Online betting in District of Columbia

What Gambling Is Legal in District of columbia

The answer to the question “Is gambling legal in DC?” is partially. Sports betting is legal, DFS is available, but not on a separate licensing track, online casino gaming is illegal, while prediction markets are federally-regulated.

Sports Betting in DC: Legal

Sports betting in DC is legal. The Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Law 22-312) was in effect as of May 3, 2019, with the market following in 2020.

Daily Fantasy Sports in DC: Available

Sportsbooks operators with DFS are licensed under the Office of Lottery and Gaming. They don’t need a separate licensing track to operate in the district.

Online Casino in DC: Not Legal

Online casino gaming in DC is illegal. There are no legal online casinos in Washington DC. This extends to land-based casinos, not just online gaming.

Prediction Markets: Federal, Not District

Prediction markets are regulated federally instead of locally. The CFTC regulates these operators as event-contract exchanges. The district laws don’t govern them, and there’s no separate DC license for this category.

For the latest updates, check out the CFTC tracker.

The Gambling Age in DC Is 18

Washington DC’s legal minimum age gambling requirement is 18. It’s different from most US states with legal online casino gaming, where the limit is 21.

Who Regulates Gambling in Washington DC

The Office of Lottery and Gaming

Sports wagering in the District is regulated by the DC Office of Lottery and Gaming. It regulates the market and runs the citywide platform on its own.

This structure is unlike any other licensing state model.

How to File a Complaint

Filing complaints is possible through the same regulatory body. It has a dual role as a regulator and a platform operator by itself.

Where to Get Help in DC

The national responsible gaming helpline in DC is 1-800-GAMBLER. See the responsible gambling resources for more information on how to play responsibly.

Where You Can Bet in Washington DC

Six sportsbooks hold licences to take bets across Washington DC: FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, Caesars, Fanatics and theScore Bet. That lineup is recent. Until 2024 the District ran a two-tier system in which the Lottery's own app was the only citywide option and private books were geofenced to roughly two blocks around their venue. FanDuel replaced the Lottery app in April 2024, the Council then opened the market, and BetMGM, Caesars and DraftKings followed district-wide that July. DraftKings and FanDuel both hold DC sports wagering licences and both run daily fantasy contests here. Neither offers an online casino in the District, and neither does any other licensed operator, because the District licenses none. If you have used a brand's casino product in Maryland or elsewhere, it is not available to you in DC. Four retail sportsbooks sit at the major venues, and Caesars runs around fifty self-serve kiosks at bars and shops across the city. Two places you cannot bet, wherever you are standing: federal land, including the National Mall, and any DC college team or college event held in the District. There are no casinos in Washington DC. Not one, land-based or online. The nearest is MGM National Harbor, and that is in Maryland, which is what most searches for casinos in DC actually turn up. The District's legal gambling is sports wagering, daily fantasy sports and the lottery.

Tax on Gambling Winnings in Washington DC

DC Tax on Winnings

Washington DC taxes gambling winnings as ordinary income. The top marginal rate is 10.75%. DC residents who bet in Virginia or Maryland still owe tax on winnings in DC. DC’s rate is higher than Virginia’s and that’s worth knowing when you hit a win.

What You Still Owe Federally

Like in other states, federal tax applies on top of DC’s rate. Operators issue a W-2G above federal reporting thresholds, which you must fill out if you win something. This is general information, not tax advice.

General information only; not tax advice.

Pending Washington DC Gambling Legislation

No iGaming Bill Has Advanced

As of September 2026, there’s no online casino bill advanced through the DC Council. Currently, there are no plans for the future when it comes to online casino gaming.

What Changed in 2024

In April 2024, FanDuel replaced GambetDC, which was the DC Lottery’s citywide app. It has been widely criticized since launch, which is why FanDuel took over in 2024. FanDuel operates as a subcontractor to Intralot, the Lottery’s underlying vendor. Per the District’s law, there’s no sweepstakes statute, and no enforcement campaign.

Frequently asked questions

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