The sports betting and gaming entertainment company BetMGM and the Major League Baseball (MLB) team Washington Nationals (US) announced on January 31st the opening of the first retail sportsbook connected to a Major League Baseball stadium. The BetMGM sportsbook at the Washington Nationals home pitch – the Nationals Park – is open year-round, providing sports fans an innovative entertainment destination to watch and wager on games.
The ‘MGM Resorts International’ quoted Adam Greenbelt, CEO, BetMGM, as stating, “We’re constantly pushing the boundaries to deliver sports fans unique experiences, and that’s just what we’ve done with the new BetMGM Sportsbook at Nationals Park. Whether fans are attending baseball games or looking for a place to watch any sporting event, the BetMGM Sportsbook at Nationals Park is bound to be one of the most engaging sports viewing environments in the district.”
New Jersey (US)-based BetMGM is a market leading sports betting and gaming entertainment company, pioneering the online gaming industry and was founded in the year 2018. Born out of a partnership between the MGM Resorts International and Entain Plc, BetMGM has exclusive access to all of MGM Resorts’ US land-based and online sports betting, major tournament poker and online gaming businesses.
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in the 45,596-capacity RFK Stadium while a new stadium was being built.
The 41,313-capacity Nationals Park is a baseball park along the Anacostia River in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Home to the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball since its completion in 2008, it was the first LEED-certified Green major professional sports stadium in the United States.
The ‘MGM Resorts International’ stated that publicly accessible from N Street SE next to the Center Field Gate, the new sportsbook features 40 big-screen TVs with live odds boards that update as the action progresses. Visitors can place wagers directly with cashiers at six betting windows or utilize user-friendly betting kiosks. Additionally, the BetMGM Sportsbook offers full-service beverage and dining options.
Alan Gottlieb, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Lerner Sports, said, “The BetMGM Sportsbook at Nationals Park represents the newest way in which we are providing our fans with the best experiences in sports and entertainment. Upon its opening, the sportsbook immediately becomes one of the neighborhood’s premier venues for both the savvy bettor and the casual fan to watch the top events in an upscale and electric atmosphere.”
The retail sportsbook complements the BetMGM app that launched in Washington, D.C. in June 2021, allowing users to place mobile wagers within a two-block radius of Nationals Park. The above development is the latest phase of BetMGM’s multiyear, exclusive partnership with the Washington Nationals.
Greenbelt continued, “The D.C.-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) region is a great look into how we’re seeking to expand the BetMGM platform with a variety of unique experiences for our customers. They can utilize the BetMGM mobile app anywhere in Virginia, can visit the newly opened retail sportsbook at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland, and now in D.C., they can access the first sportsbook connected to a Major League Baseball stadium. We’ve established great partnerships that allow us to bring these one-of-a-kind touchpoints to the DMV.”
The newly created sportsbook will be located in the space previously known as Center Field Social, across Center Field Plaza from the Nationals Team Store. It will not be accessible by fans while they are in attendance at a Nationals game, but fans will be able to place bets via BetMGM’s mobile app.
By the Numbers: BetMGM Sportsbook at Nationals Park:
- Number of TVs: 40
- Size: 4,000 square feet
- Capacity: 187
- Hours of Operation: Seven Days a Week, 11:00 am-Midnight
As BetMGM continues to expand to new areas, responsible gaming education remains a key focus.
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