DC Delays Plan To Launch Sports Betting Due To Coronavirus

The DC Office of Lottery and Gaming two weeks ago said that it "would launch its citywide mobile sports betting app and website" by the end of March, but as the coronavirus pandemic "continues to disrupt everyday life, DC Lottery's plan is now indefinitely delayed," according to Sherwood & Soong of the WASHINGTON CITY PAPER. The city had "planned to launch its sports betting app and website to coincide with a typically busy time on the sports calendar" when the men's and women's NCAA Tournaments "precede the start of the MLB season and the playoffs for the NBA and NHL." Postponing the sports betting operation now "means even more lost revenue" for DC. The DC CFO's office said that the delay is "not prompted by financial troubles of Intralot, DC Lottery's contractor." Meanwhile, DC Lottery noted that it is "still developing its iLottery traditional lottery-style games sold online" (WASHINGTON CITY PAPER, 3/31).