Attorney Jeff Ifrah quoted by NBC Washington as Potential “Class B” Operators look for Sports Betting Clarity

But Jeff Ifrah, an attorney who represents a group of small restaurateurs interested in offering sports betting, said they remain concerned about other aspects they fear could make sports betting not worth the investment.

Chief among them? Whether the app the District is developing with lottery contractor Intralot will operate within the “Class B” locations. In addition to developing the District’s app, Intralot will manage the District’s sports-betting kiosks.

DC Lottery officials told the I-Team the citywide app, which is expected to be released in January, will not work on federal property and will also be blocked from operating in the “Class A” professional sports venues and a two-block perimeter around them.

Ifrah said the small operators want the same advantage within their locations, saying allowing the District’s app to work alongside theirs would cut into their potential profits.

“You’re basically going to be driving traffic away from what the ‘Class Bs’ are paying for,” he said.

A Lottery official told the I-Team this week there’s nothing in current statutes or regulations preventing a Class B licensee from “employing technology at its own cost” to block the Lottery app from working within its location.