The District of Columbia’s Office of Lottery and Gaming has awarded Elys Gaming Technology and Grand Central LLC a Class B operating license to open a sportsbook in Washington DC.
Under the terms of the license agreement, Grand Central will open a sportsbook in its Grand Central Restaurant and Bar, whilst Elys will obtain a Standard Management Services Provider License in order to provide management services to the venue.
The Class B license allows a fully operational sportsbook with no restrictions on maximum bets and all winnings can be paid out on the site. Elys will provide Grand Central with the turnkey retail betting solution and kiosk hardware as well as managed services to operate the sportsbook.
Grand Central owner Brian Vasile commented: “We are looking forward to offering our customers an extraordinary experience to wager on their favourite teams while enjoying our signature dishes and beverages for lunch, dinner or gathering for team events and special games or even just dropping in to place a wager.
“We are very honored to have been approved as the first Class B licensed operator by the DC Office of Lottery and Gaming and believe that our establishment will serve as a showcase example for this operational model and a key role in the economic growth of this rooted residential and commercial neighborhood, as well as the greater DC area.”
Michele Ciavarella, Elys’ Executive Chairman, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to be granted our first US-based sports wagering license and are looking forward to launching our Elys Gameboard US platform at Grand Central Restaurant & Bar, in Washington, DC.
“We also wish to recognise Brian Vasile, his partners and staff who worked tirelessly with our engineering team housed within our group technology subsidiary, Odissea, and our US operations team to achieve this significant accomplishment.
“For ages, sports events and championship games have been consumed and enjoyed the most in restaurants and bars, and we believe that the unique Class B classification established by the DC Office of Lottery and Gaming will pioneer an entirely new and exciting vertical where sports wagering could elevate the dining and gathering experience at bars and restaurants throughout North America.”