FanDuel Gearing Up For Deluge of Customers as New MLS Season Approaches
The 2023 Major League Soccer season commences this coming weekend, with the first regular season matches taking place on February 25-26. Washington D.C’s very own DC United kicks off its campaign on February 26 against Toronto FC at United’s Audi Field, which is excellent news for fans of the Black-and-Red, but even better news for the FanDuel sportsbook located within the stadium.
FanDuel opened Major League Soccer’s first in-stadium sportsbook in July 2022 after putting pen to paper on a multi-year deal with DC United in 2022. The deal made FanDuel the official betting partner of DC United. The FanDuel Sportsbook at Audi Field spans 2,700 square feet, and customers can enjoy an uninterrupted view of the field or take in the action on one of almost 50 television screens. Only a handful of betting sites have dedicated mobile apps, meaning thousands of customers turn to the legal online Washington sportsbooks to place their wagers. However, with a new MLS season upon us, FanDuel is confident its physical sportsbook business will be booming.
The state lottery-run GamebetDC sportsbook took $6.4 million worth of bets during January 2023, while other commercial operators in the district took a combined $12.2 million. Those figures are down from December 2022 but an increase when you compare like-for-like for January 2022. FanDuel’s handle, the amount it physically takes in wagers, is hovering around $2 million per month. However, the Flutter Entertainment-owned company’s profit is approximately a fifth of that sum. Those are impressive figures when one considers the 2022 MLS season concluded on November 5, and soccer fans are notorious for gambling, particularly on their favorite teams. Handle and, therefore, revenue should soar if DC United enjoys more success this season than they have recently.
DC United Fans Hoping Rooney’s Return Brings Back the Good Times
DC United is one of Major League Soccer’s ten charter clubs and has competed in North America’s premier soccer competition since 1996. The team enjoyed plenty of initial success, including the coveted MLS Cup on four occasions, including three out of the MLS’ first four seasons. One must cast their mind back to 2004 for the last time DC United won the MLS Cup, which was also the last time loyal fans saw their team reach the final.
The team has failed to qualify for the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. In 2022, DC United finished rock bottom of the Eastern Conference and the league overall. DC United won only seven of their 34 fixtures, drawing six and losing 21. The team scored the fewest goals (36) and had the worst goals against (71) across all 28 MLS teams. That goals against figure were the worst in DC United history and were not helped by the team enduring a record home loss (6-0) and away defeat (7-0).
DC United relieved Argentinian head coach Hernan Losada of his duties on April 21 following a run of four straight defeats. Chad Ashton took temporary charge until July 30, during which time DC United only won three of 14 games. The club hired former Manchester United and England international striker Wayne Rooney as their new head coach on July 31, and although Rooney could not stop the rot, DC United fans have high hopes for the coming season, as Rooney has had a full preseason to put his stamp on the team, in addition to bringing in some much-needed reinforcements to his squad.
Shoring up the porous defense is Rooney’s first task, hence the arrivals of goalkeepers Tyler Miller from Minnesota United and Alex Bono from Toronto FC. Defenders Ruan, Mohanad Jeahze, and Derrick Williams have also come in, and each has been assigned a jersey number that suggests they will be part of the starting XI. Rooney also signed Polish international midfielder Mateusz Klich from English Premier League team Leeds United. This player should become a playmaker for the talented attacking duo Christian Benteke and Taxiarchis Fountas.
DC United fans are hopeful of a return to the good times for their team with former player Rooney at the helm. FanDuel is hoping for the same to boost its take as the feel-good factor starts taking hold. The sportsbook is not overly confident of the team winning the MLS Cup, however, because it ranks it 22nd from 28 teams with odds almost 20 times longer than favorites Los Angeles FC.
Photo by Krzysztof Dubiel on Unsplash
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