The US legal sports betting industry began a new chapter in its exponential growth Wednesday with the opening of its first ever sportsbook at a major sports arena. Caesars Entertainment’s William Hill brand officially launched its first full-service sportsbook at Monumental Sports & Entertainment‘s Capital One Arena in Washington DC, home of the NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Capitals.
While the move is seen as a major milestone for the exploding US legal sports betting industry, it is also viewed as just the first of many such sportsbooks that will inevitably be popping up at other such sporting venues, perhaps in the coming months.
“Fans come to the arena and they now have the ability to have a rooting interest, if you will, in the outcome of the game,” said Monumental Sports & Entertainment Founder & CEO Ted Leonsis said. “I just view this as a natural extension of what was happening but to do it in a more modern — in the sunlight, in a transparent — way.”
Sportsbook Details
The first ever sports betting venue inside a US professional sports arena is aimed at giving fans an unparalleled viewing and wagering experience, complete with state-of-the-art facilities and a restaurant that boasts the talents of Michelin-Starred Chef, and Maryland native Nicholas Stefanelli.
The William Hill Sportsbook at Capitol One Arena ensures that fans will be able to place a bet on their favorite sporting contest at the arena, without having to leave the venue. There will be retail, and of course mobile betting opportunities thanks to the top-tier William Hill online book.
The sportsbook is a two-story, 18,000 square foot facility, complete with 12 self-service betting kiosks and 17 betting windows. The facility boasts Verizon 5G Wi-Fi technology which will make for seamless transactions for fans using the William Hill mobile app.
“Monumental Sports & Entertainment is proud to have worked with William Hill and Caesars Entertainment, a proven leader and innovator in sports betting, to provide the preeminent fan experience and serve as exemplars to the industry as first-in-class and best-in-class,” said Ted Leonsis. “Providing a data-driven, technologically-advanced environment in a beautiful, approachable space with fine dining options provided by Chef Stefanelli will further enhance the indelible memories we create nightly at Capital One Arena and draw even more visitors to our historic downtown D.C. neighborhood.”
Other Aspects
The William Hill sportsbook at Capitol One Arena will also be home to a state-of-the-art broadcast studio that will be the scene of a variety of television and radio programs including the popular “By the Book” sports betting show.
100+ television screens inside the sportsbook will greet customers, along with a replica Capital One Arena jumbotron situated at the center of the venue. Fans will have the pleasure of an enormous wrap-around 1,500 square fool LED screen that encircles the entire complex and posts odds and scores from sporting events around the globe.
Tom Reeg, CEO of Caesars Entertainment, commented: “With more than 100 televisions, nearly 20 betting windows and a dozen kiosks in the space as well as access to the William Hill mobile app, our guests will enjoy a great game day watching the Capitals or Wizards at home or wagering on their favorite teams during any game.”
The optics and sports viewership opportunities inside the new sportsbook will be second-to-none and allow spectators to view multiple games at once while visiting the venue.
The William Hill Sportsbook at Capitol One Arena will be open 365 days per year and the elite-caliber restaurant is expected to be a big draw within the DC scene.
Under the Microscope
The entirety of the legal sports betting industry will be looking in on what is working and what is not working with the William Hill Sportsbook at Capital One. It will be the model for a rash of similar venues that will inevitably pop up at other sports buildings across the country.
As of now, the newfound sportsbook/sports venue relationship is a giant leap in the evolution of the US legal sports betting industry. It is widely viewed as the culmination of the massive shift in perception of gambling by sports leagues, teams and its owners.
“This feels very natural to be in this building and to be able to walk into the arena and into a venue like this, to place bets, and I think you’re going to see this continue throughout the country,” Tom Reeg, CEO of Caesars Entertainment said.
Saturday will be the first time that fans get to take part in the full William Hill Sportsbook at Capital One Arena experience when the Wizards host the 76ers in Game 3 of their NBA playoff series. That game will usher in the new era of legal sports betting in the US and will immediately give us a glimpse into the viability of sportsbooks at sporting venues.
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