GameBetDC Sportsbook Cost DC Millions
Intralot’s GameBetDC platform was initially the lone operator in the district when sports betting was legalized. The platform was an unmitigated disaster, offering poor odds and a bad user experience. Bettors got sick of dealing with the now-defunct sportsbook, leading to revenue numbers that were far below projections.
GameBetDC has been criticized since its launch, but things got worse when the app failed on Super Bowl Sunday in 2022, one of the biggest betting days of the year. That led to an uproar from several legislatures calling for a change, which eventually happened earlier this year.
The district initially replaced GameBetDC with the industry-leading FanDuel Sportsbook. Revenue numbers immediately spiked, putting them on pace to easily surpass the projections GameBetDC failed to meet.
Intralot May Not be the Target of Investigation
While the Attorney General is demanding documents from Intralot, it is possible that they are investigating a former subcontractor, Veterans Services Corporation (VSC). A 2019 Washington Post report alleges that the company was not doing the work promised and that it had no employees aside from its CEO.
The Post report raises questions about who was ultimately responsible for GameBetDC's failure. Given that VSC is linked to other failing sportsbooks, it is more than possible that they are the target of the investigation.
DC Market Continues to Expand
While the district promised FanDuel it would have sole control of the market, that is no longer the case. Just a couple of months after the sportsbook launched, the D.C. legislature voted to open up more sports betting licenses. Since then, DraftKings, Caesars, and BetMGM have gone live in the district.
FanDuel has repeatedly expressed disappointment over the decision, citing the promise to be the lone online sportsbook.
