The Washington Commanders have received initial approval to put a retail sportsbook at FedEx Field, according to ESPN’s David Purdum.
If they go through with it, they’d join the Arizona Cardinals as the only NFL teams with sportsbooks at their stadiums. The BetMGM on the campus of Arizona’s State Farm Stadium is scheduled to be the first for an NFL team when it opens in time for the upcoming season.
NFL policy prohibits in-arena sportsbooks from opening on gamedays, but Washington plans to move forward, according to Purdum. Depending on how soon it opens at the Landover, Maryland stadium, Washington could serve bettors in Maryland who currently have limited options. Sports betting in the state is only legal at casinos, with no timeline for when mobile will be made available.
Washington Commanders received initial approval to put a retail sportsbook at FedEx Field. The NFL's current policy prohibits sportsbooks inside stadiums from opening on gamedays. Source says Commanders know this stipulation and plan to move forward in compliance w/ the policy.
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) August 11, 2022
This news comes as Washington seeks a new stadium, with a vote coming next year on whether they’ll receive funding for a venue in Virginia. The team’s lease with FedEx Field runs through 2027.
