Washington D.C. welcomes sports betting at Capital One Arena

The Capital One Arena in Washington is now offering sports betting, thanks to a temporary setup by William Hill. As the operator plans to construct a permanent sportsbook, the box office of the Arena is now home to self-service kiosks and betting windows. Betting began on Friday and players have continued to line up even today to place bets. Players can place wagers on college and professional sports via the Arena.

Betting Now Open:

The box office provides temporary space for sports betting now, home to nine self-service kiosks, and seven betting windows. The area is open for sports betting from 11 am until 11 pm, seven days a week. As the sportsbook is open during the current COVID-19 pandemic, safety protocols are in place. Bettors must social distance, with staff members wearing masks and gloves. Kiosks are also disinfected after each customer.

NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NBA’s Washington Wizards call the arena home. The sportsbook in the arena is a first for the US and is also the first sportsbook for the District of Columbia. Sports betting first launched back in June via an app from the D.C. Lottery.

Preparing for Permanent Location: 

Upon the opening of the temporary sportsbook, President of Business Operations and Chief Commercial Officer for Monumental Sports, Jim Van Stone, commented: “Bringing fresh and innovative experiences to fans is core to our mission at Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and we are so proud to partner with William Hill to bring this new dimension to the Washington Metropolitan region.”

Monumental Sports & Entertainment is the owner of the Capitals, Wizards and Mystics teams. The group announced a partnership with William Hill last October. The goal is for William Hill to launch a permanent location for sports betting this fall.

The temporary sportsbook launched at a time when professional sports are getting back in action. The NBA and MLB are back at it, which means bettors have something to wager on. Sports took a break as well as the coronavirus began to take hold across the United States. Leagues like the MLB and NBA are trying to provide a sense of normalcy by starting their seasons once again, though differently than ever before, such as with no crowds in the stands during games.