“They know how important betting is to their sport, and more importantly, they know how important football is to the betting industry as well,” said Borod, who has worked in sports betting for almost a decade. “In the early days, there was a view that betting should not be done at sportsbooks inside stadiums. But I think as sports betting has matured, people have realized they’re betting on their phones anyway.”
The sportsbook, which is open only to ticket holders during Commanders games, does not have a view of the field, so only five people remained on the leather couches and bar inside by the time Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals began. The number of fans steadily thinned out at halftime, with some returning to place bets based on what they saw in the first half. Others found a cool, dry place to order food and drinks.
“Doubling down on Washington?” A fan wearing the uniform of Commanders safety Kamren Curl called out another bettor at the next kiosk. Washington trailed the Cardinals by three points at halftime, but decided the home team wouldn’t give the ball away three more times. Standing beneath a television screen displaying live odds for every NFL game in the early afternoon, another Commanders fan reluctantly bet on the Cardinals.
Joe D. and Jason B., childhood friends who attended the game to celebrate their birthdays, had already placed bets on a mobile app ahead of Sunday’s game. But they saw a sign outside the sportsbook offering free hats and decided to venture inside. There, each person paid $20 more, less than the cost of the hat at the Fanatics clothing store next door.
“We never put in money we don’t have,” said Jason B., who with his friends declined to give his last name, citing the social stigma against gambling. “But not everyone has the ability to control themselves.”
