The DC City Council has "approved a sole source contract" for Greece-based gaming company Intralot to "manage a lucrative online sports betting and lottery program," according to Fenit Nirappil of the WASHINGTON POST. The "contentious 7-to-5 vote came after a majority of the council's 13 members expressed concerns" about the five-year, $215M deal, which "became mired in an ethics scandal involving its chief champion," DC Council member Jack Evans. But several lawmakers "ultimately voted yes." Most of the contract would "benefit a handful of local subcontractors without an extensive record in the sports gambling industry, several of whom have political connections." Opponents to the deal said that the proposal was "deeply flawed and passage would undermine trust in city government." DC residents and visitors "may be able to legally place sports wagers at arenas and local businesses as early as this fall." Intralot would also "manage the mobile app, which is expected to go live" in early '20. Proponents and analysts said that the app would "become the most popular way to bet" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/10).
