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The Washington Wizards will host the Philadelphia 76ers tonight in Game 3 of their first round playoff series. It will also be the first day where Capital Arena hosts a Wizards game and sports betting simultaneously on-site.
Last Wednesday, the William Hill Sports Book officially opened its Washington location, which is in Capital One Arena’s facility. More specifically, the sportsbook is where the Greene Turtle restaurant was. This is the first such facility of its kind in the United States where a gambling facility is literally inside the arena. Wednesday was big, but today’s is also just as significant because there will be also game going on at the same place where fans can make bets.
Unless you work for MSE, if you want to bet on the Wizards game tonight, or the Capitals for the NHL when they’re back, or Mystics for the WNBA, you can. In addition, you can walk directly from the sportsbook to the arena concourse at any time with a ticket. That won’t be allowed during Capitals NHL games, however, according to Action Network.
There is also a mobile app within two blocks of the arena, outside of federal buildings, like the adjacent National Portrait Gallery.
The William Hill Sports Book’s situation is a little different than some other teams with arenas in casinos. For example, the Las Vegas Aces WNBA team’s arena, the Michelob Ultra Arena (f/k/a Mandalay Bay Events Center) is part of the same complex as the casino. But they are still a bit distant physically from each other.
Furthermore, people at the Mandalay Bay and other MGM casinos (including MGM National Harbor) couldn’t bet on Aces games though anyone could bet on other WNBA games, at least when MGM owned the team. Raiders NFL team owner Mark Davis is the current owner.
How do you feel about a sportsbook directly inside Capital One Arena and do you plan on making bets? Let us know in the comments below.