ESPN BET Lands in Washington D.C.

ESPN BET Secures Market Access in Washington D.C.

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 24 January 2025

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

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Partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment

The partnership extends beyond market access, solidifying ESPN BET as an official sports betting partner of Monumental and its teams: the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, and Washington Mystics. Through the deal, ESPN BET will increase its presence with in-arena and TV-visible signage, out-of-home advertising, a commercial schedule across Monumental Sports Network, and unique hospitality and experiences.

Capital One Arena already boasts a strong presence of Caesars Sportsbook, with prominent signage throughout the venue. In 2021, Caesars made history by opening the first sports betting venue inside a U.S. professional sports facility, allowing bettors to enter directly from the arena before passing through security. This innovative approach and the exclusive Caesars Sportsbook Lounge VIP row for Capitals games solidified Caesars’ position within the arena.

The entry of ESPN BET into the Washington, D.C. market presents an interesting dynamic. It remains to be seen how this new partnership will coexist with Caesars’ established presence within Capital One Arena. Whether the two sportsbooks will find ways to share space or if Caesars will explore alternative avenues within the arena remains to be determined.

In a recent press release, Aaron LaBerge, Chief Technology Officer at PENN Entertainment, said the following.

We are proud to partner with Monumental Sports and its teams to unite the energy of D.C. sports with our world-class platform. This deal expands our footprint in the region, further connecting ESPN BET with one of America’s most passionate sports communities. Our presence alongside the Capitals, Wizards and Mystics positions ESPN BET at the center of the action where sports, technology, and fan experience converge.

MSE is equally enthusiastic about the partnership because it furthers the company’s collective commitment to offer fans unique, cutting-edge experiences that reflect the future of sports entertainment. ESPN BET’s innovative platform will add a new layer of engagement for sports fans inside and outside the arena.

Market Access and Retail Presence

The ESPN BET brand officially launched in November 2023. Since going live, it has established a presence in 19 states across the country, including Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia.

It’s important to note that this partnership grants ESPN BET access only to online sports betting. Monumental Sports & Entertainment already has an existing partnership with Caesars Entertainment, which includes a retail sportsbook at Capital One Arena.

Expansion of the D.C. Sports Betting Market

Over the summer, the D.C. City Council expanded the district’s online sports betting market, allowing existing Type-A license holders to offer online options and enabling new operators to apply for Type-C licenses. This move has paved the way for online-only operators like DraftKings, Fanatics, and now, ESPN BET to enter the market.