Understanding Washington DC Sports Betting Regulations And Policies

• The DC City Council voted 11-2 in favor of the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 in December 2018.
• Also known as DC B22-944, the measure was introduced by Councilman Jack Evans (D- Ward 2).
• Mayor Muriel Bowser administered a $215 million deal with Intralot to be the DC Lottery’s sole sports wagering provider.

WASHINGTON D.C. – The DC Lottery posted their sports betting regulations on Friday of last week. Now, they will undergo a 30-day public comment period before legal sports betting in DC can begin its launch process.

The details in the regulations include a variety of factors from the licensing differences and requirements to the prohibited and accepted types of wagers.

What’s Inside The DC Sports Betting Regulations?

In terms of what a sports bettor needs to know, there is only a handful of important information through the 90-page document.

Betting on collegiate sports events will be allowed just as long as the college is not from the District nor being played inside the District. When looking at major events, like the NCAA Basketball Tournament, DC bettors would still be able to wager on the series of games, just so long as the aforementioned rules are not being broken.

This wagering ban extends down to high school athletics as well as entertainment events that consist of a panel of judges or a viewer’s vote.

Betting on athletes who are under 18 is permitted just as long as it is an international team sports event and the majority of players are underage. This allowance works for sporting leagues such as youth soccer as well as Olympic events that are sanctioned by the IOC.

The support of electronic sports is vague throughout the regulations, as they only mention it once – as a ban for high school esporting events. However, there is no mention of whether esports in general will be prohibited from wagering.

When a bettor is ready to place a wager online, their account must be funded by the use of cash, personal checks, cashier’s checks, a wire transfer, Money Order deposits, prior winnings, or promotional funds. As far as land-based sports betting in DC, a bettor must use cash or promotional funds.

Any wager that is greater than $10,000 or requires a payout that is greater than $10,000 will require additional identification, including a Social Security Number as well as a government-issued ID. However, if the bettor already has an established account, their information will already be registered in their platform and will not have to undergo this process.

As far as getting your winnings, payouts from a bettor’s sports wagering account can be withdrawn in the form of cash, check, wire transfer, Money Order, credit on your card of using.

Other Facets Within The Sports Betting Regulations For DC

Other items within the regulations explain the licensing requirements and differences for in-stadium wagering (Class A) and retail, land-based sportsbooks (Class B). These licensees must also follow strict rules of advertising, a self-exclusion protocol, and the responsible gaming plan.

The sportsbooks are set to follow a yearly audit of their mobile wagering system that tests the security of personal information, the effectiveness of geolocation, and the operating platform itself. Additionally, the facilities are expected to pay 10% of their gross sports wagering revenue to the District in the form of a tax contribution each month.

A fine imposed by the DC Lottery can be no more than $50,000; however, licensees who continually break the regulations can be subject to a ban of up to three years.

While this only breaks the surface, it should give DC bettors a great understanding of what to expect moving forward. Those with concerns on the matter should submit their comments in writing before July 14 to the DC Register; all mailing information can be found near the bottom of the regulations.

News tags: Councilman Jack Evans | DC | DC B22 944 | DC City Council | DC Lottery | DC Register | In-stadium wagering | Mayor Muriel Bowser | mobile wagering | Washington DC