Grand Central Restaurant & Bar

Adams Morgan Bar Grand Central Lands Coveted License to Add Sports Betting | Eater DC

"After becoming the first D.C. bar of its kind to win a sports wagering license, Grand Central plans to have a staffed ticket-teller window and two betting kiosks up and running by October and will operate a sportsbook at 2447 18th Street NW seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Co-owner Brian Vasile describes the Adams Morgan bar as a second home for Buffalo Bills fans and highlights its food — hot wings, beef on weck sandwiches, and marinated Spiede chicken skewers — while noting the venue has tripled its TVs from seven to 21 and carries DirecTV packages for major leagues. Vasile says navigating the Class B application with ABRA and OLG took nine months and required raising $100,000 during the pandemic for the initial five-year license; Grand Central, which opened in 2007 and lists Leonidas Vondas as another principal, was one of only three D.C. businesses to hold a sportsbook license as of August 31, 2021 and the only Class B operator. The bar partnered with Elys Game Technology to supply odds and digital kiosks and expects Elys to provide a geo-fenced mobile app for on-site betting; Vasile notes Elys supports about 1,200 venues in Italy, operates in five states, and has been around for roughly 25–30 years." - Gabe Hiatt