Online Gambling Online gambling is allowed in Washington DC through offshore gambling sites, and while state-regulated online betting is not available yet, it will likely happen in the coming years. While it’s not a state, Washington D.C. Has many of the same rights that US states enjoy. One of these, now that the federal PASPA sports betting ban has been overturned by the US Supreme Court (in Washington D.C., no less!), is the ability to legalize Washington D.C. Online sportsbooks.

Washington DC is known as the capital of the United States, but with it encompassing such a small area it often goes overlooked and is more commonly associated as being part of Virginia or Maryland. Being so close to the Federal government, most people are under the impression that gambling is frowned upon, but such is not really the case. There are plenty of gambling options for those who live in the District of Columbia, and those options seem to be on the verge of expanding.

Being such a small area, there are also plenty of gambling options in the surrounding areas as well. This means that those living in the DC region have plenty of options to play their favorite casino games.

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Legal Status of Online Casinos & Gambling — Washington DC

Currently, there are no local laws that make it illegal for residents of the District of Columbia to gamble online. Though there is no established intra-regional online casino network, there are hundreds of online casinos offering their services to Washington DC residents. In recent years, lawmakers who call the District home have been pushing to legalized online casino play in order to bring in some extra revenue.

At this current juncture, the online casinos existing and available to Washington DC residents are all based and headquartered offshore, in other countries. At first, this may raise a few red flags as many people have their concerns about handing over financial information to unregulated foreign entities. Though this is an understandable concern, the reality is that little to none of the casinos available in DC are suspicious or untrustworthy. In fact, a simply internet search will show you that most every casino able to be accessed in DC is a trusted operator.

Not only that, but these operators keep up with the cutting edge technology that is constantly inundating the online casino scene. A testament to this is the wide range of casinos that are able to be accessed on mobile devices. No matter whether you are playing on a smartphone or tablet, the fact is that you will be hard-pressed to find one site that does not have some sort of mobile offering. So while the lack of regulation may make you feel like you are being left behind gamblers from other jurisdictions, nothing could be further from the truth.

For those who may not know, Washington DC is a fairly poor city and has plenty of infrastructural issues. This is why there is such a strong push to legalize online casinos, tax them, and use the money to help rebuild the city; after all, rebuilding is something that needs to take place. So far, most moves to legalize online casinos have not really moved far simply because DC falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal US government, and for those who are not familiar with US politics, the Federal Government often moves very slow on matters such as these. Still, there is hope being held out that DC will move to legalize online casinos sometime in the near future.

Legal Status of Brick and Mortar Casinos — Washington DC

Right now, there are on brick and mortar gambling establishments in the District of Columbia. First of all, the District of Columbia is so small and so densely populated that there isn’t much room for a casino to exist. Despite this, there has been talks on Capitol Hill about establishing a government-run brick and mortar casino sometime in the near future. Naturally, and as seen by the persistent lack of brick and mortar gambling options, these talks have not really gained much traction.

With Maryland and Virginia, which border DC to the North and South respectively, having some fairly lax casino laws, Washington DC is growing tired of seeing potential gambling revenue cross over borders. It is estimated that, each year, millions of dollars are spent on gambling in neighboring states. Those millions of dollars represent additional revenue streams that could help DC in more ways than one. Up to this point, however, very few people are willing to acknowledge the good that legalized gambling can do for the District; people would rather solely focus on the bad. It will be interesting to see in the future if casinos make an appearance in DC, but for now that seems unlikely due to the slow nature of politics in DC. Being the center of American politics you would think that legislation would move along quickly, but that is actually the opposite of what the reality of DC is.

Washington DC Online Casinos & Gambling FAQ

Will I be arrested by the Federal Government for having played at online casinos in DC?

No. While it is true that there are no laws making online casinos legal in Washington DC, there are also no laws that make it illegal. Like many other parts of the United States, online casinos in DC exist in a bit of a grey area. So long as the online casino itself is based offshore or out of the District, it is completely legal for you to play your favorite casino games at it.

Can I play online poker in DC?

Yes. There are plenty of online casinos that specialize in online poker. While most online casinos nowadays do well to offer some sort of poker play, there are other online casinos that are specifically known for their online poker offering. If you are strictly a poker player, it would behoove you to seek these sites out as they are much better for poker-only players.

Will my cashouts be questioned or seized?

Once again, because DC is where the US government is based so many people have a fear that they will wind up behind bars for having gambled at an online casino in Washington DC. The fact of the matter is that so long as you play at a reputable online casino you will have no issues when it comes to cashing out funds. In most cases, you can cash out 1 of 2 ways. The first option is to receive a check in the mail. This process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The other option is to receive a direct bank transfer, and this process can be executed in just a few hours.

Will online casinos become legalized soon?

This is tough to say. While many people would like to see this happen, passing such a broad-based, controversial piece of legislation is something that cannot happen overnight. So while we are holding out hope that it will be legalized, we are also not holding out breath.

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Washington DC is officially part of the sports betting ranks!

Gambet DC is the new sports betting platform, available on iOS and Android, run by the state lottery and powered by Intralot.

The DC City Council approved a single vendor, Intralot, to be the official provider of sports betting in the district.

In 2018, the city council passed Bill 23-25 which would legalize sports betting in the district. The bill was signed by Mayor Muriel Bowser on Jan. 23.

But regardless, rules and regulations were released on June 14 and the Office of Lottery and Gaming began accepting applications for the two types of licenses permitted, Class A and Class B in 2019.

Latest Updates

Last updated: August 3, 2020:

William Hill launched a retail sportsbook inside Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals, the defending Stanley Cup Champions.

The sportsbook will utilize the arena ticket windows until the official opening of William Hill’s full-scale sportsbook.

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What will DC sports betting look like?

At its core, DC sports betting will follow a similar lottery-operated framework like neighboring Delaware.

The Office of Lottery and Gaming, formally, The District of Columbia Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board will be charged with regulating and administering the industry.

However, the industry will be unique compared to every other state that has legalized sports betting following the US Supreme Court decision in May 2018.

How so? All other states that passed sports betting bills have some form of casino presence available — the district does not.

The bill authorizes both land-based and online/mobile sports betting. Operators will be taxed at 10 percent on revenue and mobile operations will be powered by the lottery platform powered by Intralot.

Multiple licenses for Washington DC sports betting

Class A licenses will be the four major sporting arenas in the district:

• Capital One Arena
• Audi Field
• Nationals Park
• St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena

Each facility will have a two-block buffer zone with licenses costing $250,000 and last for five years.

William Hill has partnered with the company that owns Capital One Arean and when given the go-ahead, will open a sportsbook inside the area.

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Class B licenses will include hotels, bars, and restaurants but will not include a two-block buffer zone. Each location must pay a $50,000 licensing fee, which is also good for five years.

Is Online Gambling Legal In Washington Dc 2020

The first Class B sportsbook, Handle 19 is anticipating a fall launch.

The first step in the process is going through the DC Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA). So far, three bars in DC have taken steps to allow sports betting once the lottery gives the green light.

• Duffy’s Irish Pub
• Wet Dog Tavern
• The Brig

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Although bars, restaurants, and hotels can begin submitting applications, lottery officials have not said how many Class B licenses will be issued.