Last updated on: March 8th, 2024
2024 Legal Washington DC Sports Betting
Washington DC sports betting launched in May of 2020 with the district-wide sports betting app Gamebet DC. The District regulated both retail and mobile sports betting in early 2019 but had some issues during their regulatory process leading up to launch. There are restrictions when using DC sports betting apps but you are still able to wager on a variety of professional and some college sporting events. As the D.C. Lottery oversees and regulates the market, the legal sports betting age is set at 18 years old. With a few retail options in the District, as well as many legal betting sites that take DC players, those living in or visiting are able to bet on sports without any issues.
- Regulated sports betting launched in Washington DC in May of 2020 with the mobile sports betting app DC Gamebet.
- There are other mobile apps in DC but can only be accessed within a two-block radius of their affiliated stadium.
- There are legal betting sites in DC that are available District-wide for secure mobile betting like Bovada and BetOnline.
| Rank | Sportsbook | Bonus Offer | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Exclusive 50% Bonus Code up to $1000!Read Review | BVD1000 in Cashier |
| 2 |  |
50% Up To $1,000Read Review | Visit BetOnline! |
| 3 |  |
50% Up To $1,000 Read Review | Visit MyBookie! |
| 4 |  |
100% Up To $300Read Review | Visit Xbet! |
| 5 |  |
50% Up To $1,000 Read Review | Visit SportsBetting! |
#1
Bovada Sportsbook
Best Legal NFL Odds In Washington DC
Bovada is our #1 top recommended online sportsbook, and for good reason. They offer an enormous variety of betting odds, several deposit and withdrawal options, and a top-of-the-line user interface. Most importantly to DC bettors, though, is that they can (and do) offer betting odds on DC college sports.
Rating: 
- $250 Welcome Bonus
- Legal In Washington DC
- Online Anywhere In City
- No Download Required
- Best Futures Betting
#2
BetOnline Sportsbook
Thousands Of Betting Odds For DC Residents
BetOnline is another one of our top recommended online sportsbooks. BetOnline has been safely and legally offering top-notch sportsbook services for many years and has built a reputation that places them among the best in the business. Even better is that they offer a wide variety of DC college sports betting odds, so bettors will never have to miss out on the action.
Rating:
- Reliable Banking Methods
- Strong Server Connection
- 10+ Year Track Record
- Huge Assortment Of Odds
- No App Mobile Betting
#3
MyBookie Sportsbook
Giving Hawaiians Their Best Bets
MyBookie is among the most respected names in the online sportsbook industry and has been providing sports bettors with an excellent experience for several years. Sports bettors will find a huge variety of betting odds, withdrawal and deposit options, and valuable bonuses to help satiate their sports betting appetite. Like all of our recommended sportsbooks, MyBookie also offers odds on DC college sports.
Ratings:
- Huge Player Bonuses
- Consistent Odds
- Easy Interface
- Rapid Live Betting
- Legal In Washington DC
#4
SportsBetting Sportsbook
Dependable Online Sports Betting
SportsBetting has a long track record of success in the online sportsbook world, and they have achieved this success by offering high-quality lines, a selection of prop bets, and top-notch customer service. Fortunately for DC bettors, they can also offer in-district college betting odds, allowing users to bet on their favorite hometown college team.
Ratings:
- Efficient Site Layout
- Full Mobile Betting Suite
- Available Customer Service
- Trustworthy Banking Options
- Fast Payout Times
#5
XBet Sportsbook
Top Sportsbook Pick In DC
XBet is a relative newcomer to the online sportsbook world and has established quite a reputation since it began operating. Offering an enormous amount of prop bets, futures, and other betting odds, bettors will not be at a shortage of opportunities with XBet. They even offer these betting odds on DC colleges, allowing bettors to wager on in-district college teams.
Ratings:
- Worry-free Legal Betting
- Exclusive Bonus Offers
- Constantly Updated Odds
- Premier User Experience
- Full Mobile + Live Betting
Is Bovada Legal In Washington, D.C.
Yes. Bovada is legal in Washington, D.C. and can be used throughout the District. There are no laws preventing users from betting with Bovada, and they have been providing Washington, D.C. bettors with top-of-the-line legal sports betting services and incredibly valuable odds and bonuses for decades. Bovada is one of the top legal sports betting sites accepting DC players and does not require you to be playing from specific DC sports betting locations.
Where is Sports Betting Legal?
Washington, D.C. Sports Betting And Gambling Laws
Answering the question, “Is sports betting legal in Washington DC”, is easier than ever in 2024. In early 2019, B22-0944 became D.C. Law 22-312 when it passed to allow for legal DC sports betting. While betting on pro sports in DC is permitted, there are restrictions against betting on local college teams. This includes in-district collegiate teams as well as betting on Washington, D.C. based events.
Sportsbook locations will be confined to areas of stadiums of professional teams as there are no casinos in the District. Each licensed location will be allowed to open up their own internet application for sports betting as well as have what amounts to a two-block exclusivity zone where they could open other sports betting locations for an extra licensing fee per location. Other land-based sportsbooks are allowed to operate as well, but they must be located outside of a two-block radius of a stadium. There is also a D.C. Lotto-regulated online sportsbook available throughout the district alongside the internationally-based options. Taxes are set at 10% on all revenue acquired from gambling on sporting events for D.C. sportsbooks.
Washington, D.C. Sports Betting Timeline
October 24, 2022 – Councilmember Elissa Silverman introduces DC sports betting bill – The Sports Wagering and Fair Competition Amendment Act of 2022. This would remove Intralot’s online sports betting monopoly and raise the tax rate to 15%.
March 3, 2022 – The D.C. Office of Lottery and Gaming claims that the Super Bowl outage for iPhone users was a result of a failure by Intralot, their partnered gaming supplier, at a hearing.
February 14, 2022 – GambetDC is unavailable for iPhone users to bet on the Super Bowl after failing to receive approval from Apple for a required update ahead of kickoff.
February 1, 2022 – BetMGM launches their retail sportsbook at Nationals Park, home of the MLB’s Washington Nationals. The sportsbook operates daily, regardless of the Nationals’ schedule.
December 28, 2021 – D.C.’s three commercial online sportsbooks vastly outperform GambetDC, the D.C. Lottery-run platform.
September 9, 2021 – The Office of the District of Columbia Auditor declares that an audit revealed that GambetDC offers an inferior product compared to Caesars Sportsbook.
September 1, 2021 – The first Class B sports betting license is issued in Washington, D.C. to Grand Central LLC for Grand Central Bar and Grill.
December 29, 2020 – William Hill officially launches their Capital One Arena-based online sportsbook, available in a two-block radius of the arena.
August 31, 2020 – Retail sportsbooks launch in Washington, D.C.
August 3, 2020 – William Hill opens the first stadium-based sportsbook in the United States at the Capital One Arena.
May 28, 2020 – Online sportsbooks launch in Washington, D.C. and begin accepting wagers.
May 3, 2019 – B22-0944 is signed, officially regulating sports betting in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. Sports Betting Restrictions
Sports bettors using D.C.-regulated sportsbooks will have some sports betting restrictions to keep in mind. Bettors will not be able to wager on any D.C.-based college teams, such as George Washington or Georgetown, nor will they be able to bet on college events that take place in D.C. Also, DC regular sportsbooks are not taking bets on any Esports action at this time. If you looking for college football betting, DC residents can utilize offshore sportsbooks like Bovada. This is also how you can find Esports sportsbooks in DC. Lastly, and this says true for most sportsbooks in the US, any betting on players under the age of 18 is prohibited.
Sportsbooks Accepting DC Players
After having the question answered, “Is sports betting legal in DC”, the next step is finding the perfect sports betting location for you. While the online betting sites like Bovada are the most convenient and offer the most bet types, the other mobile apps and brick and mortar sportsbooks below are available in DC as well:
Legal Sports Betting Apps That Accept DC Players
GambetDC – GambetDC is operated by the D.C. Lottery and is the only District-regulated sports betting site that accepts players in DC. However, it has been subject to very public criticism for its poor performance and user interface. Intralot, the partnered sports betting supplier for GambetDC, received the partnership contract without competition, which has also drawn criticism.
Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill – Caesars Sportsbook is the online sportsbook component of the world-famous Caesars casinos. Caesars has routinely outperformed Gambet DC and other DC bookies in recent months. The app can be accessed within two blocks of Capital One Arena and operates a retail sportsbook on-location at the venue.
BetMGM Sportsbook – BetMGM is partnered with the MLB’s Washington Nationals as their official sports betting provider. They launched their retail sportsbook at Nationals Park in February 2022 and their mobile app is available within a two-block radius of the stadium.
FanDuel – Not yet launched, FanDuel has a partnership with the MLS’ DC United. FanDuel plans to launch a retail sportsbook at DC United’s Audi Field. While they are adding to the list of Washington DC sports betting apps, FanDuel will only be available within a two-block radius of the stadium.
DraftKings – People often ask the question “Is DraftKings legal in DC”, as it is one of the most advertised sports betting apps in the market. However, DraftKings is not currently taking DC players, as it has no partnerships with DC venues.
Comparing DC Sportsbooks To Nearby States
Because there are restrictions when using DC sportsbooks, some players like to hop over to nearby states to bet on sports. When comparing DC to the Virginia sports betting market, you will notice that the legal betting age varies. DC accepts 18 and up players, while Virgina and most other states offer 21 and up betting. DC is similar to a lot of sports betting states in the fact that you cannot bet on in state college teams. However, making a quick trip to VA or using North Carolina sportsbooks will solve your issue.
What Teams Can I Bet On In DC?
Washington, D.C. plays host to a variety of both collegiate and professional sports teams and there are legal betting sites in DC that have odds for all of them. Note that there is another major professional sports team from Washington, D.C. that is missing from this list: the Washington Commanders (formerly Washington Redskins and Washington Football Team) of the NFL. This is because they play their home games in Hanover, Maryland at FedEx Field. Also, due to betting restrictions, D.C. sportsbooks will not offer odds on collegiate teams.
Legal Washington Wizards Sports Betting Sites
Even though the Washington Wizards may not be a consistent favorite in the NBA, DC sportsbooks still take bets on the young squad. Whether you want to place a future wager on them to win their division or a live bet on their moneyline, legal NBA betting is fully available through regulated apps and offshore sports betting sites that allow DC residents. Sports betting Washington DC even includes the ability to wager on player props, such as Jordan Poole’s total points for any game.
D-1 College Sports Programs In D.C.
| Team: | Conference: |
|---|---|
| American Eagles | Patriot |
| George Washington Colonials | Atlantic 10 |
| Georgetown Hoyas | Big East |
| Howard Bison | MEAC |
Professional Sports Teams In D.C.
| Team: | League: |
|---|---|
| Washington Nationals | MLB |
| Washington Capitals | NHL |
| Washington Wizards | NBA |
| D.C. United | MLS |
Betting On The NFL In Washington DC
Many Washington DC sportsbooks take NFL bets all year long. The District accepts NFL bets through retail sportsbooks, District-regulated online books, and internationally regulated online betting sites like Bovada. You can wager on the Washington Commanders to crush their season win total or place random bets throughout the week on the upcoming NFL Sunday. For fans of the Super Bowl, all of these NFL sports betting sites accept future wagers on the big event and offer hundreds of bets on the set matchup.
How To Bet On The Hoyas In The District Of Columbia
Sports bettors of the District of Columbia can run into some issues when trying to place bets on in-district college events or on in-district college teams such as Georgetown and George Washington. This is due to local laws, which prevent bettors of the district from placing such wagers. District of Columbia bettors that would still like to bet on in-district colleges and events may do so by utilizing one of the many legal, overseas-based online sportsbooks. This type of sportsbook operates outside of U.S. federal, state, and local jurisdiction.
Washington D.C. Sports Betting Revenue
The D.C. Lottery releases D.C. sports betting revenue reports each month. Since launching in May of 2020, Washington D.C. has handled nearly $305 million in sports wagers, good for nearly $45 million in sports betting revenue. Washington D.C.’s strongest sports betting handle came in October 2021 ($26.3 million). During the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl the amount bet on sports in DC eclipsed $37.8 million.
Washington DC Sports Betting Venues
FanDuel Sportsbook at Audi Stadium
FanDuel Sportsbook opened up its retail-only sportsbook on July 8th, 2021 at Audi Stadium, home to DC United. The popular national chain operates within the stadium with three betting windows, 18 or more sports betting kiosks, and 48+ televisions to watch the bets in action.
BetMGM
BetMGM is a top-tier, D.C. – regulated sportsbook available within two blocks of the Washington Nationals’ Nationals Park. It offers a wide variety of features, including live betting, and offers very valuable betting lines. The one negative aspect of BetMGM’s online sportsbook is that they do not offer in-district collegiate lines, meaning users will have to take to our recommended internationally-based sportsbooks for that type of betting action.
Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill
Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill is another top-tier, D.C.-regulated sportsbook with geographic restrictions. This sportsbook is only available within a two-block radius of Capital One Arena. Like the other established, state-regulated sportsbooks, Caesars offers a huge variety of betting lines, though none are available featuring in-district college sports.
GambetDC
GambetDC is the District of Columbia’s sole district-wide internet sportsbook, making online sports betting available throughout the district. While this is certainly a good thing for accessibility’s sake, the sportsbook, with a monopoly on sports betting throughout the district, offers fairly poor betting odds. It also does not offer in-district collegiate events or teams. Sports bettors would be wise to use an internationally-based online sportsbook, such as Bovada, which will offer much fairer lines.
Ben’s Next Door
Ben’s Next Door is a retail sportsbook in Washington, D.C., offering a huge variety of sports betting features and odds. As a land-based sportsbook, they offer a laundry list of features and betting odds compared to online sportsbooks, but the trade-off is that you must physically travel to the sportsbook to participate.
BetMGM Sportsbook at Nationals Park
The BetMGM Sportsbook at Nationals Park is another land-based sportsbook in D.C., tethered to the Washington Nationals’ Nationals Park. It is only accessible while on-location at the stadium, but there is a mobile app available within a two-block radius of the park.
Caesars Sportsbook at Capital One Arena
Caesars Sportsbook at Capital One Arena is a land-based sportsbook similarly located inside a professional sports stadium. It can only be accessed by traveling to the stadium itself, though – like Nationals Park – users can access the mobile app within two blocks of the stadium.
Dirty Waters Sports Bar
Dirty Waters sports bar offers a full-service sportsbook. As one of a handful of sportsbooks located at bars in DC, bettors would be hard-pressed to find somewhere better that they can combine the social aspect of bars with the fun of sports betting. Like all other D.C.-regulated sportsbooks, they cannot offer odds on in-district college teams or events.
Grand Central Restaraunt, Bar, & Sportsbook
Grand Central Restaurant has been a fixture of DC social life for years, and they finally have a regulated sportsbook available for customers. Bettors can grab a bite, sip on a cold drink, and bet on sports at this retail sportsbook. They offer a wide variety of betting odds, but do not offer betting odds on in-district college teams or events.
Lou’s City Bar
Lou’s City Bar is a favorite among DC locals, and now has a full-service retail sportsbook available for patrons, making it a top choice for sports bettors and bar-goers alike. While Lou’s City Bar offers a full-service sportsbook, they may not offer any odds on in-district college teams or events as a result of district regulations.
Over Under Sportsbook Bar And Lounge
This sportsbook became the first sportsbook located inside a strip club. This DC sportsbook is located on the rooftop of the Cloakroom, an adult entrainment establishment. There are self-service kiosks and betting windows taking wagers from DC players. Even though the legal sports betting age is 18 and up in DC, this sportsbook requires you to be over the age of 21.
Takoma Station Tavern
The Takoma Station Tavern is the final in-district retail sportsbook in DC, and offers just as wide a variety of sportsbook features and betting odds as the other retail sportsbooks. Despite their expansive betting odds offerings, sports bettors will be unable to wager on in-district college teams or events.
Horse Racing Betting In DC
Horse race betting in DC is available for races that occur elsewhere. There are horse racing tracks in surrounding states where bettors can go. Through sportsbooks, horse races can be wagered on. Offshore internet sports betting sites are always the fallback when certain things are not covered within local sports gambling businesses. Internet sportsbooks are completely legal and offer horse race betting from around the world for sports bettors in Washington DC to gamble on.
Daily Fantasy Sports In DC
The legalization of Washington DC sports betting did not directly include Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) but it is still perfectly legal to partake in the pastime in the District. Residents have the ability to participate in various DFS wagers and games through different sites. Doing so will in no way result in any kind of trouble unless of course you lose and then you’re out a few bucks that could’ve been used elsewhere. In conclusion, legal betting sites in DC that offer Daily Fantasy are perfectly safe and secure for all players.
Sports Betting In Washington DC FAQs
Is Sports Betting Legal In Washington, D.C.?
Yes, sports betting is legal in Washington, D.C. Both retail and online sports betting are legal, along with the internationally-based online options such as Bovada.
Can You Legally Bet Online In DC?
Yes, there are two ways to legally bet on sports online in Washington, D.C.: by using the Gambet app, which is regulated by Washington, D.C.; or by using an online sportsbook accepting D.C. bettors, such as those listed on this page.
Is DraftKings Legal In DC?
DraftKings does not yet have a presence in Washington, D.C., but it is possible that changes in the future.
How Will My DC Internet App Know Where I Am?
D.C.-regulated sportsbook apps utilize geofencing technology to verify users’ locations. Internationally-based online sportsbooks do not require any sort of location verification to use.
Can I Wager On Sports With My Friends In Washington, DC?
Yes, it is legal to make wagers between friends on sports in Washington, D.C.
Can I Use Internet Sportsbooks And DC Sportsbooks?
Yes, and there is no limit to the number of sportsbooks a user can register at. It is also a recommended practice to allow for line shopping.