BetMGM recently announced that its sportsbook at Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals, will be taken out of commission Sunday.
The retail sportsbook, which opened in January 2022, stopped accepting wagers Sept. 21.
Key Takeaways
- The sportsbook made MLB history when it launched in January 2022.
- The Nationals' attendance dropped after MGM agreed to a deal with the team.
- D.C. online sportsbooks require partnerships with professional sports teams.
The sportsbook is located next to center field at Nationals Park. Customers with outstanding winning tickets can still cash them at the facility until Sunday. Afterward they must be mailed to a special P.O. box in New Jersey.
Winning tickets cannot be redeemed at nearby MGM National Harbor or other BetMGM sportsbooks.
The closing of MGM Nationals Park represents a significant moment for the sports betting industry as a whole. The facility was the first retail betting lounge to open inside an MLB ballpark.
“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,” BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said when the retail sportsbook opened. “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.”
Just over three years later, MGM is closing up shop.
Nationals struggle to fill seats
Although the sportsbook has been open year-round for bettors, the Nationals’ fleeting game-day attendance meant there's been fewer potential bettors filling seats at games.
The team’s average attendance of 23,844 ranked 22nd in baseball, per ESPN. That’s despite having a maximum capacity of 41,373. The Nats’ 31-47 record at home entering Thursday is the second worst in the entire league, ahead of only the Colorado Rockies.
In 2024, the Nationals also finished 22nd in attendance with an average of 24,287. They were 23rd in 2023 with 23,034.
Recent figures represent a sharp decline from when BetMGM first opened the sportsbook in 2022. The Nats finished that year ranked 17th in attendance with 25,017.
Could BetMGM’s D.C. future be in jeopardy?
Washington D.C. sports betting operators are only allowed to operate if they have partnerships with local sports teams. MGM’s deal with the Nationals allows it to access the market once its monopoly was broken in 2024.
Despite the closing of the retail sportsbook, neither BetMGM nor the Nationals announced their partnership has ended, signaling that BetMGM online users will still be able to access the app in Washington.
