United States - District of Columbia: gambling regulation and licensing
Part of United States
- Online sports bettingRegulated
- Esports bettingRegulated
- Online casinoProhibited
- Online pokerProhibited
- Online bingoProhibited
- iLotteryMonopoly
- Daily fantasy sportsNot yet verified
- Social casinoNot yet verified
- Land-based (reference)Regulated
- Regulator
- Office of Lottery and Gaming
- Headline tax
- Not yet verified
- Licence required
- Yes
- Last verified
- 23 Sept 2026
Summary
The District of Columbia licenses sports wagering, online and retail, and runs a lottery that sells draw games and e-Instant games online. Online casino and poker are not authorised. The Office of Lottery and Gaming, part of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, both operates the DC Lottery and regulates private sportsbooks under D.C. Official Code §§ 36-621.01 to 36-621.17, in force since 3 May 2019. Since 15 July 2024 online betting has been District-wide: the three Class A operators, Caesars at Capital One Arena, FanDuel at Audi Field and BetMGM at Nationals Park, each run one app, and Class C licences let partners of District teams go online, currently DraftKings and Fanatics. Class A pays 20% of gross sports wagering revenue, Class C 30% and retail Class B 10%. The base deducts winnings paid and makes no allowance for promotional credits. Licences cost $1 million (Class A), $2 million (Class C) and $100,000 (Class B) for five years, and applicants must contract 35% of their operating budget with local certified businesses or obtain a waiver. The minimum age is 18. The Office's own sports wagering, once the GambetDC system run by Intralot, now runs through Caesars kiosks at lottery retailers, with the Office taking 40% of GGR. In fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025) bettors wagered $801.9 million, 96% of it online, operators held $84.3 million and paid $19.4 million in tax. B26-0656, introduced in April 2026, would license online casino and poker at a 25% tax and ban sweepstakes casinos; it had a hearing on 4 May 2026 and is still in committee. Any District law also needs congressional review.
Common pitfalls
Assuming a single tax rate: Class A pays 20% and Class C 30% on the same online product. Assuming an age of 21: the District allows sports wagering and the lottery from 18. Treating the codified 2019 rules as current on mobile geography: the 2024 statute made Class A apps District-wide. Paying affiliates a revenue share without a management services provider licence. Forgetting the no-go areas: the other Class A venues' 2-block zones and federal property.
Key facts
- Regulator
- Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG)
- Regulator type
- Sub-national body
- Headline tax
- Not yet verified
- Licence required
- Yes
- Minimum age
- 18+
- Tax base
- Gross sports wagering revenue: cash or cash equivalents received from sports wagering less winnings paid, the cost of annuities funding prizes and the cost of non-cash prizes (§ 36-601.01(c)(9)). There is no statutory deduction for promotional credits. The rate depends on licence class: 20% for Class A (venue sportsbook plus District-wide app), 10% for Class B (retail) and 30% for Class C (online) (§ 36-621.15(a)(2), from 1 August 2024). Returns (form FR-426G) and payment are due by the 20th of the following month, and funds owed must be held in trust in a separate District bank account (§ 36-621.15(b)). For the District-operated kiosk wagering run by Caesars, the Office receives 40% of kiosk GGR (Order 24-S-008.10).
Legal framework
Primary statutes
- Year
- 2019
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- D.C. Law 22-312 took effect on 3 May 2019 after congressional review. It authorises sports wagering (§ 36-621.01); requires rules on wagers, age verification, exclusion, advertising and data sources (§ 36-621.02); creates operator, management services provider, supplier and occupational licences (§ 36-621.05); sets Class A, B and C operator licences and fees (§ 36-621.06); lists operator duties including integrity monitoring, age checks, limits and self-exclusion (§ 36-621.07); allows District-operated wagering through the Office (§ 36-621.11); sets penalties of up to $50,000 per violation (§ 36-621.14) and the monthly tax (§ 36-621.15); and bars gambling on federal property where federal law prohibits it (§ 36-621.17).
Lotteries, bingo and raffles: D.C. Official Code §§ 36-601.01 to 36-601.36 (D.C. Law 3-172, 1981)
- Year
- 1981
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Creates the Lottery and Gaming Control Board, now the Office of Lottery and Gaming within the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, defines sports wagering and gross sports wagering revenue (§ 36-601.01), makes the Chief Financial Officer operator of the lottery (§ 36-601.13), and prohibits gambling by anyone under 18 (§ 36-601.34).
Gambling offences: D.C. Official Code Title 22, Chapter 17 (§§ 22-1701 to 22-1718)
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Criminalises promoting lotteries (§ 22-1701: up to 3 years), keeping gaming tables, devices or premises (§ 22-1704: up to 5 years) and betting, bookmaking or pools on athletic contests (§ 22-1708: up to 180 days). Activities run, licensed or regulated by the Office are exempt, and may be advertised (§§ 22-1717, 22-1718).
Secondary instruments
30 DCMR Chapter 21: Privately Operated Sports Wagering
- Year
- 2019
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Final rules effective 30 August 2019 (66 DCR 11598) on licensing, operator duties, self-limiting tools (§ 2114), reserves (§ 2117), large anonymous wagers (§ 2118), geolocation (§ 2120), player accounts and age 18 (§ 2122), approved wagers and prohibited college events (§§ 2126, 2127), responsible gaming plans and self-exclusion (§§ 2128, 2129), advertising (§ 2131) and penalties (§ 2132). The codified sections checked have not been amended since 2019, so § 2120 still describes the pre-2024 2-block limit on Class A mobile wagering, which the 2024 statute superseded.
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- The Office's orders set the wagering catalogue (last amended 17 March 2026), the maps of the Class A exclusivity zones and the geolocation standards for mobile apps, and issue and amend licences.
Minimum Internal Control Standards and Class C application guidance
- Year
- 2024
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Guidance of 12 July 2024 on temporary and standard Class C licences: five-jurisdiction licensing test, $2 million fee, transactional servers in the District, bond equal to half of projected five-year tax, reserve, AML programme and responsible gaming plan.
Key amendments
- 31 May 2012D.C. Law 19-128 rewrote § 36-601.13, removing the authority, added by D.C. Law 18-370 in 2011, for the lottery to offer internet games of skill and chance.
- 15 Jul 2024Sports Wagering Amendment Act of 2024 (D.C. Law 25-217, Title VII Subtitle R): District-wide mobile wagering for Class A operators; new Class C licence for partners of District sports teams ($2 million, 30% tax, temporary licence within a week); Class A fee raised to $1 million and renewal to $500,000; esports added to "sporting event"; District lottery sports wagering kiosks to be supplied by a licensee. The new tax rates of 20% (Class A), 10% (Class B) and 30% (Class C) applied from 1 August 2024.
- 1 Oct 2025Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Act of 2025 (D.C. Law 26-55, effective 6 December 2025; its gaming subtitles apply from 30 September or 1 October 2025): repealed the transfer of sports wagering tax to the Child Trust Fund (§ 36-621.15(d)); moved game of skill retail licensing to ABCA; created commercial bingo taxed at 7.5% of gross receipts; and excluded sports wagering, commercial bingo and games of skill from the loss recovery statute (§ 16-1702).
Pending legislation
B26-0656, Internet Gaming and Consumer Protection Act of 2026
- Stage
- Introduced by Councilmember Wendell Felder on 9 April 2026 and referred to the Committee on Human Services; public hearing held on 4 May 2026; no committee vote recorded.
- What it changes
- Would add a Title V authorising internet casino games and poker for adults of 21 or over physically in the District, licensed by the Office with no cap on operator numbers: $2 million application fee, five-year licence, $500,000 renewal. Tax of 25% of adjusted gross internet gaming revenue, with the first $500,000 of the tax going to gambling addiction services, plus a 2% regulatory assessment and a 2% community impact assessment, and promotional credit deductions capped at 1.75% of revenue from the third year. It would also ban unlicensed sweepstakes gaming and dual-currency products, and let the Office fine licensees up to $100,000 per violation. As District legislation it would need congressional review.
Licensing
- Licence required
- Yes
- Application window
- Capped
- Local establishment required
- Not yet verified
- Local server required
- Yes
- Active licences
- 6 (as of 30 Apr 2026)
- Typical time to licence
- Temporary Class C licences must be issued within one week of a complete application (§ 36-621.06(c-1)(4)); the Office reports approving Class C applications in under 30 days.
- Bank guarantee or bond
- Operators must be bonded as the Office determines (§ 36-621.06(d)); for Class C the bond is 50% of estimated tax over the five-year term. Operators must hold a reserve of at least the greater of $25,000 or player balances, pending wagers and unpaid winnings (30 DCMR § 2117.1).
- Notable licensees
- Caesars Sportsbook (Class A, Capital One Arena), FanDuel (Class A, Audi Field), BetMGM (Class A, Nationals Park), DraftKings (Class C), Fanatics (Class C)
- Certification requirements
- Equipment and systems must be tested and approved by an Office-approved independent laboratory (§ 36-621.09(e)); mobile apps need geolocation certification against Order 20-S-005 and an independent audit of compliance with the Minimum Internal Control Standards for a standard Class C licence.
- Barriers to entry
- Online access is tied to venues and teams: only four Class A licences exist, one per designated venue, and a Class C licence requires an agreement with an eligible District team. Operator and management services applicants must contract at least 35% of their operating budget with Certified Business Enterprises or obtain a DSLBD waiver (§ 36-621.05(g)); an applicant may hold no more than 2 licences without a CBE joint venture or subcontract (§ 36-621.05(a)(3)); and anyone employed by an illegal or offshore operator serving US customers is barred (§ 36-621.12(a)(1)(F)). The Office's list of 30 April 2026 shows three Class A operators, two Class C operators (DraftKings and Fanatics) and one Class B operator; PENN Sports Interactive, a third Class C operator in fiscal year 2025, reported no wagering in August 2026. There is no numerical cap on Class B or Class C licences, but only four Class A venues.
Licence types
Class A operator licence
- Scope
- Retail sportsbook at one designated venue (Capital One Arena, Audi Field, Nationals Park or the St. Elizabeths East arena) plus one branded mobile or online platform available District-wide, outside the other venues' 2-block zones (§§ 36-621.05(b)(2)(B), 36-621.06(b)).
- Term
- 5 years (§ 36-621.06(b)(3))
- Application fee
- $1,000,000 as of 23 Sept 2026
- Fee basis
- $1,000,000 non-refundable, or $250,000 for a joint venture with a CBE majority interest (§ 36-621.16(b)(1)); plus a processing fee covering background investigation costs (§ 36-621.06(b)(3)(C)).
- Renewal terms
- $500,000 for each further 5-year term (§ 36-621.06(b)(3)(B)).
Class C operator licence
- Scope
- District-wide mobile or online sports wagering by, or assigned by, an eligible team (MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, NWSL or WNBA, playing at least 90% of home games in the District at a venue with an approved sports wagering facility); not within 2 blocks of a Class A venue (§ 36-621.06(c-1)).
- Term
- 5 years
- Application fee
- $2,000,000 as of 23 Sept 2026
- Fee basis
- $2,000,000 non-refundable, or $500,000 for a CBE majority joint venture (§ 36-621.16(b)(3)). A temporary licence must be issued within one week to an applicant licensed for mobile sports wagering in at least 5 US jurisdictions.
- Renewal terms
- $1,000,000 for each further 5-year term (§ 36-621.06(c-1)(3)(C)).
Class B operator licence
- Scope
- Retail sports wagering at a facility outside the designated venues and more than 2 blocks from them; in-app wagering only within the facility (§ 36-621.06(c); 30 DCMR § 2120.2).
- Term
- 5 years
- Application fee
- $100,000 as of 23 Sept 2026
- Fee basis
- $100,000 non-refundable, or $25,000 for a CBE majority joint venture (§ 36-621.16(b)(2)).
- Renewal terms
- $50,000 for each further 5-year term (§ 36-621.06(c)(4)(B)).
Management services provider licence
- Scope
- Running sports wagering for an operator under an approved written contract; also required of any person sharing in sports wagering revenue, including an affiliate on a revenue share (§ 36-621.08(a), (d)).
- Term
- 1 year
- Application fee
- $10,000 as of 23 Sept 2026
- Annual fee
- $2,000 as of 23 Sept 2026
- Fee basis
- $10,000 non-refundable application fee; $2,000 annual renewal (§ 36-621.08(c)).
- Renewal terms
- Annual, $2,000.
Supplier licence
- Scope
- Selling or leasing sports wagering equipment, systems, software, non-public odds feeds, data or related services (§ 36-621.09(a)).
- Term
- 1 year
- Application fee
- $10,000 as of 23 Sept 2026
- Annual fee
- $2,000 as of 23 Sept 2026
- Fee basis
- $10,000 non-refundable; equipment must be tested by an Office-approved laboratory (§ 36-621.09(c), (e)).
- Renewal terms
- Annual, $2,000 (§ 36-621.09(d)).
Occupational licence
- Scope
- Employees engaged in on-premises retail sports wagering (§ 36-621.10(a)).
- Term
- 1 year, renewed by 30 September
- Application fee
- $100 as of 23 Sept 2026
- Annual fee
- $100 as of 23 Sept 2026
- Fee basis
- $100, which the employer may pay.
- Renewal terms
- Annual, $100 (§ 36-621.10(b)).
Sports wagering retailer licence (District-operated wagering)
- Scope
- Lottery agents offering the Office's own sports wagering through kiosks (§ 36-621.11(b)); under Order 24-S-008.10 of 9 September 2024 Caesars replaced the GambetDC kiosks and supplies and runs them, with the Office receiving 40% of kiosk GGR.
- Term
- 2 years
- Application fee
- $5,000 as of 23 Sept 2026
- Fee basis
- $5,000 application fee and a bond (§ 36-621.11(c), (d)).
- Renewal terms
- $5,000 for each 2-year renewal.
Game of skill machine manufacturer or distributor licence
- Scope
- Selling or leasing game of skill machines; retail licences are issued by ABCA since 1 October 2025.
- Term
- 1 year
- Application fee
- $10,000 as of 23 Sept 2026
- Annual fee
- $5,000 as of 23 Sept 2026
- Fee basis
- $10,000 application fee, $5,000 annual renewal, $100 registration sticker per machine.
- Renewal terms
- Annual, $5,000.
Taxation
- Headline GGR tax
- Not yet verified
- Effective date
- 1 Aug 2024
- Player winnings tax
- Gambling winnings, including from sports betting, are fully taxable federal income, and losses are deductible only by itemising, up to reported winnings (IRS Topic 419). District income tax treatment of winnings was not verified for this record.
- Withholding mechanism
- Payers issue federal Form W-2G for reportable winnings; District withholding rules were not verified.
- Tax base
- Gross sports wagering revenue: cash or cash equivalents received from sports wagering less winnings paid, the cost of annuities funding prizes and the cost of non-cash prizes (§ 36-601.01(c)(9)). There is no statutory deduction for promotional credits. The rate depends on licence class: 20% for Class A (venue sportsbook plus District-wide app), 10% for Class B (retail) and 30% for Class C (online) (§ 36-621.15(a)(2), from 1 August 2024). Returns (form FR-426G) and payment are due by the 20th of the following month, and funds owed must be held in trust in a separate District bank account (§ 36-621.15(b)). For the District-operated kiosk wagering run by Caesars, the Office receives 40% of kiosk GGR (Order 24-S-008.10).
Scheduled changes
- 25% of adjusted gross internet gaming revenue, plus a 2% regulatory assessment and a 2% community impact assessment from Only if B26-0656 is enacted and survives congressional review.Proposed
Proposed tax on internet casino and poker revenue under B26-0656 (not enacted)
Earmarked levies
- Sports wagering tax destination: All Class A, B and C tax (From 1 October 2024 the tax was to go to the Child Trust Fund, after the first $2.583 million a year to local funds (§ 36-621.15(d)); that earmark was repealed by D.C. Law 26-55, applying as of 30 September 2025. The Office reports $19.4 million of sports wagering tax for fiscal year 2025.)
- Game of skill machine tax: 10% of machine gross revenue (District (levied on owners of licensed machines).)
- Commercial bingo tax: 7.5% of gross receipts (District, not paid into the Lottery, Gambling, and Gaming Fund (D.C. Law 26-55, § 2074).)
Compliance
- Minimum age
- 18+
- National self-exclusion
- OLG Self-Exclusion Program: one year, 18 months, 3 years, 5 years or lifetime; covers all legal gambling in the District, including the lottery and iLottery; winnings are forfeited and removal needs a request after the term ends (mandatory)
- KYC timing
- At registration, before any wager, with re-verification on suspicion.
- AML regime
- Before accepting an anonymous wager or paying an anonymous win above $10,000 at retail, the operator must record the player's identity and ID document (30 DCMR § 2118). Operators must monitor for irregular betting and report suspicious wagering, funds from illegal activity, agents and false identification to the Office (§§ 36-621.03(a), 36-621.07(c)). Class C applicants must file an anti-money laundering programme covering KYC and suspicious activity reporting.
- AML supervisor
- Office of Lottery and Gaming (licence conditions and internal controls)
- Deposit limits
- Operators must offer daily, weekly and monthly deposit limits; decreases take effect by the next login and increases only after the current period and reaffirmation (30 DCMR § 2114.1(a)).
- Loss limits
- Daily, weekly and monthly spending limits on funds put at risk (30 DCMR § 2114.1(b)); operators must stop wagering over a player's limit (§ 36-621.07(c)(11)).
- Session limits
- A daily time-based limit measured from login to logout (30 DCMR § 2114.1(c)).
- Affordability checks
- No affordability checks, but operators must act on third-party exclusion requests backed by evidence of financial responsibility for the funds or a child support order (§ 36-621.07(c)(12)).
- Source of funds thresholds
- Identity capture for anonymous wagers or payouts above $10,000 (30 DCMR § 2118.2).
- Data localisation
- Class C transactional servers must be located in the District, and player funds must be held in a separate bank account within the District (Class C guidance; 30 DCMR § 2122.18). Intermediate routing of data does not change where a wager is made (§ 36-621.02(e)).
- KYC requirements
- Online wagering requires a sports wagering account. The operator records legal name, date of birth, residential address and Social Security number (or a passport or taxpayer number for foreign players), verifies identity, age of 18 or over and exclusion status, and records the ID document number or an approved remote multi-source authentication (30 DCMR §§ 2122.1 to 2122.5; § 36-621.07(c)(10)). One account per player per licence (§ 2122.9; § 36-621.07(c)(16)). Identity must be re-verified on reasonable suspicion of compromise (§ 2122.19).
- Stake limits
- Not yet verified
- Mandatory player messaging
- Signage and website and app notices on problem gambling treatment, self-exclusion and the 1-800-522-4700 National Helpline, and helpline information on all advertising (30 DCMR § 2128.1(e)); websites must state the consequences for underage play (§ 36-621.07(c)(10)(D)); each operator needs an approved responsible gaming plan (§ 2128.1).
- Reporting obligations
- Monthly reports on wagers, prizes, GGR and self-exclusions, which the Office publishes (§ 36-621.07(e)); an annual CPA audit (§ 36-621.07(a)); immediate reports of suspicious activity and possible legal violations (§ 36-621.07(c)(1), (3)); notice of changes to application information within 10 days (§ 36-621.05(e)(2)); CBE participation reports (§ 36-621.16(f)); reporting of the data sources used to settle wagers (§ 36-621.02(a)(17)).
- Game content restrictions
- Only events and wager types in the approved catalogue (30 DCMR § 2126). No wagers on college events held in the District or involving a District college team, on high school events, or on most amateur events (§ 2127). Wagering on Russian and Belarusian events was suspended in April 2022 (Order 22-S-029). Operators may not bet with themselves and must exclude insiders, athletes and officials (§ 36-621.07(b)).
Minimum age by vertical
- Online sports betting: 18+
- iLottery: 18+
Advertising
- Advertising permitted
- Yes
- Affiliate rules
- Any person sharing in sports wagering revenue, including an affiliate on a revenue share agreement, must be licensed as a management services provider (§ 36-621.08(d)). No separate rule for flat-fee affiliates was found.
- Bonus advertising rules
- Advertisements must disclose conditions and limiting factors and may not obscure them by font, size, placement or colour (30 DCMR § 2131.2(b), (c)); bonus credits with conditions cannot be withdrawn until the conditions are met (§ 2122.14).
- Mandatory warnings
- Problem gambling treatment information, self-exclusion procedures and the National Council on Problem Gambling helpline 1-800-522-4700 on all print, billboard, sign, online and broadcast advertising (30 DCMR § 2128.1(e)(2)).
- Penalties for breach
- Breaches of the rules can lead to a fine of up to $50,000 per violation, suspension for up to 365 days or revocation (§ 36-621.14; 30 DCMR § 2132); the Attorney General may also sue for a civil penalty of up to $50,000 (§ 36-621.04(c)).
Restrictions
- Only gambling run, licensed or regulated by the Office may be advertised; promoting any other lottery is an offence (§§ 22-1701, 22-1718).
- Advertising must not be false or misleading, hide conditions, be indecent, or target excluded players, people under 18, or moderate and high-risk groups (30 DCMR § 2131.2).
- Advertising must not encourage chasing losses or reinvesting winnings, or suggest betting solves financial problems (30 DCMR § 2131.2(h), (i)).
- Advertising must give problem gambling and self-exclusion information and a helpline, be socially responsible, give a balanced message on winning and losing, and state that the operator is licensed by the Office of Lottery and Gaming (30 DCMR § 2131.3).
- Operators and their staff may not make false or misleading representations, including on the chance of winning; aggrieved persons have a private right of action (§ 36-621.04(b)).
- Class B operators may not place physical advertising within 2 blocks of a Class A venue (30 DCMR § 2131.5).
- People on the self-exclusion list must not receive gaming advertising, promotional offers or complimentary goods.
- The Office can order any non-conforming advertisement deleted or changed (30 DCMR § 2131.4).
Payments
- Credit card ban
- No
- Crypto stance
- Not yet verified
- Permitted methods
- Cash and cheques, cashier's cheques, wire transfers and money orders made with the licensee, Debit cards and credit cards (credit and debit cards for online purchases only), ACH transfers from an account verified as the player's, Promotional or bonus credit, Self-service betting terminal transactions, Other means approved by the Office
- Withdrawal timeframe rules
- Withdrawals must be completed within a reasonable time unless a dispute or investigation is pending; card-funded balances are returned to the card up to the amount deposited (30 DCMR §§ 2122.12, 2122.14). Transfers between players are banned (§ 2122.16).
- Currency restrictions
- Operators and their staff may not extend credit to bettors (§ 36-621.07(c)(15)). After five consecutive failed ACH deposits within ten minutes the account is blocked for a fraud check (30 DCMR § 2122.11).
Enforcement
- ISP blocking
- Not yet verified
- DNS blocking
- Not yet verified
- Payment blocking
- Not yet verified
- App store takedowns
- Not yet verified
- Administrative penalties
- Fine of up to $50,000 per violation, suspension for up to 365 days, or revocation, with a hearing before the Office and appeal to the Superior Court (§ 36-621.14); a revoked licensee cannot reapply for 3 years (30 DCMR § 2132.3). The Attorney General may seek an injunction or a civil penalty of up to $50,000 (§ 36-621.04(c)). Failing to supply a required kiosk costs $1,000 a day (§ 36-621.11(g)(3)).
- Criminal penalties
- Keeping gaming tables, devices or premises: up to 5 years (§ 22-1704). Promoting a lottery: up to 3 years (§ 22-1701). Betting, bookmaking or pools on athletic contests: up to 180 days (§ 22-1708). Accepting District-operated sports wagers without a retailer licence: fine of up to $5,000 or 6 months (§ 36-621.11(f)(2)). Permitting gambling by a minor: up to $300 or 30 days (§ 36-601.34).
- Operator liability
- Operators answer for their management services providers, whose contracts need Office approval (§ 36-621.08), and must display their licence on their app or website (§ 36-621.05(e)). Mishandling personal data is an unlawful trade practice (§ 36-621.04(a)).
- Player liability
- § 22-1708 makes it an offence to place a bet on an athletic contest, and the § 22-1717 exemption covers only sports wagering regulated, licensed or operated by the Office, so on its face betting with an unlicensed bookmaker is an offence; no prosecution of a bettor was found. A player who loses $25 or more in unauthorised gaming may sue the winner to recover it within three months; licensed sports wagering, commercial bingo and games of skill are excluded (§ 16-1702).
Notable actions
- Grand Central, LLC (Class B sports wagering operator)1 May 2023
Consent order after an October 2022 inspection found breaches of the Minimum Internal Control Standards, including unescorted cash box removals, lack of segregation of duties and incomplete count sheets.
Fine: $5,000 as of 1 May 2023
- American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook (Class A operator)3 May 2022
Consent order (Matter 22-0039); Caesars waived a hearing and appeal.
Fine: $50,000 as of 3 May 2022
- Wagering on Russian and Belarusian sports26 Apr 2022
Executive Director Order 22-S-029 temporarily suspended wagering on Russian and Belarusian sports, events, leagues and competitions from 29 April 2022.
- Handle 19, Inc.28 Jan 2021
Executive Director Order 21-S-015 denied its application for a Class B operator licence.
Market data
Figures on this record are drawn from official regulator data.
- Online GGR
- $80,422,811 as of 30 Sept 2025
- Reporting year
- 2025
- Licensed operators
- 6
GGR by vertical
- Online sports betting: $80,422,811 as of 30 Sept 2025
Timeline
10 Mar 1981
D.C. Law 3-172 creates the Lottery and Gaming Control Board
8 Apr 2011
D.C. Law 18-370 lets the lottery offer internet games of skill and chance
31 May 2012
D.C. Law 19-128 removes the internet games authority
3 May 2019
Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Law 22-312) takes effect after congressional review
30 Aug 2019
Final privately operated sports wagering rules (30 DCMR Chapter 21) take effect
31 Jul 2020
Office issues its first sports wagering licences, including a provisional Class A licence to William Hill at Capital One Arena
21 Jun 2022
FanDuel receives a provisional Class A licence at Audi Field
15 Jul 2024
Sports Wagering Amendment Act of 2024 applies: District-wide mobile betting for Class A and new Class C licences
1 Aug 2024
Tax rates of 20% (Class A), 10% (Class B) and 30% (Class C) apply
9 Sept 2024
Office orders Caesars to replace GambetDC kiosks at lottery retailers
1 Oct 2025
Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Act applies: Child Trust Fund earmark repealed, commercial bingo created, game of skill retail licensing moved to ABCA
9 Apr 2026
B26-0656, the Internet Gaming and Consumer Protection Act of 2026, introduced
4 May 2026
Committee on Human Services holds the public hearing on B26-0656
Outlook
B26-0656, the Internet Gaming and Consumer Protection Act of 2026, is in the Committee on Human Services after its 4 May 2026 hearing; if passed, it would license internet casino and poker under the Office at a 25% tax, ban sweepstakes and dual-currency products, and then need a 60-day congressional review. The codified sports wagering rules in 30 DCMR Chapter 21 still date from 2019 and describe the old 2-block limit on Class A mobile wagering, so a rulemaking to align them with the 2024 amendments is outstanding. Several licences on the Office's April 2026 list show dates already passed: Caesars' Class A licence is listed as expiring 31 July 2025 (extended) and BetMGM's on 4 June 2026, so Class A renewals at the $500,000 fee are in play. Monthly operator reports will show whether fiscal year 2026 handle, $801.2 million to the end of August 2026 across private operators, overtakes the prior year.
Frequently asked questions
- Is online casino legal in the District of Columbia?
- No. Only sports wagering and the DC Lottery, including its e-Instant games, are lawful online. B26-0656 would license online casino and poker but was still in committee after its May 2026 hearing.
- What is the sports betting tax rate?
- It depends on the licence: 20% of gross sports wagering revenue for Class A operators, 30% for Class C online operators and 10% for retail Class B operators, since 1 August 2024. The statutory base deducts winnings paid and makes no allowance for promotional credits.
- How can a new operator get online access?
- Through a Class C licence, which needs an agreement with an eligible District team, a $2 million fee and licences in at least five US jurisdictions for a temporary licence, or by partnering a Class A venue licensee as its management services provider. The four Class A licences are tied to designated venues.
- What is the minimum betting age?
- 18, for sports wagering and the lottery.
- Do affiliates need a licence?
- Yes, if paid on a revenue share: anyone sharing in sports wagering revenue must be licensed as a management services provider ($10,000 application, $2,000 annual renewal).
- How big is the market?
- In fiscal year 2025 bettors wagered $801.9 million, of which $773.2 million online; GGR was $84.3 million ($80.4 million online) and the District collected $19.4 million in sports wagering tax.
Sources
- D.C. Official Code § 36-601.01: Creation of the Lottery and Gaming Control Board; Office of Lottery and Gaming within the Office of the Chief Financial Officer; definitions (sporting event, sports wagering, gross sports wagering revenue, commercial bingo)
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-601.13: Operation of lottery (with notes on D.C. Law 18-370 of 2011 and D.C. Law 19-128 of 2012)
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-601.34: Gambling by minor prohibited
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.01: Authorization of sports wagering
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.02: Rules and regulations governing conduct of sports wagering; mobile wagering by Class A and Class C operators
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.03: Public-private cooperation (sharing of integrity information)
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.04: Unlawful acts; action by Attorney General
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.05: Sports wagering license requirements; prohibition
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.06: Operator licensure (Class A, Class B and Class C)
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.07: Duties of an operator
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.08: Sports wagering management services providers
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.09: Sports wagering suppliers
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.10: Sports wagering occupational licensee
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.11: District-operated sports wagering; sports wagering retailers
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.12: License prohibitions
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.14: Penalties
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.15: Taxation of sports wagering
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.16: Sports Wagering Small Business Development Program
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 36-621.17: Conflict with federal law
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 22-1701: Lotteries; promotion; sale or possession of tickets
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 22-1704: Gaming; setting up gaming table; inducing play
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 22-1708: Gambling pools and bookmaking; athletic contest defined
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 22-1717: Permissible gambling activities
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 22-1718: Advertising and promotion of permissible gambling activities
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Official Code § 16-1702: Recovery of losses at gaming
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - D.C. Law 25-217, Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Support Act of 2024, Title VII Subtitle R: Sports Wagering Amendment Act of 2024 (§§ 7171 to 7173)
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 18 Sept 2024 - D.C. Law 26-55, Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Act of 2025 (Subtitles G and H on games of skill and commercial bingo; § 7013 repealing § 36-621.15(d))
Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 6 Dec 2025 - B26-0656, Internet Gaming and Consumer Protection Act of 2026: legislative history
Council of the District of Columbia (LIMS)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - B26-0656, Internet Gaming and Consumer Protection Act of 2026, as introduced 9 April 2026
Council of the District of Columbia (LIMS)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 9 Apr 2026 - 30 DCMR Chapter 21, Privately Operated Sports Wagering: final rules, 66 DCR 11598 (30 August 2019), as published by the Office
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 30 Aug 2019 - DCRegs, 30 DCMR § 2122 Sports Wagering Account Requirements: codification history (effective 30 August 2019, no later amendment)
Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia (Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - DCRegs, 30 DCMR § 2120 Internet and Mobile Application Sports Wagering: codification history (effective 30 August 2019, no later amendment)
Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia (Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - OLG Regulation and Oversight
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - About Us: mission and Executive Director
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Sports wagering regulations and tax filing (FR-426G)
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Sports wagering licensing types, fees and terms
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Sports Wagering FAQs
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Sports Wagering Approved Licenses (revised 30 April 2026)
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
The list gives FanDuel's Class A approval date as 21 June 2021, while Executive Director Order 22-S-033 issuing its provisional Class A licence is dated 21 June 2022. The record uses the order. PENN Sports Interactive, which reported Class C wagering in fiscal year 2026, is not on the list.
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 30 Apr 2026 - Executive Director Orders (licences, approved events and wager types, 2-block zone maps, geofencing standards)
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Executive Director Order 24-S-008.10: Order Requiring American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook to Provide Sports Wagering Kiosks to Licensed Lottery Sports Wagering Retailers, 9 September 2024
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 9 Sept 2024 - Administrative and Application Guidance, Sports Wagering Class C License Only, version 2.0, 12 July 2024
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 12 Jul 2024 - Approved Sports Events (sports wagering catalogue), amended effective 17 March 2026
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 17 Mar 2026 - Self-Exclusion Program
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Involuntary Exclusion
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Fines and Penalties
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Matter No. 22-0039, American Wagering, Inc.: Agreed Upon Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Consent Order, May 2022
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 3 May 2022 - Matter No. 23-0030, Grand Central, LLC: Agreed Upon Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Consent Order, 1 May 2023
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 1 May 2023 - Games of Skill: licensing, fees, tax and approved manufacturers and distributors
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - OLG News (including "Office of Lottery and Gaming Issues Three Sports Wagering Licenses", 31 July 2020)
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Submit a Tip or Complaint
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Financials: monthly sports wagering reports by operator, with definitions
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Sports wagering report, August 2026 (unaudited), with fiscal year 2026 to date totals
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 17 Sept 2026 - Sports wagering report, September 2025 (unaudited), with fiscal year 2025 totals
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Operator totals in the monthly reports (fiscal year 2025 GGR about $81.3 million, tax $18.8 million) are unaudited and slightly below the fiscal year 2025 figures in the Office's progress report (GGR $84.3 million, tax $19.4 million). The record uses the progress report.
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 7 Oct 2025 - Together, We Win: Fiscal Year 2025 Progress Report (sports wagering financials, GambetDC to Caesars conversion, lottery revenue)
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Statements of Revenues, Expenses, and Changes in Net Position, years ended 30 September 2025 and 2024
District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Topic no. 419, Gambling income and losses
Internal Revenue Service
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026