Sportsbooks to Open at Nats Park

[PowerBoater69]

One party rules tends to end in corruption. Remove the state oversight that most large cites have (congress seems to to care unless dc does something related to wedge issues) and you get this. Sorting it out should keep the us attorney busy down the road

The thing is that I've done zero research beyond Google searches, all of this comes right up. Either these people are taking huge payoffs or they are putting themselves in a position where that appears to be the case and they don't seem to care.

[varoadking]

The thing is that I've done zero research beyond Google searches, all of this comes right up. Either these people are taking huge payoffs or they are putting themselves in a position where that appears to be the case and they don't seem to care.

If it's not true, why should they care?

[PowerBoater69]

If it's not true, why should they care?

If my wife sees me walking into a hotel room with a young hottie and I'm just conducting an off site work meeting, do I care. Do the DC officials feel like being interviewed by the FBI about something they didn't do?

[varoadking]

If my wife sees me walking into a hotel room with a young hottie and I'm just conducting an off site work meeting, do I care. Do the DC officials feel like being interviewed by the FBI about something they didn't do?

I think you have a better point with them actually taking kickbacks...people who don't do anything wrong generally don't worry what other people think...

[HalfSmokes]

The thing is that I've done zero research beyond Google searches, all of this comes right up. Either these people are taking huge payoffs or they are putting themselves in a position where that appears to be the case and they don't seem to care.

who is going to hold them responsible? It's a one party city, so they don't have to worry about elections. They tried to knock off the one council member who stood up to the rest (ironically she's to the left of the council) in the primaries and failed. It seems like the job is guaranteed until you get led away by the feds - look at what it takes to get someone off the council- either promotion or resignation under a cloud. Kwame Brown (fraud), Michael Brown (Bribery), Orange (resigned under ethical cloud), Thomas (tax fraud and embezzlement). The only recent election ousters are Graham, May and Alexander. Wells resigned and Barry died. You're more likely to leave the DC city council one step ahead of an indictment that you are to via an election loss- that's a pretty broken system

[PowerBoater69]

I think you have a better point with them actually taking kickbacks...people who don't do anything wrong generally don't worry what other people think...

Sorry but you are completely off on this. Where I work we have very strict rules to prevent the appearance of impropriety, which is standard operating procedure in many industries and definitely for government.

[HalfSmokes]

If it's not true, why should they care?

given this council's history, what are the odds that it's not true?

[bluestreak]

who is going to hold them responsible? It's a one party city, so they don't have to worry about elections. They tried to knock off the one council member who stood up to the rest (ironically she's to the left of the council) in the primaries and failed. It seems like the job is guaranteed until you get led away by the feds - look at what it takes to get someone off the council- either promotion or resignation under a cloud. Kwame Brown (fraud), Michael Brown (Bribery), Orange (resigned under ethical cloud), Thomas (tax fraud and embezzlement). The only recent election ousters are Graham, May and Alexander. Wells resigned and Barry died. You're more likely to leave the DC city council one step ahead of an indictment that you are to via an election loss- that's a pretty broken system

Isn’t the whole reason we have Muriel Bowser is because Gray was ousted because of shady dealings.

[varoadking]

Sorry but you are completely off on this. Where I work we have very strict rules to prevent the appearance of impropriety, which is standard operating procedure in many industries and definitely for government.

In who's eyes?  If I had to worry about what every Tom, Dick and Harry thought about how I conducted legitimate activities, I'd blow my brains out.

And if they did nothing wrong, they have nothing to fear...

[HalfSmokes]

Isn’t the whole reason we have Muriel Bowser is because Gray was ousted because of shady dealings.

I think city wide, the move has been towards more reforming mayors, gray was a throwback to the Barry days. At the council level, I just don't dont see that happening (gray is back to on and seems like he'll stay indefinitely)

[PowerBoater69]

https://sportshandle.com/dc-lottery-under-fire-sports-betting/#click=https://t.co/mlJaLIsVDH

Exellent article summing up the whole situation. The CFO calls this deal a "unicorn", almost sounds to good to be true.

Said DeWitt: “Ninety-five percent of the time, I’d recommend a competitive bid process. But this is a unicorn, a once in a lifetime opportunity, and being first matters.”

[PowerBoater69]

The Nats are preparing to announce the opening of a sportsbook operation at the ballpark. Mark Lerner says that it might not be in the park, which leads me to believe that they will put them outside the park in the space along first street which I believe is zoned for retail and right now is mostly unused.

“Oh, a lot of thought,” laughed Lerner, asked if it was something he was thinking about. “And a lot of money with architects. We’ve come up with what I think is a very unique way to do it.”

While there might be some obvious locations at the stadium that could be renovated to accommodate wagering, Lerner did hint it could be elsewhere — “It won’t necessarily be in the park. We have to figure it all out yet. But we’ll announce it in the near future.”

https://wtop.com/dc/2019/03/nationals-also-preparing-for-legalized-sports-betting/

[LoveAngelos]

Don't get me wrong. I have been to Las Vegas and enjoy betting for recreational reasons only. Those who gamble to support themselves; who are always on the hunt for something for nothing are reprobates.The sports robber barrons  may want to think twice about having a bunch of degenerate gamblers hanging around their stadiums and arenas. It may drive off a lot of customers.

[PowerBoater69]

Don't get me wrong. I have been to Las Vegas and enjoy betting for recreational reasons only. Those who gamble to support themselves; who are always on the hunt for something for nothing are reprobates.The sports robber barrons  may want to think twice about having a bunch of degenerate gamblers hanging around their stadiums and arenas. It may drive off a lot of customers.

I'm guessing that's why Lerner wants to put it outside the ballpark. The sportsbook will be open year round for betting on all sorts of games being played worldwide. Nats fans who want to bet would use an app from inside the ballpark and probably some automated kiosks.

[LoveAngelos]

I'm guessing that's why Lerner wants to put it outside the ballpark. The sportsbook will be open year round for betting on all sorts of games being played worldwide. Nats fans who want to bet would use an app from inside the ballpark and probably some automated kiosks.

Maybe Lerner should have a floating Sports Parlor Barge on the Annacostia. It might be good fun watching people jump overboard after they get "Martinezed" and they lose another wager on the Nats

[mitlen]

Maybe Lerner should have a floating Sports Parlor Barge on the Annacostia. It might be good fun watching people jump overboard after they get "Martinezed" and they lose another wager on the Nats

Had flashes of the gambling barge (Reno's?) just off shore at Colonial Beach, VA.    The barge was in MD (shoreline was the state line) and all kind of things passed as legal.

[PowerBoater69]

The Nats are preparing to announce the opening of a sportsbook operation at the ballpark. Mark Lerner says that it might not be in the park, which leads me to believe that they will put them outside the park in the space along first street which I believe is zoned for retail and right now is mostly unused.

https://wtop.com/dc/2019/03/nationals-also-preparing-for-legalized-sports-betting/

This was correct. The empty facade along first street is going to be developed into a sportsbook.

The year-round venue — which will include a restaurant, bar and lounge area, screen wall, performance area and rooftop terrace...35,000-square-foot venue will satisfy a requirement in the zoning order that governs the publicly funded stadium

The city is paying for construction under the original stadium deal. The Nats expect to make $22 million per year off of the public dollars.

https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/04/30/nats-park-getting-huge-entertainment-venue-is-it-a.html?ana=twt

[Tim Cullen]

I get how that part of Nats Park could be a restaurant/sports book.  But I don't see how a rooftop terrace fits in unless the build out and take part of the sidewalk area.

[PowerBoater69]

I get how that part of Nats Park could be a restaurant/sports book.  But I don't see how a rooftop terrace fits in unless the build out and take part of the sidewalk area.

I've been looking at Google Maps, the only things I can figure out is that they will build out into the sidewalk, which is fairly wide there, and put the rooftop terrace on top of the extension. Or they can put in an elevator and build out the area up on top of Shake Shake, where the Sherzer photo is now, so that betters can see into the ballpark from the terrace.

[HalfSmokes]

This was correct. The empty facade along first street is going to be developed into a sportsbook.

The city is paying for construction under the original stadium deal. The Nats expect to make $22 million per year off of the public dollars.

https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/04/30/nats-park-getting-huge-entertainment-venue-is-it-a.html?ana=twt

thank god the council negotiated such a great deal

[PowerBoater69]

More info on how the mobile betting will work. The city wide app will work everywhere except the Federal zones and in the areas where the stadiums have exclusive access. The stadiums will be able to have their own apps, potentially the same one or potentially four separate apps. The two block area around the stadiums will be a dead zone, blocked for the city wide app and not authorized for the stadium apps. Bars and hotels will also be able to have their own exclusive apps.

The rules are still being finalized with the goal of having betting available by September.

https://wtop.com/sports/2019/05/legal-sports-bettings-next-big-challenge-geolocation/

[miller10]

Good lord, going to need 20 different apps to bet in the city.

[PowerBoater69]

Good lord, going to need 20 different apps to bet in the city.

Probably not, you won't need the city wide app, that one will be run by the lottery, it will be all parlays, bad odds, and sucker bets. I suspect that MGM or another big sportsbook will get the rights at multiple venues, so hopefully just the one will do it.

[HalfSmokes]

I’m sure none of these will be half assed and loaded with inadequate security

[mitlen]

Could be that the scrutiny on Jack Evans is affecting the sportsbook bill. The Council is taking another look. Probably this means that it won't be ready for opening day but will hopefully result in a better deal.
 

The sharks are circling for the kill.     

https://wtop.com/dc/2019/06/jack-evans-resigning-from-metro-board-after-ethics-violation/