The District of Columbia is currently underway with its preparations to roll out sports betting, however a few questions have been raised regarding the availability of the new mobile sports betting app. 

Discussions are ongoing with the District Council over whether the mobile betting app contract should be handed to the District’s lottery provider, with officials hoping that the app will generate tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue.

“We anticipate we will be able to license qualified applicants in time to begin sport wagering in early September,” DC Lottery Executive Director Beth Bresnahan said, who will be tasked with determining the fate of mobile sports betting early next month.

Bresnahan went on to explain that venues such as Nationals Park and Capital One Arena will have the chance to roll out sports betting later this year, regardless of the status of the mobile app contract. 

The newly proposed regulations currently prohibit wagering on college sports in the district. However, bets that have been placed on college teams outside the District would be permitted.

“It’s the access to the local payer and the influence that betting could have on them,” Bresnahan said.

“I don’t oversee betting in Maryland,” Bresnahan added.

According to the head of the D.C. Office of Lottery and Charitable Games, if the mobile app is not approved in the next few months, it could potentially be numerous years before the app is launched, resulting in a large potential loss of revenue.