bet365 Launches Sportsbook in Washington, D.C., Just in Time for NFL Kickoff
bet365 went live in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, marking the UK-based operator's 19th U.S. jurisdiction and giving it a mobile sportsbook presence in the nation's capital just as the 2026 NFL regular season kicks off. The launch runs through a partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the ownership group behind the Washington Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics.
A local partner in a market bet365 hasn't touched before
The Monumental tie-up gives bet365 built-in brand exposure across three major local franchises rather than launching as an unaffiliated newcomer. Trip Stoddard, bet365's head of development, framed the timing around the district's sports calendar: "Bringing bet365 to our nation's capital expands our reach in the U.S. and establishes our presence in one of the country's most dynamic sports markets." The app launched with more than 100 sports available to bet on and an introductory "bet $10, get $50 in bonus bets" promotional offer for new D.C. customers.
Expansion continues despite recent layoffs
The D.C. launch lands weeks after bet365 confirmed more than 340 job cuts as part of a broader restructuring, underscoring that the company is trimming its workforce even as it keeps adding states. D.C. follows recent bet365 entries into Michigan and West Virginia, part of a steady push to close the gap with the small handful of operators — DraftKings, FanDuel, and a few others — that currently dominate market share in most legal U.S. states.
What it means for D.C. bettors
Washington, D.C. bettors now have another regulated, mobile-only option alongside the operators already licensed in the district. A new entrant typically means new-user promotions and another line to shop against when comparing odds on a given game — see our guide on comparing odds across sportsbooks for how to evaluate whether a new operator's numbers are actually competitive rather than just new.