Washington D.C. Online Gambling
Our comprehensive free guide to Washington D.C. online gambling with news, reviews of Washington D.C. gambling sites, and the best of DC sports betting sites, online casinos, and poker rooms!
Looking for another state? Check out our USA online gambling guide.
5 Best Washington D.C. Online Gambling Sites
We have reviewed and ranked the top online gambling sites in the District of Columbia.
1.
- Generous Risk-Free Bet Offer
- PayPal Support
- Fast Withdrawal
- Comprehensive Sports Market
- Live In-Play Betting
sets itself as a recognizable sportsbook brand and operator that provides a variety of wagers on popular NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and UFC matches. In regards to app design, BetMGM nails the mobile interface where it is easy to browse all sports markets with just your thumbs. This Washington D.C. mobile sportsbook also features live betting where you can make wagers right in the middle of a game.
2.
- Caesars Rewards Program
- Odds Boosters
- Risk-Free Bet Promotion
- PayPal Support
- 24/7 Customer Support
Caesars is as much of a sportsbook powerhouse as other Washington D.C. sports betting sites because of its solid range of wagers for popular basketball, baseball, football, and hockey matches. This sportsbook is also rich in promotions such as its boosted odds market that have higher payouts for specific wagers. Caesars is also generous with their risk-free bets where you receive 100% of your stake when you lose your wager.
3.
- Comprehensive DFS Games
- Very Fast Withdrawal
- Massive Daily Payouts
- Deposit-Match Bonus
- Exclusive Mobile App
Monkey Knife Fight is a multi-award-winning DC daily fantasy sports site that offers DFS football, baseball, basketball, UFC, Nascar, and eSports matches. This DFS app allows you to rewrite the NBA, NFL, or MLB playoffs with your team picks. Winners of daily and weekly events win real money prizes.
4.
- Fast Withdrawal
- Same Game Parlay
- Extensive Range of Sports Markets
- Big Horse Racing Section
- 24/7 Live Chat
GambetDC is a licensed Washington DC sports betting site that is backed by the DC lottery. With its PayPal and Skrill payment options, you can take out your winnings within one to two business days. On top of its regular wagers, GambetDC offers an extensive selection of future or prop bets for local and foreign games such as the FIFA World Cup and Formula 1 races.
5.
- Exciting Lottery Games
- PowerBall Draw Game
- Desktop & Mobile Available
- Deposit Match Bonus
- PayPal Is Accepted
DC Lottery is the official online platform for Washington D.C. lottery draw and scratch card games. You can find the most popular draw and scratch card games on both the browser and mobile versions of the site. In addition, there are lottery instant games available with prizes that can reach up to $200,000.
Legal Real Money Gambling In Washington D.C.
While the state only allows certain activities, here are the kinds of games Washington D.C. locals can expect when all types of gambling sites are made legal in the District of Columbia.
DC Online Casino
Casinos are considered the arcade of the gambling industry where a single wager can be completed within a minute or two. Games such as online slots, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and video poker can double your total bankroll in just a quarter of an hour because of their fast-paced gameplay. For lucky players, they can get lucky by winning an online progressive slot jackpot and taking home a fortune. While these games are available in licensed Washington D.C. casinos such as the MGM National Harbor, locals need to wait for lawmakers to make online casinos available in the District of Columbia.
DC Online Sportsbooks
Sports betting sites are the most accessible gambling activity within Washington D.C. since the law made this legal within the state in 2019. A fair sportsbook increases the excitement of popular events such as the NBA playoffs, F1 Monaco GP, and NFL Super Bowl by adding money lines, totals, or spread bets. There is a reputable sportsbook that goes beyond just offering common or future bets such as BetMGM that provide interesting features for local punters. One of these features is boosted odds, which increases the payout of specific wagers.
DC Horse Racing Betting
Horse races are a classic gambling activity where punters bet on which participants clear the finish line first or reach one of the top three places. What makes horse betting exciting are the different odds of each participant, which are based on their performances. Fast horses have the highest possible odds and the lowest payout while the slowest ones have low odds and high payouts. Unfortunately, Washington D.C. does not allow horse racing tracks or OTB within the state. Locals can still enjoy legal horse race betting in Laurel Park, which is located in an area between Washington D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland.
DC Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports allow you to form your draft for the current NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, and NASCAR seasons and pit your team against other players. If your team wins a daily or weekly competition, you take home real money payouts. Washington D.C. daily fantasy sports are currently in the grey area of the law since no legislation deems this activity to be illegal nor does any deem it to be considered legal. This is why sites such as Monkey Knife Fight can offer legal DC DFS to sports fans within the state.
DC Online Poker
Poker is not about having the best possible hand in each game. It is about outwitting everyone around the table and making them bet in your favor, allowing you to take a pot that has most of your opponent's chips. Poker strategy is masterful. In the best US online poker rooms, you can find a wide range of game flavors such as Texas Hold'em, Omaha, five-card draw, and five-card stud. Online poker rooms also have various formats available that suit any player regardless of skills or bankroll among poker rooms. While online poker is currently illegal within Washington D.C., the approval of online casinos can open the doors to cardroom sites right after.
DC Lottery
Lottery games are the clear choice among all US states since it is morally acceptable where proceeds go toward government projects. Participating is as simple as choosing several lucky numbers, receiving your ticket, and seeing if the draw gets all or most of your picks. For just a small stake of a few dollars, you have a chance to walk home with more than $10 million through the or draw game. DC Lottery is where you can find the most common draw games. This site also has instant cash games that have similar gameplay to slots.
How We Rank Gambling Sites In Washington D.C.
Player experience is the basis of our choices for the top D.C. gambling site. Below are the factors that can affect a patron's experience and enjoyment.
Safety & Licensing
All real money online casinos, sportsbooks, horse race betting sites, and poker cardrooms must have a license from the proper regulatory body in Washington D.C. A license indicates that the operator has the right protection for their patrons against hackers and criminals. Security measures such as an SSL protocol that encrypts all data allow you to make wagers without worries of anyone stealing your money or personal information.
Brand Reputation
Dedicated reviewers have gone through several Washington D.C. gambling sites with a fine comb. They check the staff's responsiveness and withdrawal processes to see what other patrons would have an issue with it. Gambling sites that have several issues are likely to land on a reviewer or directory's blacklist. As long as the DC sites we check are not a part of anyone's blacklist, they have a shot at making our top ten list.
Customer Service
Every Washington D.C. sports betting site or lottery wants assurance that someone has their back when anything goes wrong with the platform. Operators are expected to have a responsive customer support department that can answer questions or address concerns 24/7. Patrons should also have several methods to reach the support line such as phone, live chat, and e-mail.
User Experience
There should be no excuse for any betting sites do not to have a mobile version or app of their platform since most locals are playing on their phones. To be a part of our list, operators must have a mobile-friendly UI for their website that works with nearly every modern phone or tablet. Special considerations are given to brands that make it easy for anyone to go through their platform with just one thumb.
Promotions & Offers
Those who are within our top DC sports betting sites and lottery platforms are incredibly generous with their promotions. Players want to see the likes of $1,000 risk-free bets, such as the ones offered by BetMGM. Loyalty programs are also a plus in our book. Caesars Rewards is a good example of this program since you can win discounts on hotels and restaurants as you keep making wagers on their app.
Betting Markets
Whether the site is a casino, sportsbook, or lottery, there should be a large number of activities or games available. Sports betting sites should at least have all of the local NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and PGA matches. Additional points are given to the sportsbook that includes numerous foreign matches such as those from La Liga, Premier League, and Australian Open.
Banking Options
Whilst it's always exciting to sign up with a new operator, your joy may come to a halt once you start depositing money. KYC procedures, payment processing time, and the operator's own ID checks all take some time to be conducted. We do push operators we work with to keep that process transparent and streamlined. In terms of deposits and withdrawals, payment cards are unbeatable alongside e-wallets like , , and .
How To Start Gambling In Washington D.C.
While it is incredibly easy to register an account and start placing bets at any DC gambling site, missing out on a few steps may bring down the player experience. Below is a small guide on signing up with a trusted and legit site.
Pick and choose a site
Going through a sports betting site or daily fantasy sports platform is the first ideal step to take. This will let you know if the sports, games, wagers, and other aspects of the site are within your interest.
Read all terms and conditions
When you have a handful of online gambling sites in mind, go through their terms and conditions page (specifically their withdrawal and bonus policy). You want to make sure the site is fair with their bonus wagering policy such as a withdrawal minimum of $10 to $20 and a wagering requirement of around 17x-30x the bonus amount.
Sign up and register
After finding a site that suits your interest, click on the 'register' button to sign up. Make sure your address and contact number are entered correctly as this will be important in verifying your identity. If there is a two-factory feature available, take advantage of it.
Make your first deposit
At this point, you should know about the bonus policy or the minimum deposit amount for a casino's welcome package. You should be eligible for free in-house credits or free bets upon depositing the minimum amount.
Submit KYC Documents
Before you can make a withdrawal, a Washington D.C. betting site needs to verify you're identity through their KYC process. This involves submitting one or two qualifying documents such as your driver's license and utility bills. Clearing the KYC process to ensure a smooth withdrawal.
Legal Gambling Bonuses In DC
As a means to encourage visitors and existing customers to spend money, betting sites in Washington D.C. offer a wide range of bonuses and promotions.
Below are the most common ones to expect from these betting platforms.
DC New Deposit Bonus
Available to newcomers, new deposit bonuses provide patrons with in-house credits. These credits are usually 200%-300% of the amount deposited. If the new deposit bonus is 300% and you top up your account with $100, you will receive $300 in-house credit for sports wagers and other betting activities.
DC Welcome Bonus
Certain online gambling sites offer a bundle of bonuses in the form of welcome bonuses or packages. This bundle usually consists of a match deposit bonus, free bets, and other freebies. If there are legal Washington DC online casinos, welcome bonuses may come with free spins for specific online slots.
DC Free Bets
Most Washington D.C. sports betting sites offer a set of free bet bonuses you can use to place wagers on specific markets. You qualify for free bets by depositing the minimum required amount or making a bet on specific markets such as NFL or NBA games.
DC Reload Bonus
While existing patrons can never get a welcome package, they can still get free in-house credits through the reload bonus offer. This promotion is a match deposit bonus among Washington D.C. gambling sites of around 50%-100% deposit amount.
DC Boosted Odds
Boosted odds are a sportsbook-oriented promotion where the price of specific markets is increased, allowing lucky punters to get a bigger payout if they win the bet. Branded Washington D.C. sportsbooks tend to offer boosted odds on certain games or major events such as the NBA playoffs.
Loyalty Programs
Loyalty programs allow patrons to collect points each time they deposit money to their account or make wagers. These points can be exchanged for various rewards such as in-house credits for sports wagers or casino games. For programs such as Caesars Rewards, you can exchange points for free or discounted accommodations.
DC Gambling Laws
Gambling in Washington DC has been restricted for several decades with only a few gambling activities allowed within the state. So let's review in more detail what is the current state of affairs.
| Game | Land-Based | Online | Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casino | made casinos or other similar establishments illegal. | Online casino gaming is illegal. | Mobile casino apps are illegal in the District of Columbia. |
| Sports Betting | made sportsbooks at stadiums and retail sportsbooks are legal to operate within the state. | Legal online sportsbook is allowed. | Sportsbook mobile apps are allowed. |
| Poker | With the , poker card rooms are illegal within the state. | Washington D.C. gambling law does not allow online poker sites. | Poker apps are illegal within Washington D.C. |
| Horse Racing | The does not allow OTB or physical horse race betting establishments in the state. | Online horse race betting sites are illegal. | Washington D.C. does not allow mobile horse race betting apps. |
DC Gambling Regulators
The is responsible for overseeing the state's lotteries, sports wagers, and daily fantasy sports (skill games). Washington D.C. regulating body's website is also the host of both and the platforms where you can place bets on sporting events and buy lottery tickets.
Timeline
Let's take a look at the landmark moments in the legal history of DC gambling.
1982 - Establishment of the DC Lottery
The District of Columbia Lottery & Charitable Games Control Board was established in 1982. More than $1.5 billion was given to various government projects and programs that address education, public safety, and other concerns within the state.
2011 - Temporary Legalization of Online Poker & Casinos
In April 2011, the allowed online poker card rooms and online casinos through a bill by Michael A. Brown. Unfortunately, the state's city council repealed the bill in February 2012.
2018 - Overturning of PASPA
The bans all forms of sports wagering across the US, including in Washington D.C. Fortunately, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) overturned this federal law in 2018. That landmark ruling has opened the door to legal online sports betting operators in the District of Columbia, which took a few years to set up shop in the state.
Gambling History of Washington DC
The District of Columbia may not be the first state that comes to mind when discussing gambling, but games have definitely seen a massive surge in popularity over the last few decades.
Dawn of Washington D.C. Gambling
Lotteries were popular during the colonial period since it was viewed more as a civic duty instead of a vice since all proceeds went towards government projects and educational funding. Even during this time, there were instant games in the form of scratch cards that lets a player know if they have the winning ticket as soon as they bought one.
During the 1800s, lotteries lose the favor of the crowd with states prioritizing their local's morality. It would take more than a century for Washington D.C. to see the return of lotteries, which occurred in 1982 when the . The Washington D.C. Lottery held legalized gambling within the state through its lottery draws and scratch card games over the years.
Historical Legalization of Online Casinos
As astonishing as this may sound, Washington D.C. was the very first state to make online poker legal along with online casinos in 2011 when the was passed alongside a major budget bill. This amendment redefined the lottery term in the state's law to include a game of skill, which counted as poker. Nevada would become the second US state to legalize online poker in November 2013.
After going through multiple hearings about the legalization of online casinos in Washington D.C. the city council repealed the bill in February 2012. This was likely the consequence of the controversy surrounding Michael Arrington Brown, a congressman who created the bill. Brown has been charged with bribery in June 2013 when he was caught accepting cash from FBI investigators who acted as business representatives.
Removing the Ban on Sports Betting
In 1992, George H.W. Bush would sign the . This led to the further restriction of states to allow sports betting, with Nevada being the exception. Despite being illegal, there are still locals making sports bet each year. According to the American Gaming Association, about $150 billion were spent on illegal sportsbooks each year.
In 2018, , opening the doors to Washington D.C. to allow legal sports betting sites and other establishments within the state. By allowing sportsbooks to run in the District of Columbia, the state can create a revenue stream to fund various government projects.
Responsible Gambling in DC
Sports wagers, lottery games, and other forms of gambling should always be a form of entertainment and not a means to make money. Unfortunately, some people are gambling for the wrong reasons and are likely to experience various consequences of problem gambling.
Gambling addiction can lead to financial issues, strained relationships, and an unstable career. If you know of anyone going through a problem gambling, do not hesitate to get help from any help hotline.
Below are some responsible gambling resources you can contact if you feel that your gambling behavior is not under control.
| Organization | Phone Number | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 800-522-4700 | offers 24/7 counseling to people with gambling addiction | |
| 855-222-5542 | connects problem gambling individuals with a positive community | |
| 718-352-1671 | provides consultation and other useful information about problem gambling |
DC Gambling: FAQ
Below are answers to the most common questions punters have about gambling in the capital city and capital state.
Is online gambling legal in the District of Columbia?
Washington D.C. only allows lottery games and sports betting within the state. While online casinos and poker card rooms were allowed in 2011, there was no strong legal foundation to permanently allow these activities within the state.
What is the legal age for gambling in the District of Columbia?
According to the , the legal gambling age is 18 years of age. Take note that this is the legal age for sports betting, which means the legal age for casinos and poker is still unknown.
Who is regulating online gambling in the District of Columbia?
The is the regulatory body of Washington D.C. that handles privately owned sports betting businesses. All forms of "games of skills" are also regulated by the OLG.
Which online casino sites currently operate in the District of Columbia?
No casinos are operating in Washington D.C. since this is still regarded as illegal within the state. While BetMGM and Caesars are running within the capital state, their casino section is not available to locals.
Should I wager on offshore sports betting sites in Washington D.C?
Washington D.C. locals are risking their money and personal information by registering and spending money on an offshore sportsbook. Unlicensed offshore sites do not offer protection to their players.
Always gamble on a platform licensed by your own state's authorities, and ignore offshore casinos and betting sites even with their attractive bonuses.
Is it safe to use Washington D.C online gambling sites?
The state's regulatory body tests every licensed Washington D.C. sports betting and lottery site in terms of patron protection and game fairness. Players can forward their complaints to the OLG office in case they run into an unresolvable issue with a licensed gambling site.
How are casino winnings taxed in the District of Columbia?
Winnings from sports betting, lottery, and daily fantasy sports are regarded as income in Washington D.C. making them taxable. This is why DC online gambling sites withhold about 24% to 28% of your winnings for tax purposes.
Will land-based casinos or online casinos be made legal in D.C.?
Washington D.C. is incredibly strict with its gambling laws since this is the US capital state. In addition, there are numerous casinos available to locals such as in Maryland.