BetMGM has officially closed its retail sportsbook at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, marking the end of the first-ever betting venue attached to a Major League Baseball stadium. The facility, which opened in 2022, featured six betting windows, 17 kiosks, and a full-service bar that was especially popular on game days.
Why Stadium Sportsbooks Are Closing
The Nationals Park closure follows a growing trend of stadium sportsbooks shutting down. Recently, FanDuel closed its Audi Field location, and Fanatics shut down its sportsbook at Progressive Field. With the rise of mobile betting, physical retail sportsbooks have become less sustainable due to high overhead costs and changing consumer habits.
Washington DC’s early betting laws added further hurdles — until 2024, residents could only bet online within a two-block radius of Nationals Park, limiting demand for in-stadium betting options.
Shutdown Details
September 21 was the final day for placing new bets at the facility. Bettors have until September 28 to cash winning or pending tickets, after which the location will close completely. The timing coincides with the end of the baseball season, when stadium attendance naturally declines.
What This Means for the Industry
The move underscores the industry’s shift toward mobile platforms, which offer better margins and require far less overhead than physical locations. Retail sportsbooks inside stadiums are increasingly seen as costly novelties rather than profit drivers.
Other venues are adapting in creative ways. The Phoenix Suns, for instance, converted their former FanDuel retail sportsbook into a 6,000-square-foot members-only lounge for season ticket holders.
As mobile betting dominates, operators like BetMGM are expected to prioritize digital-first strategies, leaving behind the once-hyped stadium sportsbook trend. Fans can still bet on games — but increasingly, they’ll do it from their phones rather than at the ballpark.
