DC Council set to amend sports betting law

The Washington DC Council has proposed amendments to double licencing fees and other topics of the recent legislation.

US.- As the US continues to become a sports betting friendly environment, Washington DC seems to be reconsidering its recently-approved Law. The legislation was passed in December but the City Council has proposed amendments to change several parts of it, including licensing fees.

Should the amendments get approved, licensing fees would be doubled from US$250k to US$500k, for the sportsbooks located at stadiums and arenas, and to US$100k for venues outside said areas. However, in case applicants decide to establish joint ventures with certified local businesses, discounts will be applied to the licensing fees.

In addition to fee changes, another bill may set an exemption for sports betting from the currently required procurement process to start operating in 2019. The emergency bill sets that the DC Lottery would be able to obtain technology platforms, lottery gaming systems and related services.

Furthermore, according to Legal Sports Report, the council would be able to bypass a bidding process on the licence to allow Intralot, which operates lottery at the moment, to move forward.