Washington DC betting guide

Welcome to your definitive guide to legal Washington DC sports betting. Here we cover the DC sports betting app, the legal gambling age, and the best online sportsbooks for DC residents. Sports fans and bettors who find themselves in the capital need to look no further!

Is Sports Betting Legal in Washington DC?

Yes, sports betting has been legal in Washington DC since early 2019. This is when they legalized both online and in-person sports betting. They have licensed four sports betting locations, however, none have been able to open as of yet, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The outlook for the future is bright in Washington DC. Expect these retail sports betting locations to be up and running in no time flat. They will also be able to operate online betting platforms within two blocks of their locations. Geofencing will be difficult with such precise locations.

If you want to avoid these complications, you can use offshore sports betting sites like the ones we recommend here anywhere in the city. These sites are generally available across the United States.

*The state is still tussling with legalization, meaning that major US bookmakers like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet, BetRivers, Fox Bet, and Unibet are also prohibited. However, the bookmakers mentioned above have a broad range of sports betting markets and some of the most competitive online odds.

Sports Betting App DC

Washington DC launched its own sports betting app in 2020. The DC lottery owns the app called Gambet DC. On this app, you can find all professional and collegiate sporting events. Your winnings here will come with a 10% tax, and it is currently the only online betting platform operating out of DC.

However, offshore sportsbooks are legally available to residents in DC. This means that people in the nation’s capital have many options when it comes to choosing where they want to make their wagers. Offshore sportsbooks generally have fewer regulations and are thus preferable.

Casinos in Washington DC

There are currently no casinos in the actual city of Washington DC. Nonetheless, visitors and residents who are of legal drinking age can visit many casinos within the DC metropolitan area. These casinos are in the states of Maryland and Virginia.

The most popular one is the MGM National Harbor. Located in Maryland this hotel resort spreads out across 20 acres of land. The crowds here are huge. With so much demand, they sometimes have to raise the minimum table wager to a hundred bucks.

Best Washington DC Online Sportsbooks

There are many great sportsbooks available for people in Washington DC: In fact, it is an embarrassment of riches. Below you will find a table of the top online DC sports betting sites. We come up with this list through years of experience with online sports betting and after a detailed review process. Here are the two most important aspects of our sportsbook recommendations.

Welcome Bonuses

A great DC sportsbook will have generous welcome bonuses. These can really get your wheels greased up right off the bat. They generally come with a matching percentage based on your initial deposit. For example, Bovada offers a 50% match on your initial deposit, worth a maximum of $250.

Some sportsbooks will also give you a welcome boost if you use Bitcoins to fund your account on your first deposit. We also consider all the promotions that bettors will find in the sportsbook including reload bonuses, free bets, and refer a friend.

Betting Markets

DC bettors deserve to have access to a wide range of betting markets. This means at least two important aspects.

One is the variety. Whether you are a fan of mainstream sports such as NFL betting, or if you prefer to bet on more obscure sports, like curling, you will find betting markets for you at these top sportsbooks.

It also means that they keep the odds up to date. Smart sports bettors who research their bets want to see the latest news reflected in the odds tables. If not, it becomes difficult to launch a coherent betting strategy. These betting sites will have you covered in that regard as well.