief monopoly held by FanDuel and welcome other operators into the market. BetMGM had announced plans to launch mobile betting in the District on July 15, with Caesars Sportsbook also set to join. However, these operators did not debut, and earlier today, FanDuel ceased operations because Bowser returned the budget to the City Council, objecting to the proposed tax increases.
While the mayor has not officially vetoed the budget, if she doesn’t sign it, the budget will automatically take effect on July 25. Congress will then have a month to review it, and if it doesn’t meet their approval, Bowser and the Council will need to revise it.
FanDuel Reaffirms Its Commitment to DC
This amendment allows up to seven gaming companies to obtain sports betting permits in the District.
Since this transition, FanDuel has surpassed GambetDC in gross gaming revenue (GGR) and handle, contributing more tax revenue to the city. Despite the budget issue, FanDuel has expressed its continued commitment to the District.
A Manageable Time for a DC Sports Betting Outage
If the budget issue is resolved quickly, the current timing of the mobile sports betting outage in DC is relatively manageable. Major League Baseball’s all-star break started on Monday and will continue through Thursday, and there are no other major team sports currently in season.
However, it’s also true that there is never an ideal time for operators and cash-strapped cities to be without mobile sports betting apps. The Open Championship starts on Thursday, and with increasing WNBA wagering, it is crucial for the City Council to resolve the budget and for Bowser to sign it.
The proposed budget includes $21 billion in spending for 2025.
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