Legalized sports betting has exploded onto the scene in the United States following the reversal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) in 2018. Since then, 33 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized sports betting in some capacity, and this number is sure to increase in the coming years.
Want to know if you’re able to bet in the District of Columbia? Check out our Washington D.C. guide to sports betting:
Is sports betting legal in Washington D.C.?
Lawmakers passed a bill in December 2018 to legalize sports betting in the District of Columbia, which didn't go into effect until the following year in May. Online sports betting officially launched in May 2020, but the only sportsbooks available to residents are GambetDC, BetMGM, and Caesars. However, BetMGM and Caesars are limited to a two-block radius around their partners' stadiums (Audi Field, Capital One Arena, Entertainment and Sports Arena, and Nationals Park) as they are known as Entertainment Sports Gambling Restriction Zones.
How do I bet on sports in Washington D.C.?
D.C. residents must be 18 or older to bet on sports online or retail -- a notable difference from their DMV counterparts, Virginia and Maryland, where you must be 21 or older).
Can I bet on college sports in Washington D.C.?
The District of Columbia has three D1 programs, but residents cannot bet on them. Furthermore, D.C. residents cannot bet on collegiate sporting events held inside the district. However, they can bet on college basketball, football, and baseball games that don't involve D.C. schools. Residents or sports fans passing through the nation's capital can also bet on collegiate player props.
Where can I bet on sports in Washington D.C.?
Since there are no casinos in the District of Columbia, bettors can place a wager at various retail locations -- Nationals Park, Capital One Arena, and Grande Central Restaurant Bar & Sportsbook. Additionally, they can bet online, but to use BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbooks, residents have to be in or two miles around Nats Park and Capital One Arena. However, GambetDC can be used anywhere inside the district, as it's owned by the D.C. Lottery.
Below is a list of the online sportsbooks in the District of Columbia, along with their corresponding partner (if applicable):
| Sportsbook | Partner(s) |
| BetMGM | N/A |
| Caesars | N/A |
| Gambet DC | D.C. Lottery |
