Last updated on: March 16th, 2023
Legal Washington D.C. Sports Betting
Sports betting in Washington, D.C. launched in May of 2020 with the district-wide sports betting app Gambet 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. As the D.C. Lottery oversees and regulates the market, the legal sports betting age for Washington DC sportsbooks is set at 18 years old. With a few retail options in the District, as well as the ability to use legal sports betting sites, those living in or visiting DC are able to bet on sports without any issues.
- Regulated sports betting launched in Washington DC in May of 2020 with mobile sports betting app GamBet DC.
- There are other mobile apps in DC but can only be accessed within a two-block radius of their affiliated stadium.
- The best option for District-wide mobile betting is through online sportsbooks, which work outside of DC as well.
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 sportsbook services and incredibly valuable odds and bonuses for decades.
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.
- $250 Welcome Bonus
- Legal In Washington DC
- Online Anywhere In City
- No Download Required
- Best Futures Betting
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.
- Reliable Banking Methods
- Strong Server Connection
- 10+ Year Track Record
- Huge Assortment Of Odds
- No App Mobile Betting
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.
- Huge Player Bonuses
- Consistent Odds
- Easy Interface
- Rapid Live Betting
- Legal In Washington DC
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.
- Efficient Site Layout
- Full Mobile Betting Suite
- Available Customer Service
- Trustworthy Banking Options
- Fast Payout Times
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.
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- Premier User Experience
- Full Mobile + Live Betting
Rank | Sportsbook | Bonus Offer | Play Now |
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1 | ![]() |
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2 | ![]() |
50% New Member Bonus!Read Review | Visit BetOnline! |
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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! |
Washington, D.C. Sports Betting And Gambling Laws
In December of 2018, Washington DC was introduced to sports betting legalization after PASPA was overturned. 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 Rules And Regulations
Bettors must be 18 years of age or older to wager on sports; however, they will need to be 21 years of age or older to enter establishments such as bars that offer sportsbooks. The Gambet D.C. app allows users to register remotely as long as they validate their account’s email address. The Gambet D.C. app will not be available when within a two-block exclusivity zone of another sportsbook. The app utilizes geofencing technology to prevent users from betting in the app in these areas, as well as some cultural centers such as the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. Once registered, users will need to verify their identity by providing a government-issued identification, such as a driver’s license, passport, or social security card. While D.C. offers a wide variety of events to bet on, there are no sportsbooks that offer eSports betting to date.
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. Moreover, athletic events involving players that are not yet 18 years of age are not able to be wagered on, such as high school or Olympic events. Despite these restrictions, bettors can still access college and Olympic betting lines by using one of our recommended sportsbooks, such as Bovada.
Comparing D.C.’s Sports Betting Industry With Virginia And Maryland’s Industries
As members of the same major metropolitan area (colloquially referred to as the “DMV”), Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. each offer state-regulated sports betting, but the industries have their fair share of differences. For example, D.C. has a significantly lower tax rate on gross gaming revenues (10%) than Virginia and Maryland, who tax GGR at 15%. Another difference is the jurisdictions focus on either online or retail sportsbooks. D.C., for example, made a great effort to preserve the integrity of retail sportsbooks while still offering online sportsbooks. Virginia, on the other hand, only offers online sportsbooks, with no retail options available. Maryland, as of now, is a retail-only state, though they do plan to launch online sportsbooks in the near future.
Future D.C. Sportsbooks
Several smaller, Class-B-eligible venues have applied for a sports betting licenses in DC. These include Handle 19 (which also plans to launch a mobile app), Duffy’s Irish Pub, Wet Dog Tavern, and The Brig. These four venue would bring the total retail sportsbooks in D.C. to 13. But, the biggest focus for future DC sportsbooks is on the Cloakroom. Once Cloakroom DC opens, it will be the first strip club in the US with a sportsbook.
Aside from the DC stripclub sportsbook, Councilmember Elissa Silverman has plans to add more DC online sportsbooks. The councilmember filed a bill to permit an open market for online operators, essentially removing the sole operator status for Intralot. If approved, this would allow FanDuel in Washington DC as well as DraftKings and other sportsbooks.
Where To Bet On Sports In DC
There are four Class A locations in the DC area. Capital One Arena, Audi Field, Nationals Park, and St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena. All of these facilities will have a two block zone surrounding their locations where sportsbooks have the ability to open with them for an added cost in licenses.
Capital One Arena is a 20,000 seat venue that is used for multiple sports organizations and their events. The NHL Washington Capitals play their games here. The Washington Wizards, the local NBA team also calls Capital One Arena home. Not only do these two professional teams use the venue, but it also holds college matchups for men’s basketball team, the Georgetown Hoyas. Sports fans that attend these events will be able to place wagers on the games and other sports competitions at the Capital One Arena sports betting venue.
Audi Field is home to Major League Soccer (MLS) team, DC United. The stadium seats 20,000 people at a time and will now have a sportsbook that will take bets on the games and other sporting events happening at the time. DC United has made a deal with Caesars Entertainment to be their official operator. This would allow Caesars to run their retail sports betting lounge within Audi Field as well as an online platform for the facility.
Nationals Park is home to Major League Baseball (MLB) team, the Washington Nationals. There is enough seating for 41,888 fans. A sportsbook area will be set up within the stadium that will accept wagers on the baseball games in progress as well as other sports matchups. Allowing an onsite sports betting space is expected to be a huge hit among fans that go to the games. They will be able to get some action in on the game they’re watching live, adding to the overall experience.
St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena is a stadium with 4,200 seats available for spectators. The venue holds many different events at this location but is best known for being the home court of the Washington Mystics. They will have a sports betting area within their establishment where fans can go and bet on the games. They can also open up other sportsbooks within the two block radius of exclusivity given to licensed venues.
In addition, there are other retail sportsbooks available. Retail DC sportsbooks are available at Ben’s Next Door, Dirty Waters Sports Bar, Grand Central Restaurant and Bar, Lou’s City Bar, and Takoma Station Tavern.
Washington, D.C. Sports Betting Apps
GambetDC – GambetDC is operated by the D.C. Lottery and the only sportsbook available throughout Washington, D.C. 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 GambetDC and other D.C. competitors 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 and operate their mobile app within a two-block radius of the stadium.
What Teams Can I Bet On In DC?
Washington, D.C. plays host to a variety of both collegiate and professional sports teams. 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.-regulated sportsbooks will not offer odds on the collegiate teams.
Betting On The Washington Wizards
The 2021-2022 season marked the second season in a row that the Washington Wizards went over their regular-season win total. They beat their win total of 33.5 on their 77th game of the season and closed with 35 wins. Despite hitting that over, the Wizards were one of the league’s worst teams against the spread in the 2022 season, going 33-47-2 (41.3%) ats. That performance against the spread can largely be attributed to their struggles on the road where they covered the spread in 32.5% of their games, which was the worst mark in the NBA. As a road favorite the Washington Wizards went 1-9 against the spread.
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
Local Washington betting fans looking to place action on the Washington Commanders this season have a few options to get in on the action. There is state-wide mobile betting available at the GambetDC mobile app. There are also options to wager online at the William Hill sportsbook but this can only be accessed within a two-block radius of the Capital One Arena. There are several retail sportsbooks that offer odds on the Commanders including the Audi Field, Nationals Park, St. Elizabeth’s East Entertainment and Sports Arena, and the Capital One Arena. There are more options for statewide mobile betting thanks to legal online sportsbooks. These operators have odds for all Washington games this season.
Betting On The Washington Commanders In D.C.
The Washington Commanders may not have tons of value for legal Super Bowl betting, but sportsbooks have hundred of player props that can be wagered on and individual game lines. Whether betting on the team to cover the spread in the regular season or betting on Carson Wentz to record the most passing yards in 2022, legal sportsbooks have odds constantly available for the Commanders. Washington covered the spread in 7 out of their 16 regular season games in 2021 but Carson Wentz led the Colts to a 10-7 AST record during the 2021 season, giving the Commanders and bettors hope for the future in DC.
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.
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.
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.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is not regulated per se by the mere fact that there is no specific law for it. However, it is in fact a legal activity in the District, law or no law. 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. Other than that, it’s a perfectly legal and available pastime for fans of the game in Washington DC.
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.