Grand Central Sportsbook & Cafe Opens on H Street, NE

625 H Street, NE photos courtesy Grand Central Sportsbook & Cafe

From a press release:

“Grand Central LLC is excited to open its second sportsbook in the District of Columbia on H Street in Ward 6 in Northeast DC: Grand Central Sportsbook & Cafe (625 H Street NE). Its first sportsbook, Grand Central Restaurant, Bar & Sportsbook in Adams Morgan, opened in October 202. It was the first Class B license granted in the District of Columbia.

Grand Central LLC is the only independent establishment granted two sports betting licenses in the District of Columbia by DC’s Office of Lottery and Gaming. The Class B license is a full-service sportsbook with less restrictions on maximum bets, so that all ticket winnings, regardless of amount, can be redeemed on-site.

Grand Central Sportsbook & Cafe is now accepting bets as of today, March 8, 2024. It has four sports betting kiosks and one ticket window where bets can be placed. In addition to sports betting, Grand Central Sportsbook & Cafe will soon offer three games of skill, called ‘District of Skill’.

In keeping with owner Brian Vasile’s commitment to the community, Grand Central Sportsbook & Cafe will offer a variety of pastries (cupcakes, dessert cups, cake by the slice) from Black woman-owned Tissy Sweets Bakery, with a portion of the proceeds going to their Spotlight program, which supports local children with special needs. Kristin Curtis, owner of Tissy Sweets, began this program to raise funds to buy special equipment for her son, diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She has paid it forward ever since, highlighting a special needs child each month on Spotlight, who receives funding for special equipment they need. The Spotlight program also funds instructional dessert classes for special needs children.

Grand Central Sportsbook & Cafe will also offer grab-and-go sandwiches, packaged meats, snack and charcuterie from Boar’s Head, as well as chips, bottled sodas, sports and energy drinks.

Grand Central Sportsbook & Cafe will open for sports betting and food and beverage, 7 days a week from 12am – 9pm, with hours expanding and fluctuating for popular sporting events such as March Madness, etc.

“As the first independent restaurant operator to be granted a Class B sports betting license, and the first to be granted two licenses in the District, we are proud to be part of the positive economic growth of this dynamic emerging H Street NE corridor as well as the greater DC region,” states owner Brian Vasile. “As a DC small business owner, we understand the value of partnering with the local community, so that everyone benefits,” he adds.

Sports betting odds will be provided by Elys Game Technology Corp. Elys will provide the kiosks as well as the digital sports betting system. Elys is a B2B global gaming technology company operating in multiple countries worldwide.

Taxes are set at 10% on all revenue acquired from gambling on sporting events. Legal sports betting in Washington DC launched at the end of May 2020.”