In-person and online sports betting is legal in Washington DC due to legislation passed in 2019 authorizing retail sportsbooks and mobile betting apps.
Legal Washington D.C sports betting options include retail sportsbooks at bars and stadiums, mobile betting within two blocks of stadiums, and citywide mobile betting powered by the DC Lottery.
Additionally, the city is surrounded by gambling-friendly states with numerous casinos within driving distance. As it stands right now, the legal forms of gambling located within the District of Columbia are the local lottery, daily fantasy sports (DFS), and sports betting.
Legal Washington DC Betting Sites
21+ and physically present at Audi Field in DC (FanDuel) or within two blocks of Nationals Park (BetMGM) or Capital One Arena (Caesars Sportsbook). If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please contact the National Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-GAMBLER.
Online poker sites and casinos are illegal, and currently, there are no indications lawmakers are planning to change that. Online horse racing betting in Washington D.C.is also prohibited, but Maryland and Virginia both allow horse racing betting, and Laurel Park is just a short drive away.
Where Legal Washington DC Sports Betting Is Available
Washington DC sports betting law creates a patchwork of mobile betting options and retail sportsbooks at authorized locations:
- Sportsbooks at stadiums: Capital One Arena, Audi Field, Nationals Park, and the St. Elizabeth’s East Entertainment & Sports Arena may apply for Class A licenses to operate retail sportsbooks.
- Retail sportsbooks elsewhere: Bars, restaurants, and certain other establishments not located within two blocks of a stadium may apply for Class B licenses to offer in-person sports betting.
- Mobile betting apps: The DC Lottery holds a monopoly over citywide mobile sports betting. The DC Lottery sports betting app and website (GambetDC) is the only legal provider of citywide online betting. Each stadium’s sportsbook may also offer mobile betting within a two-block radius.
Washington DC Sportsbook Promo Codes
Below is a roundup of the best DC betting promo codes and welcome offers for new customers:
Betting Site | Promo Code | Bonus Offer |
---|---|---|
BetMGM DC Bonus Code | BUSABONUS | Bet $5, Get $150 |
Caesars Sportsbook DC Promo Code | BUSA1000 | $1000 Bonus Bet |
GambetDC Promo Code | N/A | Various Promos |
Washington DC Betting Bonuses
The Washington, DC sports betting market is not very competitive, with GambetDC having a monopoly over citywide mobile betting and other operators limited to specific geographic zones. Even so, mobile sportsbooks in DC offer welcome bonuses as they compete for market share and try to funnel bettors away from illegal offshore sportsbooks.
Washington, DC sports betting regulations address promotions and bonuses indirectly with rules that require sportsbooks to engage in marketing that does not:
- Contain false or misleading information
- Target anyone under 18 or customers who have self-excluded
- Target groups who are at high risk for problem gambling
- Encourage bettors to chase their losses or reinvest their winnings
- Suggest sports betting as a means to solve financial problems
Additionally, DC sports betting regulations require sportsbooks to process withdrawals “within a reasonable timeframe.” However, sportsbooks may restrict promotional and bonus credits from withdrawal until users have met all clearing requirements.
Washington D.C. Sportsbook Locations
Washington, DC law permits two types of retail sportsbooks:
- Class A: Sportsbooks at qualified stadiums – may also offer mobile betting within a two-block radius
- Class B: Sportsbooks at bars, restaurants, and other locations – may also offer mobile betting to customers physically located within the establishment
Additionally, several sportsbooks in Maryland and West Virginia are within driving distance of Washington DC and attract no small number of DC-area residents. Below are some of the best DC sportsbooks not technically located in DC.
Washington D.C. Sports Betting Kiosks
The DC Lottery hosts GambetDC self-serve sports betting kiosks at dozens of locations throughout the District.
Bettors 18 or older can visit any kiosk location to place wagers, with no account necessary. Washington DC betting kiosks accept cash only and do not give back change, so bettors should only insert as much cash as they want to wager immediately.
After users insert cash and place their wagers, the kiosks print betting tickets for them to keep. Anyone who places a winning bet can redeem the ticket at any authorized GambetDC retailer to claim their winnings.
Readers can follow this link and change the “location type” selector to “sports betting” for a map and list of sportsbook kiosk locations.
How D.C. Legalized Sports Betting
The march to legal sports betting in D.C. began in 2018 when Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans introduced a bill to legalize the activity and put the DC Lottery in charge. The bill was titled the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 and sought to legalize in-person and mobile sports betting within city limits.
The DC Council voted on and approved the bill in December 2018 to send it to the mayor’s office. After gaining the mayor’s signature, the bill was sent to Congress for a 30-day waiting period before officially becoming law.
The Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 established some basic ground rules:
- 10% tax on gross revenue
- Restaurants, bars, and other establishments may receive 5-year licenses at the cost of $50,000
- The four stadiums named in the bill may apply for 5-year licenses at the cost of $250,000
- RFK stadium may not apply due to its location on federally-owned land
- Mobile betting to be offered by a joint partnership between the DC Lottery and Intralot
- Stadium with sportsbooks may offer mobile wagers to players physically present at the stadium
- Stadiums have a two-block exclusivity zone within which no other sportsbooks may operate
Washington D.C. Daily Fantasy Sports
Washington, DC lawmakers have never shown much interest in fantasy sports one way or another. Current law does not address DFS sites, leaving them in a legal grey area. However, all mainstream operators accept customers from DC, and local authorities seem fine with the current status quo.
D.C Daily fantasy sports fans can visit name-brand operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings to compete in massive, guaranteed prize pool tournaments or smaller operators that offer unique ways to play, including predictions contests.
Fans must be 18 or older to participate in fantasy sports contests in Washington, DC.
The best Washington DC DFS sites and apps include:
Washington D.C. Horse Racing Betting
Washington, DC does not have legal horse racing betting in any form. There are no horse racing tracks, off-track betting locations (OTBs), or advance deposit wagering sites (ADWs) available to residents. Licensed horse racing sites such as TVG.com and TwinSpires do not offer their services in DC.
The nearest major track is Laurel Park, situated between Washington DC and Baltimore. Laurel Park is about a 40-minute drive depending on traffic and hosts races every Sunday through Thursday.
Laurel Park receives a fair number of guests from the city. Residents can visit the track website for directions on driving to Laurel Park from Washington, DC.
Laurel Park
- Drive time: about 40 minutes
- Address: RT 198 & Racetrack Road, Laurel, MD 20724
Washington D.C. Online Gambling
Washington DC does not have much of a gambling industry aside from sports betting, the lottery, and the occasional charitable gambling game. Online gambling is illegal, and there are no indications that will change anytime soon.
Under District of Columbia gambling law, nonprofit organizations may organize raffles, bingo, and Monte Carlo nights if licensed by the DC Lottery’s Charitable Games Division.
DC’s gambling laws make for dry reading, but the main takeaway is that almost everything except the lottery, sports betting, and charitable games is prohibited. Under state law, it is a crime to offer gambling or sports betting to anyone else. Furthermore, anyone who loses $25 or more to anyone else may sue to recover those gambling losses.
Washington D.C. Online Lottery
In early 2021, the DC Lottery took its games online with the launch of DC iLottery for customers 18 or older. Players can visit DCiLottery.com from any desktop computer or mobile device to play Powerball, Mega Millions, and a collection of instant win games online.
DC iLottery automatically deposits all wins under $5,000 to players’ online accounts. Players who win a prize of $5,000 or more can call the DC Lottery Prize Center to schedule an appointment to receive payment.
The DC Lottery offers relatively high payout rates, with an average of more than 50% of all sales going back to players in the form of winnings. To date, the DC Lottery has paid more than $3 billion to winners and continues to run strong to this day.
Other games offered by the DC Lottery include various local draw games, scratch cards, and multi-state games such as Powerball and Mega Millions. In all, the DC Lottery is comparable to other state lotteries despite the city’s comparatively small population.