Fast Tracking Sports Betting in D.C.
Legislation that would allow the city to bypass a competitive bidding process and renegotiate the current vendor’s contract would make sports gambling possible by early September, 2019, according to WTOP.
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The D.C. Lottery contract is set to expire in March of 2020.
From WTOP:
At a public hearing on the proposal, council members heard testimony from various panelists detailing how a competitive bidding process would cause a delay of up to three years — there’d be an opportunity cost of not being first, allow Maryland and or Virginia time to jump start their systems and delay cash infusions to early education and anti-violence programs.
The city’s Chief Financial Officer said this:
“Half of it — 50 percent goes to preventing violence and to children zero to three. So, it’s actually 45 million dollars,” Councilman Jack Evans told those gathered. “Both of these programs, the zero to three and the violence prevention, will help. One in the long run, one in the short run.”
Initially lawmakers were willing to allow sports betting in bars and similar venues across D.C. Current plans are for specified establishments, primarily stadiums, to offer wagering on sports.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
