DC Files Lawsuit Against Former Sports Betting Operator Intralot

Michael Savio
By: Michael Savio
01/14/2025
Sports Betting
Photo by Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo by Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 3.0

Key Takeaways

  • Intralot is being sued for $6.5 million for lying when applying for a sports betting license
  • DC accuses Intralot and VSC of forming an illegal partnership
  • Sports betting revenue numbers for GameBetDC fell way below projections

Lawmakers in the nation’s capital aren’t ready to let bygones be bygones in the sports betting market.

The District has sued Inralot for $6.5 million for lying when it was awarded the sole sports betting operating license. According to the lawsuit, the operator lied about working with local businesses when the contract was awarded. This directly led to Intralot winning the contract and delivering a disappointing sports betting market.

Relationship with Subcontractor at Center of Lawsuit

Veteran Services Corporation (VSC) is the contractor at the center of this lawsuit. According to Intralot, VSC was supposed to handle over half of the work in operating GameBetDC and split the profits with other local businesses. 

Once the online sportsbook failed, the DC Council asked for documentation from VSC to show the work done. They found that Intralot instead had one of its subsidiaries handle most of that work, with VSC paying them using the funds awarded to them by the DC Council.

DC Looks to Send Message

The District has seen its sports betting market saved since the failure of GameBetDC, but that doesn’t mean they’re willing to look past this failure.

“This is a warning to any company that tries to manipulate and exploit District contracting laws, especially laws intended to build the capacity of the local businesses vital to our economy,” said DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb. “Intralot and VSC’s sports betting deal was a sham from the start—an elaborate scheme to secure a lucrative, high-profile opportunity on a sole-source basis while circumventing the District’s small business contracting laws.”

Lawsuit Could Be the Beginning of a Larger Fight

The District’s accusation against Intralot is serious, but it may be only the start of a larger fight.

The operator’s failure caused a lot of financial damage to the District. Their illegal deal with VSC cost local businesses a lot of money as they were suddenly cut out of the agreement. That hurts those businesses and means less tax revenue for the District. 

In addition to the losses to local businesses, Intralot built the country’s first failing sports betting market. The numbers consistently fell well below projections as users blasted the GameBetDC platform for its many bugs and few promotions. That led many bettors to place wagers in neighboring states or give up the hobby altogether.

GameBetDC’s failure cost the District the tax revenue it had hoped for while increasing problem gambling. That will put the DC Council on a path of war that could include widespread and aggressive legal action.

Michael Savio covers the US online casino industry, giving readers insights and information they won’t find anywhere else. He has followed the retail industry since his time living in Las Vegas and has continued to do so as the online industry has taken off. Michael covers everything from online casino reviews to industry news, making him one of the most trusted insiders in the business. Check out Michael’s latest articles at casinos.com to see what he has to offer!