The best Washington DC online casinos 2024
DC online casinos are yet to receive the green light, but this isn’t to say that you can’t play your favorite slots online if you’re a resident of the District of Columbia.
Sweepstakes and social casinos are perfectly legal and many offer as much choice of gameplay as regular casino sites.
Our experts take a deep dive into Washington DC’s online casino landscape to give you all the deets about the best places to play, where you can win real money, and the legal situation.
Let’s kick off with our experts’ top recommendations.
| Casino Logo | Odds rating | Bonus | Go to casino Button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
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94/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 92% Playscore based on |
1.5 million WOW Coins + 35 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
8 payment methods 
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2
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88/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 96% Playscore based on |
250,000 Gold Coins and $25 Stake Cash
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Play now |
Good to know
11 payment methods 
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3
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88/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 87% Playscore based on |
2,000,000 Gold Coins and 2 FREE Sweeps Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
9 payment methods
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4
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88/100 Expert rating by Charlie S. 90% Playscore based on |
57,000 Gold Coins + 27.5 free Sweeps Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
4 payment methods
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5
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87/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 85% Playscore based on |
7,000 Gold Coins and 10 FREE Sweeps Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
9 payment methods
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6
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87/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 91% Playscore based on |
100,000 Crown Coins + 2 FREE Sweeps Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
7 payment methods
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7
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86/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 90% Playscore based on |
Up to 200,000 Gold Coins + 9 Sweeps Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
6 payment methods
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8
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85/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 85% Playscore based on |
100,000 Gold Coins + 200 free spins
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Play now |
Good to know
6 payment methods
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9
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85/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 89% Playscore based on |
30,000 Lucky Coins + 4 Sweeps Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
5 payment methods
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10
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84/100 Expert rating by Charlie S. 87% Playscore based on |
Up to 1,000 Gems + 50% extra Gems on first purchase
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Play now |
Good to know
5 payment methods
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11
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84/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 86% Playscore based on |
2,000,000 Gold Coins + 250 free Sweeps Tokens
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Play now |
Good to know
6 payment methods
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12
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83/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 85% Playscore based on |
15,000 Gold Coins + 2.5 Sweeps Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
4 payment methods
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13
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82/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 86% Playscore based on |
Up to 5000 Gold Coins + 0.6 Sweepstake Cash and 3 Treasure Chests
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Play now |
Good to know
10 payment methods
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14
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80/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 86% Playscore based on |
Daily Free Spins and Credit Bonus
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Play now |
Good to know
6 payment methods
|
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15
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80/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 89% Playscore based on |
250 Game Coins + 5 Sweeps Coins and 600 Diamonds
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Play now |
Good to know
6 payment methods
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16
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75/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 77% Playscore based on |
250,000 Gold Coins
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Play now |
Good to know
7 payment methods
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The above list specifically targets the Washington DC online gambling community. If you look at our overall expert rating, you’ll see that the top-scoring casinos aren’t necessarily the same, but this is because that list takes a more overall approach.
Social and sweepstakes: the best legal alternative to DC online casinos
Across the US, many states have legalized online casinos in one form or another, but DC is yet to join the list. The best solution until this happens is to enjoy your favorite games at any of the sweepstakes and social casinos that are available.
Why are these considered legal? Because you’re not required to pay any money to play, these aren’t considered gambling, which means you can join the fun without falling foul of DC online casino law. The bonus? You’ll still be able to win real prizes or even cash at sweepstakes casinos.
Social and sweepstakes casinos have increased considerably in popularity, with some brands like Zynga becoming household names. This means that most online gambling sites make a good effort to compete with regular real money online casinos in terms of game variety, platform and prizes, with the main difference remaining that you’re not required to put down real money to play the games.
- Completely legal
- Regular contests and tournaments
- Multiplayer mode available
DC online casino bonus offers
One of the major advantages of social and sweepstakes casinos is the no deposit bonus that is offered regularly, over and above other on-going daily and weekly promotions.
A top example of this is SweepSlots casino, which rewards you with a massive 10K in gold coins on sign-up and a daily bonus of 100 free gold coins.
Our experts have scoured the net to find the sweepstakes and social casinos with the best DC online casino bonus. So, who’s impressed the most?
Washington DC casino apps – play sweepstakes on mobile
If, like many other US players, you prefer to use your mobile device to play on the go, we feel you. Reality is that finding many Washington DC casino apps is unlikely at things stand. Although many regular platforms offer a mobile casino app, this is still not a thing for social and sweepstakes casinos. However, there’s good reason for that. These sites tend to be immediately geared for mobile users, offering a very responsive platform that makes an app unnecessary. If you’re really looking for a native app, we suggest you take the Gambino Slots native app for a spin.
What we’re looking for here is the same exact seamless experience that you can enjoy on desktop, but presented on your mobile device. We need the full library of games, easy access to bonuses and everything else you would expect if you were playing on regular Washington DC casino apps.
- Completely legal
- Regular contests and tournaments
- Multiplayer mode available
Washington DC casino laws
Let’s start by clearing up any confusion. This page is not about Washington State online casinos, but specifically about Washington, DC – aka District of Columbia, which is also the capital of the US.
Strictly speaking, there are no casinos within the district and the only forms of gambling allowed are the district lottery, charitable gaming and DC sports betting. These are all regulated by the Office of Lottery and Gaming, which has set down a minimum age of 18 for players.
Below are our key findings on the current laws of all things related to real money online casino Washington DC.
- DC council had actually approved Washington DC online casino games in 2011
- The decision was reversed in 2012 because of public outcry, mainly because of vetting procedures
- Neighboring Maryland has legalized online and offline casinos, which could lead DC to follow suit.
- The lottery has been legal since 1982, and sports betting since 2019 so DC councilors may have an appetite to try their luck again in the near future.
Gaming in DC through time
The District of Columbia has quite the chequered history when it comes to gambling, and the legal landscape reflects that. Curious to learn more? We’ve put together some of the biggest milestones.
1982
City officials launch the official DC lottery. Regulated by the DC Office of Lottery and Gaming, it was one of the first places to make such a move.
2011
DC is the first jurisdiction to legalize online casino games. Officials went ahead with the move despite a federal crackdown on online poker one year earlier.
2012
The 2011 decision is reversed due to public pressure after people raised concerns about oversighst and proper vetting procedures.
2018
A sports betting bill is introduced by city council officials. The proposal makes the city-run lottery the sole operator.
2019
After the ruling from the Supreme Court in 2018, Washington DC legalizes sports betting.
What does the future in DC look like?
Experiencing a real money online casino in Washington DC is unlikely to happen anytime soon. Even though neighboring state Maryland has made the move to legalize online casinos, don’t count on DC to follow suit.
Washington DC is a unique jurisdiction because it’s considered a district rather than a state. But quite why this should mean that the online casino situation should be treated any differently than in other states is not quite clear.
One disadvantage for those lobbying for the legalization of Washington DC online casinos is that the district does not have any senators. The only representative is in the House of Representatives, and has limited power. This has contributed to making legalization a more complicated process than it was, say, for NJ online casinos or WV online casinos.
We can’t predict when the next push to green-light real money online casinos in Washington DC will happen. What’s sure is that authorities will want to avoid another situation like 2011 at all costs. This means they’ll be very reluctant to forge ahead, unless they’re positive that the majority are on board.
How to choose the best Washington DC online casino site
When choosing which Washington DC online casinos to recommend, Time2play experts use an objective and consistent list of standards that are based on data. These criteria are unchanging and are applied to every single site that is reviewed and rated, so you can trust our scores to be based on unbiased research. Here are some criteria that you can also apply to your own choices to make sure you’re making the right decisions.
Bonuses
Our recommended Washington DC online casinos offer players plenty of casino bonuses, which is taken for granted nowadays, really. So how to choose the best ones for you. A good sweepstakes and social casino will always offer a juicy no deposit bonus, usually in the form of free coins. Look for ones that offer on-going promotions. Gambino Slots, for example, offers daily free coins and in-game rewards, which keeps the juices flowing even with returning players. This is exactly what we like to see.
Mobile apps
Top Washington DC casino apps should offer players all the games that are available on desktop. The experience should be smooth and easy to navigate. Nothing can beat HD graphics either, or the app being super fast, as waiting times or lags are irritating. In this department, out of our recommended casinos, nothing comes close to Gambino Slots. The app is designed superbly, having hundreds games to play, all with sharp graphics, making it one of our favorite mobile casinos, both in Washington DC and beyond.
Casino games
The best Washington DC online casino sites offer players both quality and variety of casino games. If a sweepstakes casino has less than 50 titles available, stay clear. We love to see a good range of other casino games too, such as table games and live casino. This is where BetRivers.net social casino scores full marks.
Payment methods
The best Washington DC online casinos support the most popular payment methods like casinos that accept Visa, Discover and also e-wallets such as Skrill. Although a lot of social casinos don’t over the 9 to 10 options we expect from regular sites, a decent choice remains a must. Of course, the faster the deposit and withdrawal times, the better.
Overall product
Safety is the most important factor for us when scoring the best Washington DC online casino sites. We only recommend sites that utilize SSL technology as it keeps your sensitive information safe, and away from third parties or hackers. In addition, getting help when you need it is crucial, preferably 24/7 and via live chat. All information should be easy to navigate too, as no-one likes a complicated site.
Other features
It’s always great when you can find all different verticals on the same Washington DC online casino site. The good news is that DC sports betting is totally legal, and at BetRivers4Fun you can bet on all the major US sports, with even in-play betting available. On the other hand, poker is illegal and in the same position as Washington DC online casinos. But if you enjoy the lottery you’re in luck, you can play online and offline, and compete for mind-blowing jackpots.
FAQs
Can you gamble online in Washington DC?
Washington DC online casino sites are illegal and so are brick and mortar casinos. However, you can still enjoy casino games at sweepstakes and social casinos. Check out our experts’ best DC casinos.
What is the best DC online casino?
Our experts have done a deep dive into the top DC social and sweepstakes casinos, scored according to a list of objective criteria that includes generosity of bonus. You will find our best DC online casino bonuses on this page.
Are casinos allowed in Washington DC?
Regular DC online casinos are not allowed by law, and neither are the brick-and-mortar variety. However, social and sweepstakes casinos do not fall under the definition of gambling, and are allowed. You will find more information in our legal section.
What games can I play at online casinos in Washington DC?
Thanks to sweepstakes and social casinos, you can play a wide variety of casino games, including slots, poker, baccarat, roulette, blackjack, and gameshows.
