Report: Sports betting could be available by fall in the District

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) -- One day after the DC Council voted to approve legalized sports betting, FOX 5 has learned it may be available even sooner than first thought.

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Monumental Sports owner Ted Leonsis has detailed plans to transform the old Green Turtle restaurant and bar at Capital One Arena into the District's first sports betting facility.

FOX 5 has been reporting that it would take six month's before D.C.'s sports betting app would be available but on Wednesday the spokesman of Jeffrey S. DeWitt, D.C.'s chief financial officer, told us the first brick and mortar facilities could open by the 2019 NFL kickoff this fall.

"It's our intention and our plan to have sports betting available in September… through the three sports venues in the city," said spokesman David Umansky.

The Capital One Arena, Nationals Park and the new Audi Field will be the first places you could legally bet on sports in D.C. Eventually, restaurants, bars, and even VFW halls will be able for sports gambling licenses.

On Monday, July 15, D.C. will release the rules and regulations for operating sports wagering will be made public, so interested businesses will know what they have to do to be licensed.

People FOX 5 talked to Wednesday say sports gambling is already going under the table. It's about time it's legalized and generating revenue.

"I'm excited for the fans and everyone who like to do fantasy sports!" one person said.

FOX 5 also talked to Monumental Sports Wednesday. They didn't want to go into detail about what exactly we will see when this new sportsbook facility opens up, but they did tell us their "desire" is a fall launch.