District of Columbia sports betting is legal and licensed: the Office of Lottery and Gaming issues retail and districtwide online licenses, and you must be 18 to bet. Here's how DC's 2019 and 2024 laws work, what each license class allows, where you can't bet, how winnings are taxed and why offshore sportsbooks are a different matter.
Sports betting is the only online real-money wagering DC licenses; the minimum age is 18.
Class C licenses cover online betting across the District, and FanDuel replaced GambetDC as the Lottery's platform on April 15, 2024.
No bets are allowed in federal enclaves or on DC college and high school events.
Wins of $2,000 or more at 300 times the stake trigger a W-2G in 2026, with 24% withheld on the largest.
Sports betting
Legal and licensed
Regulator
DC Office of Lottery and Gaming
License classes
A (venue), B (location), C (online)
Minimum age
18
Current law
Sports Wagering Act of 2024 (July 15, 2024)
Helpline
1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738)
Is sports betting legal in the District of Columbia?
Yes. The District licenses sportsbooks through the DC Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG), and its sports wagering FAQs (opens in a new tab) set out who may operate and who may bet. It's the one form of online real-money wagering DC regulates; online casino games have no District license.
Legal betting in DC became possible after the US Supreme Court decided Murphy v. NCAA on May 14, 2018, striking down the federal law that had stopped states authorizing sports betting. Our page on PASPA and Murphy v. NCAA explains that ruling, and the DC online casino hub covers everything else the District allows.
DC sports betting launch and legal timeline
The District moved early after the Supreme Court ruling, then rewrote its framework in 2024. The exact date the first bets were taken isn't stated in the OLG material reviewed for this page.
Key dates for District of Columbia sports betting
Date
What happened
May 14, 2018
Supreme Court decides Murphy v. NCAA
May 3, 2019
Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 becomes law
December 2019
OLG opens sports wagering licensing
April 15, 2024
FanDuel replaces GambetDC as the DC Lottery's platform
July 15, 2024
Sports Wagering Act of 2024 takes effect
For how other states handled the same window, see our national guide to sports betting laws.
Class A, B and C: how DC licenses sportsbooks
DC's system is built around place. Each license class ties betting to a type of location, and only one reaches your phone everywhere in the District.
DC sports wagering license classes
Class
Where betting happens
What it means for bettors
Class A
A designated venue
In-person betting tied to that venue
Class B
A smaller retail location
In-person betting at that business
Class C
Districtwide online
Mobile and online betting across DC
A licensed sportsbook answers to the OLG, which can act on a complaint. That's the clearest difference from an offshore site; our page on player protections at offshore vs licensed sites goes into it.
Legal DC sports betting apps
The DC Lottery's own sports betting platform is FanDuel, which took over from GambetDC on April 15, 2024, according to the DC Lottery's announcement (opens in a new tab). Other Class C licensees can also offer districtwide online betting. Phone-based play beyond sportsbooks is covered on our DC mobile casinos page.
The current list of licensed operators isn't reproduced in the sources reviewed here, so check the OLG's licensee information before signing up with any app. A sportsbook not licensed by the OLG isn't a legal DC option, whatever its marketing says.
Confirm the app appears on the OLG's list of licensed sports wagering operators.
Register with your real name and details; you must be at least 18.
Set a deposit limit in the account settings before your first deposit.
Check that the market you want isn't a banned one, such as a DC college game.
Keep your account statements for tax time.
Where and on what you can't bet in Washington
Two DC-specific rules catch people out. The OLG's compliance FAQs bar wagering in federal enclaves inside the District, which matters in a city with so much federal property. They also bar bets on DC college and high school events, so local campus teams are off the board.
Those limits apply to licensed books. Federal law matters too: the Wire Act bars businesses from using wires for interstate sports bets, and the First Circuit held in New Hampshire Lottery Commission v. Rosen (January 20, 2021) that the Act applies only to sports betting. Our Wire Act page explains what that means for operators.
DC sports betting age and ID
The minimum age for sports betting in the District is 18, according to the OLG, the same as the DC Lottery. Offers shown on this site use 21+ (18+ where allowed), so a DC sportsbook age and an offer age can differ. Maryland's casino age is 21, according to a third-party industry report, so the rules shift once you cross the line. Compare places on gambling age by state.
Taxes on DC sports betting winnings
Sports betting winnings are taxable federal income. For 2026, the IRS W-2G instructions (opens in a new tab) require a form when sports winnings reach $2,000 and are at least 300 times the wager. Regular withholding of 24% applies when winnings minus the wager exceed $5,000 on those bets.
Worked W-2G examples for sports bets (2026 rules)
Bet
Payout
W-2G?
24% withholding?
$100 on a single game
$2,500
No: under 300 times the stake
No
$10 parlay
$3,500
Yes: over $2,000 and over 300 times the stake
No: $3,490 net is under $5,000
$20 long-shot parlay
$6,500
Yes
Yes: $6,480 net × 24% = $1,555.20
Every win is income even without a form. From tax year 2026, the loss deduction is reportedly capped at 90% of losses, and only up to your gains; check IRS guidance. Our gambling taxes page covers DC residents' records and deductions.
Offshore sportsbooks and DC bettors
Offshore books hold no OLG license, so they sit outside DC's sports wagering law. One of the biggest, Bovada, lists the District among the places it restricts on its own help page, and Michigan's Gaming Control Board sent its operator a cease-and-desist letter in May 2024.
With a licensed DC sportsbook available, the case for an offshore book is weak: you'd give up the OLG complaint route and the District's rules for licensed operators. Our explainer on offshore vs state-licensed casinos sets out the trade-offs.
Betting in Maryland and Virginia from the DC area
Both neighbors license online sportsbooks too. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (opens in a new tab) lists 12 licensed online and mobile operators, and the Virginia Lottery reports 10 licensed operators. Each state's rules apply where you're physically standing when you bet.
The SAFE Bet Act of 2025 (S. 1033 / H.R. 2087) would put state-regulated sports betting under federal oversight and minimum standards. Several 2026 prediction-market bills would bar sports event contracts on federally regulated exchanges, and S. 4060 would set a 21+ age and a self-exclusion list for prediction markets. The Congressional Research Service found most of these had gone no further than introduction or committee. Our prediction markets page follows them.
Responsible betting and self-exclusion in DC
Betting on sports is entertainment that costs money; the bookmaker's margin means most bettors lose over time. The OLG runs a self-exclusion program that blocks you from DC-licensed sports wagering and lists support on its problem gambling resources (opens in a new tab) page. The National Problem Gambling Helpline, run by NCPG, is 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), by call or text. Our state self-exclusion lists page compares programs.
District of Columbia sports betting and our casino offers
Neither of our partners runs a sportsbook, and no partner offers sports betting, so none fits this topic. If you want to bet on sports, a DC-licensed sportsbook is the regulated route. For casino play, our pages on real money casinos in DC and DC sweepstakes casinos explain the legal gaps. The two offers below are online casino offers from offshore sites that hold no license from the District of Columbia or any US state; check DC law first, and know that you'd have no District regulator to complain to. We earn a commission through these links, and the order is commercial, not a test result.
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Neither casino runs a sportsbook. Both are offshore casino sites with no DC or US state license. Offers are for new players, 21+ (18+ where allowed); terms apply.
Royal Ace Casino#6 on our listSlots and specialty games
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21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus on slots (reported). Max cashout: 10x deposit (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
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Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Anjouan, Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, August 14, 2025.
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These casinos are offshore operators. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, and state consumer protections do not apply. Check the law in your state before you play. Terms marked “reported” come from third-party reviews; the terms shown at sign-up apply.
21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).
Frequently asked questions
Is online sports betting legal in Washington, DC?
Yes, online sports betting is legal in DC through operators holding a districtwide Class C license from the Office of Lottery and Gaming. Retail betting runs under Class A and Class B licenses. The current framework is the Sports Wagering Act of 2024, in effect since July 15, 2024. Bets must be placed with a District-licensed operator. Our DC gambling laws page covers every other form of gambling.
What is the legal sports betting age in DC?
The minimum age is 18 for sports betting in the District, according to the Office of Lottery and Gaming. The DC Lottery uses the same age. Many offers on gambling sites elsewhere require 21+, and neighboring Maryland's casino age is 21, according to a third-party report, so check the rules wherever you are. See what age you can gamble online for other places.
What sports betting apps are legal in DC?
Only apps run by OLG-licensed operators are legal in DC. FanDuel became the DC Lottery's sports platform on April 15, 2024, replacing GambetDC, and other Class C licensees can also take bets districtwide. The sources reviewed here don't reproduce the full licensee list, so check the OLG's current list before signing up. Our page on whether sports betting is legal in your state compares states.
Can I bet on DC college teams in the District?
No, bets on DC college and high school events aren't allowed, according to the OLG's compliance FAQs. That covers games involving District schools, so licensed books shouldn't offer those markets. Wagering is also barred inside federal enclaves in the District. Out-of-town college games aren't covered by this DC rule. Our sports betting laws page explains how other states handle college betting.
Can I bet on sports on federal property in DC?
No, the OLG's compliance FAQs say wagering isn't permitted in federal enclaves inside the District. That rule matters in Washington, where a lot of land is federal. It's set out in DC's own sports wagering rules for licensed operators, so it's worth knowing whether the ground you're standing on is federal property before you place a bet. Read the DC online casino hub for more District-specific rules.
Do I pay taxes on sports betting winnings in DC?
Yes, sports betting winnings are taxable federal income. In 2026 a W-2G is required when winnings reach $2,000 and are at least 300 times the stake, and 24% is withheld when winnings minus the wager exceed $5,000 on such a bet. Smaller wins still count as income. District income tax can apply too, so ask a tax professional. See do I pay tax on casino winnings for more.
Is it legal to use an offshore sportsbook in DC?
Offshore sportsbooks hold no OLG license, so they aren't part of DC's legal sports betting system. We don't say you'll be prosecuted, but you'd have no District complaint route and no District rules protecting your balance. Bovada, one large offshore brand, lists DC as a restricted location in its own help pages. Our Bovada review covers its terms and regulator actions.
How do I self-exclude from sports betting in DC?
You can join the OLG's self-exclusion program, which blocks you from DC-licensed sports wagering. The OLG's problem gambling resources page explains how to enroll, and the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) can help by call or text. The program doesn't reach offshore sites, so contact those directly. See what self-exclusion is for how programs work.
Is FanDuel legal in Washington, DC?
Yes, FanDuel is the DC Lottery’s own sports betting platform, according to the Lottery’s announcement. It replaced GambetDC on April 15, 2024, and runs under the District’s sports wagering framework, overseen by the Office of Lottery and Gaming. You must be 18 to bet, and the DC-specific limits still apply: no wagers from federal enclaves and none on DC college or high school events. Licensed books answer to the OLG if a dispute comes up. Our DC mobile casinos page covers phone play, and sports betting laws compares states.
What is a Class C sports betting license in DC?
A Class C license is the District’s districtwide online license, the one that lets a sportsbook take mobile and online bets anywhere in DC. Class A covers sportsbooks at designated venues and Class B covers smaller retail locations, both for in-person betting. The classes come from the OLG’s sports wagering FAQs under the Sports Wagering Act of 2024, in effect since July 15, 2024. Check the OLG’s licensee information to see who holds each class. Our DC gambling laws page and guide to state gambling regulators explain the system.
Can DC residents bet on sports in Maryland or Virginia?
Yes, if you’re physically in that state when you bet, because each state’s rules apply where you’re standing. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency lists 12 licensed online and mobile operators, and the Virginia Lottery reports 10. A bet placed from inside DC must go through a District-licensed operator, even if you hold accounts elsewhere. Age rules can differ across the line, so check each state’s minimum. See Maryland sports betting and Virginia sports betting for each state’s rules.
Are prediction markets legal in DC?
The District’s position on sports event contracts isn’t stated in the OLG material reviewed for this page, and the fight is mainly federal. Several 2026 bills would bar sports event contracts on federally regulated exchanges, and S. 4060 would set a 21+ age and a self-exclusion list for prediction markets. The Congressional Research Service found most had gone no further than introduction or committee. DC’s licensed sports wagering remains the regulated route. Our prediction markets page follows the bills, and DC gambling laws covers local rules.
How much tax is withheld on a big DC sports bet?
For 2026, 24% is withheld when winnings minus the wager exceed $5,000 on a bet that pays at least 300 times the stake. A $20 long-shot parlay that pays $6,500 qualifies, so $1,555.20 is withheld on the $6,480 net. A $10 parlay paying $3,500 gets a W-2G but no withholding, and a $100 bet paying $2,500 gets neither, because it’s only 25 times the stake. Withholding isn’t the final tax bill. See our W-2G form page and answer on what a W-2G is.
Can I use a casino bonus to bet on sports in DC?
No, the casino offers on this page can’t be used for sports betting, because neither partner runs a sportsbook. Their welcome bonuses are slot-focused: reviewers list 30x (bonus + deposit) wagering on slots at Royal Ace and Slot Madness, with table games often excluded or weighted lower. For sports in DC, the regulated route is an OLG-licensed sportsbook. The casino offers shown come from offshore sites with no DC license. See DC online casino bonuses and our guide to slots bonuses.
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