There might not be anyone who has been more at the forefront of the push for legalized sports betting in the District than Capitals and Wizards owner Ted Leonsis.
He鈥檚 long talked about his desire to see Capital One Arena host a sportsbook, open for action on games being played around the world.
But when the day finally arrives when you can legally throw $20 on the Redskins to lose again, the Washington Nationals are planning to have a sportsbook venue at Nationals Park, too.
The city is creating a special class of gambling licenses for the four current professional stadiums: Capital One Arena, the sports and entertainment venue in Southeast D.C., Audi Field, and Nationals Park.
But just because the Nationals haven鈥檛 engaged too much in the debate doesn’t mean they aren鈥檛 getting ready.
鈥淲e wanted it,鈥� said Nationals owner Mark Lerner during an interview on opening day. 鈥淢onumental Sports kind of took the lead, and it鈥檚 silly for all of us to be trying to take the lead on it. They did a wonderful job.鈥�
Lerner acknowledged that as the city works out the final details, he too is still far from certain what sports betting at the ballpark would ultimately look like. But it鈥檚 something the team is preparing for.
鈥淥h, a lot of thought,鈥� laughed Lerner, asked if it was something he was thinking about. 鈥淎nd a lot of money with architects. We鈥檝e come up with what I think is a very unique way to do it.鈥�
Lerner isn鈥檛 ready to reveal too much more just yet.
While there might be some obvious locations at the stadium that could be renovated to accommodate wagering, Lerner did hint it could be elsewhere 鈥� 鈥淚t won鈥檛 necessarily be in the park. We have to figure it all out yet. But we鈥檒l announce it in the near future.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檝e got our plans on how we鈥檙e going to do it, and it鈥檚 going to take a little bit of time, but we鈥檙e excited about the opportunity,鈥� said Lerner. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 going to be a great thing for the city.鈥�
