Washington DC online gambling
The Washington DC online gambling is a growing scene. Online casinos aren’t legal yet, but DC bettors can wager legally on sports using a licensed sportsbook app.
Looking for poker and casino games? Washington DC online gambling laws do allow you to play table games at social and sweepstakes casinos.
Our experts have created a full guide that covers what’s legal in DC, the games available, and everything else you need to know to gamble legally in the Nation’s Capital.
Let’s kick things off, by looking at the best Washington DC gambling sites.
Best online gambling sites in Washington DC
Looking for the best Washington DC gambling sites? You’ve come to the right place. Our team of experts have listed the best gambling operators with the most generous welcome bonuses that will kickstart your bankroll.
But there’s more to a good gambling site than a welcome offer. We also look for operators that provide trusted friendly design, mobile access, banking methods, attentive customer support, and security.
To learn more about starting to gamble legally in Washington DC, check out our table to find out what options are available and what the legal gambling age is for each.
| 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 + 30 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now |
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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 |
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3
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87/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 84% Playscore based on |
Up to 367,000 Gold Coins + 32.3 free Sweepstakes Coins
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Play now |
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4
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84/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 89% Playscore based on |
27,777 Lucky Coins + 2 Sweeps Coins
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Play now |
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5
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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 |
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6
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79/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 85% Playscore based on |
200 free spins + 25,000 free credits
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Play now |
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7
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79/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 92% Playscore based on |
Up to 380,000 Gold Coins and 1,400 Fortune Coins
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Play now |
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8
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79/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 79% Playscore based on |
250 Gold Coins + 5 Sweeps Coins and 600 Diamonds
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Play now |
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Washington DC online gambling sites by type — what’s legal?
Washington DC laws currently allow a few types of gambling, including online and in-person sports betting, online and retail lottery, and land-based bingo.
Gambling in the district is a relatively new thing, and online gambling sites have a long way to catch up with states like NJ and PA. Online sports betting officially arrived in the district in 2020 with the launch of William Hill (now Caesars).
Check out our table to find out what’s available and how old you have to be to gamble in DC.
| Gambling vertical | Offline legal age | Online legal age | Online since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online casinos | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Social casinos | N/A | 18+ | |
| Sportsbooks | 18+ | 18+ | May 2020 |
| Social betting apps | N/A | 18+ | |
| Poker | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Lottery | 18+ | 18+ | December 2020 |
| Bingo | 18+ | 18+ | N/A |
Washington DC betting sites — legal since 2020
Online sports betting has been available in Washington DC since 2020. DC sports betting has different rules than other legal gambling jurisdictions in the US.
Mobile sports betting is available, but you must be within two blocks of your betting app’s retail sportsbook to place bets. For example, to use the BetMGM app, you must be within two blocks of the Nationals Park.
You can click any link in this section to see the best Washington DC online betting sites. We check out every sportsbook’s design, markets, odds, features, and promotions to decide how to rate it. What’s more, if you sign up at our recommended sites and make a deposit, you can redeem generous welcome bonuses and many other offers thereafter.
| Sportsbook Logo | Odds rating | Bonus | Go to sportsbook Button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
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90/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 94% Playscore based on |
Up to $1,250 Stakeback + 2,000 loyalty credits
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Play now |
Good to know
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2
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85/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 91% Playscore based on |
Up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets
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Play now |
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3
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80/100 Expert rating by Ramona D. 83% Playscore based on |
100% up to $100 FC
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Play now |
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4
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80/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 87% Playscore based on |
100% match up to $500
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Play now |
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5
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78/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 86% Playscore based on |
100% match up to $100 + $5 Promo Pick
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Play now |
Good to know
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Social casinos — the best legal alternative to online casinos in Washington DC
While DC gambling laws don’t allow online casinos in the district, you can register with a social casino site and play your favorite casino games for free.
At sites like BetRivers, you can’t win real money, but you also don’t have to worry about risking your cash either. You can play slots, blackjack, roulette, and more exciting games by simply signing up and verifying your age.
We’ve created a list of the best DC online casinos available in the district. Our gambling experts review every social casino and compare each site across essential areas, like player security, range of games, and customer support. For an at-a-glance look, you can view our recommended social and sweepstakes casinos here.
Online poker at social casinos
While online poker isn’t legal in Washington DC, you can play the thrilling game for free at social casino sites. Social and sweepstakes casinos offer like BetRivers offer a wide range of poker game varieties, like Texas Hold ‘Em and Triple Card Poker.
Poker at social casinos is a great way to learn the game and develop your poker skills without risking your money.
When looking at a poker site, our gambling experts play at every site before making recommendations, checking every social poker site for its design, features, customer service, and variety of poker games.
Other forms of gambling in Washington DC
Aside from sports betting and social casinos, there are other options in the Washington DC online gambling scene. Bettors in the district can participate in Lottery draws, and enjoy Daily Fantasy Sports. Find out more about these types of gambling below.
Lottery
The DC Lottery launched in August 1982 and is a part of the Multi-State Lottery Association, which lets it offer draws like the Powerball and Mega Millions. The Lottery has contributed over $2.22 billion to the Washington DC General Fund to help support child services, education, and other public services. You can buy cards from lottery retailers all over the district or buy tickets and scratch cards from its iLottery website.
Daily Fantasy Sports
The Federal government deemed Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) to be games of skill and therefore exempt from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA). While no legislation has passed to legalize DFS games in Washington DC, you can access many fantasy sports operators like FanDuel and DraftKings across the district. Popular DFS games include sports featuring major league Washington franchises like the NFL’s Washington Commanders.Offline gambling in Washington DC: retail sportsbook venues
In many US states, online sportsbooks must partner with a land-based casino. These partnerships often lead to the creation of retail sportsbooks.
In May 2021, William Hill (now Caesars Sportsbook) opened a retail sportsbook in Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals. It was the first sportsbook to operate in a professional sports venue in America.
BetMGM opened a retail sportsbook in Nationals Park in January 2022, home of the Washington Nationals baseball team. It was the country’s first retail sportsbook to launch in a Major League Baseball stadium.
FanDuel has announced it is building its retail sportsbook in Audi Field, the Major League Soccer stadium of DC United. Construction was completed by the end of 2022.
As well as betting venues in stadiums that operate under a Class A license, you can find betting kiosks in bars and restaurants across Washington DC.
| Venue | Retail sportsbook | Launch date |
|---|---|---|
| Nationals Park | BetMGM | June 2021 |
| Capital One Arena | Caesars | December 2020 |
| Audi Field | FanDuel | N/A |
| Grand Central Restaurant | Grand Central Sportsbook DC | October 2021 |
How to choose the best Washington DC gambling sites
When choosing a gambling site in Washington DC, our experts believe the choice should be yours. We review gambling sites and present you with our findings, so you can make informed decisions about where to gamble legally and safely.
That doesn’t mean we rank sites randomly. Our team has a review process that tests and rates gambling sites using strict criteria. So when you see our featured sites in this guide, you can trust our judgment and know we only recommend the safest and best gambling sites.
Licensing
Every gambling site in Washington DC must hold a license with a relevant regulatory body in the district. For example, sportsbooks need to be regulated by the Office of Lottery and Gaming. Any betting site not authorized by this regulatory body can’t operate legally in the district. Ultimately, we only rate sites like Gambino Slots, which are legal and licensed.
Security
Safety is our top priority when reviewing gambling sites. As well as checking for licenses, we also see what measures the site has taken to protect customers, such as SSL encryption and third-party testing. Similarly, if a gambling operator offers casino games, like online slots and table games, we ensure that the site utilizes RNGs (Random Number Generators) to guarantee random and fair results.
Products
While the products we are looking for depending on the gambling that the site provides, we’re always looking for variety. With an online betting site like BetMGM, that might be how many different sports markets are available. On the other hand, it may be how many poker rooms are open throughout the day at social casino sites like BetRivers.
Live gambling
Some online gambling sites provide the opportunity to play live. For example, Washington DC sportsbooks like BetMGM offer live data and in-play betting on live sports events. We’d also expect FanDuel, which launches later this year to offer exceptional live betting options (as it does in US states like NJ). We check every gambling site to see if it provides live gambling opportunities and how many live options are available.
Gambling apps
Many gambling operators provide dedicated mobile apps, meaning you can gamble on the move. District regulations limit the effectiveness of these apps as you must be within two blocks of a retail sportsbook to use a betting app. Our experts compare these apps to ensure anyone who plays on their smartphone or tablet gets the best service.
Bonuses
The best gambling sites often provide generous bonuses that give bettors the chance to boost their bankrolls. Our experts check out the welcome offers at every licensed sportsbook, as well as any other promotions for existing players. We don’t just try to find the biggest welcome bonus, we’re also on the lookout for transparent terms and conditions.
Payments
Social casinos and social poker sites don’t need to accept payments, but our experts test out the payment options offered by sportsbooks in DC. We look for betting sites that provide a wide range of banking methods, including bank cards like Visa, e-wallets like PayPal, and prepaid cards like Play+.
Platform
We expect all the operators we review to provide the best gambling experience. What does that mean? We expect operators (at the very least) to offer easy-to-use sites. We’re looking out for apps that work smoothly, especially when players are dealing with real money and live betting. Our experts compare these platforms to those other gambling sites offer to recommend only the best operators for you.
Washington DC gambling and safety
Our dedicated team thoroughly assess all gambling sites recommended on this page to ensure it employs top player safety measures. We only highlight sites with reputable backgrounds. We expect Washington DC gambling sites to use SSL encryption, limit the involvement of third parties, and use well-known and trusted payment methods.
We only recommend sites that have relevant licensing. For example, we only include Washington DC sportsbooks regulated by the Office of Lottery and Gaming. We also check that those operators closely adhere to the strict data protection and player security standards set by regulators. So, any Class A licensed sportsbook in Washington DC must have a sports stadium partner.
Washington DC gambling laws – a brief timeline
Washington DC doesn’t have much history with gambling compared to other states in the US, with no Native American or commercial casinos. There was a push in 2011 to legalize online casino and poker sites. But the Washington DC Council quickly backtracked on this following public outcry. You can see a full overview of big legal changes for Washington DC gambling below.
lottery and bingo legalized in DC
Law 3-172 passes to legalize lotteries, bingo, and other charitable games for gambling in DC.
Online casino law repealed
The Washington DC Council repeals the law allowing online casinos and online poker by a 10-2 margin.
Supreme court approves sports betting in the US
States across the US are allowed to legalize sports betting.
Sports betting law moves forward in DC
Following a review by the Mayor, Bill 22-944 is assigned as Act 22-594. The Washington DC Council passes the bill, and the Act moves to Congress for approval.
First commercial sportsbook in DC opens
Caesars Sportsbook launches at the Capital One Arena, operating at the time as William Hill. This is the first commercial sportsbook in the district.
Online lottery platform launches in DC
The DC Lottery launches iLottery, an online lottery platform.
Latest DC gambling updates
There haven’t been any major discussions or suggestions for changes to the law in Washington DC recently. When it comes to online poker and online casinos — there’s no sign that they’re going to become legal anytime soon.
The online betting scene does continue to develop with big-name sportsbooks like FanDuel set to launch in the district.
- 2021 — DC Lottery’s sports platform experienced problems during Super Bowl LVI as it didn’t appear on the Apple App Store.
- 2022 — The DC Lottery received $500,000 in compensation from the sportsbook and Intralot to compensate for lost profits and damaged reputation.
- 2022 — The expansion of sports betting at Class B licensed locations like restaurants has continued, with Elys Game Technology signing a deal with All Bets Inc to launch a sportsbook (allBETS DC) in the future.
FAQs
Where can I gamble in Washington DC?
There are a number of betting sites in Washington DC where you can go and place sports bets. The DC Lottery has been operating since 1982, and you can find Lottery retailers all over the district. You can also play bingo by visiting one of the many Washington DC bingo halls.
Is gambling legal in DC?
Yes, you can gamble legally in DC when it comes to sports. But while you can’t legally use online casinos in DC — sweepstakes and social casinos are a legal alternative.
What is the minimum legal gambling age in Washington DC?
The legal gambling age in Washington DC is 18 to place sports bets, buy lottery tickets, or play bingo. Want to play at an online betting site in DC? You’ll need to verify your age by emailing or uploading copies of your photo ID and proof of address to the betting site.
Does Washington DC have any land-based casinos?
No, there are currently no land-based casinos in Washington DC. Unlike other areas in the US, Washington DC also has no tribal land and, therefore, no Native American casinos.
Is online poker legal in Washington DC?
Online poker is illegal according to Washington DC laws. There was an attempt to legalize online poker in April 2011, but this came just a week before the US’s three most prominent online poker operators were shut down. While you can’t play for real money you can legally play online poker at social casinos in DC.
Are daily fantasy sports sites legal in Washington DC?
While Washington DC has never passed a bill to legalize Daily Fantasy Sports, these games are exempted from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. Also, these games are not illegal in Washington DC — take a look at our section on other forms of gambling in DC for more info.