ESPN Bet has secured a strategic partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment to launch mobile sports wagering operations in Washington, D.C. later this year. The deal marks ESPN Bet's 20th jurisdiction in the United States.

The partnership, pending regulatory approval, includes a multi-channel marketing integration with Monumental, which owns the NBA Washington Wizards, NHL Washington Capitals, and WNBA Washington Mystics, as well as Capital One Arena and other sports properties.

ESPN Bet will gain media presence at Capital One Arena, though the facility's retail sportsbook will remain operated by Caesars Entertainment. The online sportsbook rights come through Monumental's existing sports betting license, which was established under D.C.'s 2019 sports gambling expansion.

The deal builds on Penn Entertainment's $1.5 billion, 10-year agreement with ESPN to use the sports media company's brand for its betting operations. This expansion into D.C. is particularly strategic given the capital's high visitor traffic, despite its relatively small permanent population of 702,000.

D.C.'s sports betting market has seen significant growth since ending Intralot's GambetDC online monopoly. In November alone, the district recorded $68.2 million in sports betting handle, with FanDuel leading the market at $35.5 million in wagers.

The partnership represents a significant milestone for ESPN Bet's expansion and further strengthens its position in one of America's most prominent sports markets. The deal pairs ESPN's established media presence in D.C., including its local "SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt" studio, with Monumental's deep roots in the capital's sports community.

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