A new luxury FanDuel Sportsbook inside Audi Field, home of Major League Soccer’s D.C. United, is set to open Friday in D.C.
With a healthy Virginia sports betting market in full swing nearby, the nation's capital welcomes the first MLS stadium with a sportsbook. The United play host to the Philadelphia Union on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The FanDuel Sportsbook at Audi Field “will serve as fans’ one-stop-shop to enjoy D.C. United games and other sporting events around the world while placing wagers on the action,” according to a FanDuel news release Wednesday. It will be open year-round.
D.C. United and FanDuel reached an agreement on a new sportsbook in October 2020. It was the first sports betting partnership for FanDuel with a MLS team.
The United is currently near the bottom of the MLS standings with a 5-9-2 record.
Details on the FanDuel Sportsbook
The sportsbook will encompass more than 2,700 square feet and will be open in time for the start of the 2022-23 NFL season and the World Cup, which begins in November.
The new sportsbook’s opening ceremony will include “Martin” and “Young Dillon” actor Carl Anthony Payne II making a ceremonial first bet, according to the release.
The FanDuel Sportsbook will have three wagering stations, nearly 50 HD televisions, two large video walls, 18 self-service kiosks and an uninterrupted view to the field, the release said.
This is FanDuel’s second sportsbook inside a professional sports venue; it opened a sportsbook at the Footprint Center in Phoenix (home of the Suns) last September.
Another Option for D.C. Bettors
Sports bettors in the District of Columbia can now wager at three of its professional venues: Audi Field (FanDuel), Nationals Park (BetMGM Sportsbook) and Capital One Arena (Caesars Sportsbook).
The D.C. Lottery oversees sports betting in the district and has an app, GambetDC, available throughout the city. The law only allows online betting two blocks outside of the sports venues, in addition to the retail sites inside.
Criticized for its lackluster performance and questionable odds, GambetDC will soon face additional competition when Maryland online sports betting launches. It already sees competition, with sites offering Virginia sportsbook promos, to the south.
The sports betting handle for May in D.C. was $17.2 million, down 6.2% from $18.4 million in April. The May handle was the lowest in 2022.
