D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb is leading an investigation into former district sports betting operator Intralot, as first reported by the Washington City Paper. The Attorney General's (AG) office has made filings related to Intralot in the D.C. Superior Court.
While the contents of the AG’s office’s filing are under seal along with any documents that Intralot provides in response, the AG’s office is claiming authority to require these papers under the violation of “false claims” law. The sealing of these documents comes following a judge’s order on Aug. 1.
Top officials have accused Intralot of seeking payment while not fully completing or performing required work for years, and the AG's website lists this type of violation as a common example of breaching the “false claims” law.
While Intralot’s contract with the DC Lottery to operate sports betting expired earlier in 2024, the D.C. Council agreed to a one-year extension of the lottery services that Intralot provides to the district, worth $39 million.
Intralot and GambetDC
When lawmakers legalized sports betting through the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018, it gave the DC Lottery oversight of sports betting. The act also laid out regulations stating that the only sportsbook that could be available district-wide was the official partner of the DC Lottery. Other online sportsbooks would only be available within a two-block radius of a partner retail sportsbook.
In July 2019, Intralot signed a deal with the DC Lottery to become the exclusive provider of district-wide sports betting in Washington, D.C. The company already operated LOTOS gaming and instant tickets in D.C.
The Intralot-developed GambetDC Sportsbook launched in May 2020. Throughout its time operating in D.C., GambetDC faced criticism for its odds and betting system.
Current sports betting regulations in D.C.
Following the termination of the DC Lottery’s agreement with Intralot, FanDuel signed an exclusive partnership to become the official sports betting provider for the DC Lottery. This gave FanDuel the right to be the only sportsbook to operate district-wide in Washington, D.C., launching on April 15.
However, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a new financial budget in July, which paved the way for other sportsbook operators to offer legal D.C. sports betting. Now, several sportsbooks, including Caesars, FanDuel, and DraftKings, are available anywhere in the district.
Additionally, several retail sportsbooks are located at major league sports stadiums, including Audi Field, the Capital One Arena, and Nationals Park. Retail sportsbooks and betting kiosks are also available at bars and restaurants, with many machines operated by the DC Lottery.
About Intralot
Intralot is a Greek company that was founded in 1992 and provides gaming technology and transaction services. The company works in 48 jurisdictions globally and is publicly listed on the Athens Stock Exchange. Intralot employs more than 3,000 people.
The company has earned the World Lottery Association Responsible Gaming Framework Certification and the World Lottery Association for Security Control standards. Intralot was working with the DC Lottery to supply lottery products to the district before agreeing to launch GambetDC.
