More than 50 small businesses in the nation’s capital are receiving new self-service sports betting kiosks provided by Caesars Entertainment, the Las Vegas-based company announced Tuesday.
The Caesars Sportsbook betting machines will take over for Intralot-powered GambetDC kiosks, which are now available at approved D.C. Lottery vendors. It’s the latest change for sports betting in the District of Columbia in recent months. Those other changes include FanDuel taking over for Gambet as the exclusive district-wide online operator for a short time before D.C. lawmakers opted to allow more sportsbooks, including Caesars, to take mobile bets across Washington.
“D.C. residents and visitors will soon have access to best-in-class sports wagering kiosks at retail locations across the city,” said Eugene Vlasenko, interim executive director of D.C. Office of Lottery and Gaming. “We are pleased to partner with Caesars, a key industry player and the leader in retail sport betting operations, which is demonstrating its commitment to the D.C. community.”
Caesars and FanDuel are among several companies offering Virginia sports betting as well.
Kiosks To Take Bets, Mobile Deposits
Caesars has been involved in the D.C. sports betting scene since it acquired William Hill three years ago. Until recently, that involvement had been limited to a brick-and-mortar sportsbook at Capital One Arena and online within a two-block radius of the arena due to a partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards.
Two months ago, after the D.C. Council amended its sports betting law, Caesars announced its mobile app would be available across the district.
In all, 53 kiosks will be installed at select lottery retailers. In addition to making retail wagers, D.C. sports bettors can use the machines to make cash deposits into their online Caesars accounts. Those accounts are used in the same way as Virginia sportsbook apps.
“Our self-service betting kiosks are an excellent addition to our sports wagering options in D.C.,” Caesars Digital President Eric Hession said. “Whether sports fans prefer a traditional ticket-in-hand wagering experience or want to simply deposit cash for their mobile app account, our kiosks enhance the premier sports betting experience we offer through the combination of options and convenience that supports dozens of small businesses locally.”
What Is D.C. Age Limit For Caesars Betting?
Tuesday’s announcement did not detail when the Caesars kiosks will be in place. However, when those kiosks arrive, they will have one key difference from the GambetDC machines. Caesars kiosks will be limited to individuals 21 and older. That falls in line with its policies that make its Caesars Rewards customer loyalty rewards program only available to adults older than 21.
When the D.C. Council legalized sports betting in 2019, local lawmakers set the legal age at 18 – the same age limit to play lottery games. GambetDC machines accepted wagers from sports bettors 18 and up.
The only D.C. sports betting licensee that will accept wagers from 18-year-olds is DraftKings, which went live in the nation’s capital in late July.
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USA Today photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck
