Comparing the Best Washington DC Gambling Sites

Our featured Washington DC gambling sites are bursting with great games and features. The following table should help you get a quick understanding of the main gambling options available.

Is Gambling Legal in Washington DC?

Washington DC online casinos were among the first to be given permission to operate legally in the State. This permission came in 2011, but by 2012, it was revoked. To date, it is impossible to operate an online casino legally in the District.

Online gambling in Washington DC is easier if you intend to bet on sports. Washington DC sportsbooks are legally allowed, but as we’re writing this guide, there is only one approved platform.

Land-based Washington DC gambling options are equally limited. There are currently no land-based casinos or retail sportsbooks available.

Horse race betting is limited to just contest betting. This means that players cannot wager on the outcome of a race but can only make predictions against other players. Payouts are then provided based on how accurate their predictions are.

Due to the District’s extremely limited variety of gambling options, many residents prefer to use offshore casinos and sportsbooks. These sites, which include BetOnline and Wild Casino, offer safe and convenient online gambling in Washington DC on computers and mobile devices.

Who can Gamble Online in Washington DC?

It’s very easy to join any of the top online casinos and sportsbooks that we’ve listed in this guide. All you need is a stable Internet connection and to be 18 years or over. Moreover, you can connect to your favorite Washington DC gambling site even if you’re in most states across the US.

If you intend to use DC’s only legal online sportsbook, you must also be 18 years or over when registering. Furthermore, you also need to be physically located in the District to connect to it and place sports bets.

Types of Washington DC Gambling Sites

Our featured Washington DC gambling sites can be divided into online sportsbooks and casinos. Many sites actually offer both types of gambling, and some even include dedicated platforms for horse racing, eSports, or poker.

Sports Gambling Sites

Many of the best sites for gambling in Washington DC offer a dedicated sportsbook. On such platforms, you can wager on a variety of local, national, and international sports, including football, baseball, and basketball. Every sport comes with hundreds of pre-game and in-play markets and thousands of odds that you can bet on.

Horse Gambling Sites

In our list of the best Washington DC gambling sites, you’ll find several that offer dedicated horse racing platforms. Whilst the only legal DC sports betting app does not provide bets on race outcomes, top offshore Washington DC racebooks do. As a result, you’ll be able to bet on popular events, including the Preakness Stakes, the Cheltenham Festival, and the Dubai World Cup.

Esports Gambling Sites

eSports have become a popular category among top sportsbooks, and it’s now easier than ever to bet on them. CS:GO gambling is available at most featured Washington DC gambling sites, including BetOnline and Bovada. On these and other platforms, you can also find pre-game and in-play markets for DOTA 2, Fifa, Starcraft, and a variety of other popular eSports.

Casino Gambling Sites

You can access thousands of exciting slots and table games by playing on the best Washington DC casino apps and sites. These platforms offer a variety of virtual and live games that include Blackjack, Roulette, scratchcards, and instant win games. In many cases, you’ll also be able to try virtual games for free in demo mode before playing with real money.

Poker Gambling Sites

Throughout this guide, we’ve included some of the best Washington DC poker casinos. These sites offer dedicated platforms on which you can learn how to play poker and participate in both low and high-stakes games. You can also join several tournaments, including ones with guaranteed prize pools of $1 million or more.

Lottery Gambling Sites

The best online lottery sites in the US are also available in DC. Whilst these sites do not offer lottery tickets, they feature a selection of lottery-style games, such as keno and bingo. These games are very easy to play and provide instant results. Moreover, they feature a wide variety of themes and may also include jackpot prizes or other casino surprises.

How to Register with Gambling Sites in Washington DC

All our featured Washington DC gambling sites require you to register an account. It only takes a few minutes to do this and to place your first deposit. Here’s what you need to do to play at BetOnline:

Step 1: Register Your BetOnline Account

Visit BetOnline using your desktop or mobile browser and select ‘Join’. Enter your personal information, ensuring that you provide the correct mobile number and email address.

Step 2: Verify Your Email Address

You should receive an automated email from the BetOnline team asking that you confirm your email address. Simply click on the link found within the email to complete this step.

Step 3: Place Your First Deposit

Back on the BetOnline website, select ‘Deposit’ and choose your favorite payment option. You can fund your account using USD banking options of any of the 15 supported cryptocurrencies. Enter the amount that you wish to deposit and any applicable bonus codes. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your payment.

Step 4: Place Your First Washington DC Gambling Site Wager

Use BetOnline’s navigation menu to choose your favorite type of online wagers. You can choose between sports betting, horse racing, poker, or casino games. Use the available search options to find the event or game that you wish to wager on and follow the on-screen instructions to complete your first bet.

Gambling Bonuses Available at Washington DC

One of the common characteristics of our featured Washington DC gambling sites is that they offer rewards and bonuses to both new and existing players. The following are some of the most popular sportsbook and casino bonuses available in DC.

Match Deposit Bonuses

Matched deposit or reload bonuses are the most popular bonuses provided by Washington DC gambling sites. With these offers, the value of your deposit is increased by a certain percentage. A 100% match deposit, for example, would instantly double the value of your payment.

No Deposit Bonuses

Whilst there are several types of sign-up bonuses available, no deposit offers are the most popular. These offers provide rewards that are not linked to deposits, such as free spins or free bets for registering an account. They are also sometimes available for existing users.

Free Bets

The best sportsbook free bet offers give you an opportunity to bet on eligible sports and markets without the risk of losing your funds. This type of bonus replaces your own money but still gives you an opportunity to win real prizes if the bets that you place end up winning.

Free Spins

Casino free spins offers are similar to free bets as they allow you to play eligible online slots without risking your own funds. This type of bonus is provided through a number of promotions and is usually limited to just one or a few games at a time.

Loyalty Programs

Many of the best Washington DC gambling sites will reward you for wagering real money through loyalty programs and VIP Club. These reward systems give you points for every eligible wager and provide a conversion rate to turn these points into no-wager bonus cash.

Payment Methods Available at Washington DC Gambling Sites

You can fund your Washington DC gambling account using both USD and cryptocurrencies across all our listed sites. In addition to offering a very good variety of payment options, many of the featured sites rank among the best high payout casinos and sportsbooks. This makes them especially ideal for high rollers.

Crypto Betting Options

Cryptocurrencies are a popular way to deposit and withdraw funds at Washington DC gambling sites. The best Bitcoin casinos and sportsbooks support a good choice of coins and tokens and extend high limits to all players. In addition, they normally also provide higher-value bonuses than those that are available for USD payments.

eWallet Betting Options

eWallets provide a secure way to fund your account using USD without exposing your main bank account details. However, they are expensive for operators to accept and can also be expensive to top up. As a result, it is becoming increasingly harder to pay with them. Prepaid cards and gift cards are becoming popular alternatives to eWallets.

Traditional Payment Methods

The best credit card casinos and sportsbooks in DC continue to support so-called traditional payment methods. These include debit/credit cards, bank transfers, and payment vouchers. Whilst these options are familiar for most players, they are sometimes unavailable for both deposits and withdrawals. As a result, alternative banking options may be required.

Who Regulates Gambling in Washington DC?

The Office of Lottery and Gaming is officially tasked with regulating the District’s limited gambling activities. Offshore sites, such as the ones featured in this guide, fall outside of this authority’s jurisdictions and are instead regulated by other competent authorities. BetOnline, for example, is licensed in Panama, and throughout our list, you’ll find several Curacao and Costa Rica casinos and sportsbooks.

One of the key objectives of any competent gambling authority is to encourage responsible gambling. This is why all our featured sites offer a page on their website with the aim of helping players keep gambling fun. On these responsible gambling pages, you’ll find helpful resources, including self-check questionnaires and instructions to set voluntary limits. You’ll also find links to professional organizations and charities that can offer additional support.

Tax on Gambling Winnings in Washington DC

Washington DC has one of the highest rates of tax on gambling winnings. All prizes are subject to an 8.5% income tax rate. If the value is $600 or more, prizes are also subject to a federal tax of 24%. Whilst legal gambling sites and lottery providers are required to withhold tax on winnings, offshore sites do not have this requirement.

Washington DC Gambling Apps & Mobile Sites

In addition to offering the best gambling sites in the District, our featured operators also provide top Washington DC betting apps and mobile sites. This means that you can bet on your favorite sports or play the latest casino games directly from your smartphone or tablet.

In order to reduce costs and be accessible to all mainstream operation systems, these providers have chosen not to offer downloadable gambling apps. Instead, they have developed mobile-friendly websites that are accessible from Android, iOS, Windows, and other popular operating systems.

This means that you don’t need to download any software in order to start gambling in Washington DC on mobile. All you need is a modern digital device and a stable Internet connection.

Gambling Sites vs Land-Based Gambling Facilities in Washington DC

As a resident of DC, your options for land-based gambling are extremely limited. Unless you’re willing to travel to neighboring states, you don’t have access to any land-based casinos. Land-based sportsbooks are also missing, though you will find a single licensed and legal sports betting app.

Joining and gambling on top offshore sites provides numerous advantages. Here are the main pros and cons of online betting:

Best Gambling Sites Software Providers

To provide their selection of casino games, the best Washington DC casino apps and sites rely on reputable and creative software providers. Here is an overview of the top five brands and what they are best known for.

Betsoft

Betsoft provides a selection of online slots and table games and is usually featured at all top casinos. This brand is especially known for its Bitcoin slots as well as its 3D animations and stunning visuals.

RealTime Gaming

RTG offers over 120 casino games, including a vast selection of slots and virtual table games. Their games are best-known for featuring higher-than-average RTPs and high limits. As a result, RealTime Gaming’s games are a popular choice among high rollers.

Nucleus Gaming

Nucleus Gaming is primarily a slot creator with a special ability to create mobile-friendly games. As a result, this brand is featured in many of the best casino slot apps in the country. Its creations offer superb entertainment and the possibility for high payouts.

Rival Gaming

Rival Gaming launched in 2006 and has built a positive reputation for its creative slots. Many games by this brand feature less popular themes, such as horror, but also feature innovative game mechanics and winning combinations.

Visionary iGaming

ViG is the leading provider of live table games. Its games are available at the best Live Blackjack sites and feature professionally-trained dealers or hosts. Moreover, this brand lets players choose their favorite range of betting limits, making them suitable for all bankrolls.

Tips How to Stay Safe When Gambling Online in Washington DC

Playing on any of our featured Washington DC gambling sites is safe and fun. Even though they are not regulated by the District’s gambling authority, they are licensed by competent offshore jurisdictions. Even though these sites have implemented a variety of security measures to keep you safe, there are several steps that you can take to protect yourself.

1. Keep Your Main Bank Accounts Separate

You should never use payment methods that are directly linked to your savings to fund your gambling site account. Instead, you should opt to use eWallets, cryptocurrencies, or other options available at the best Ethereum casinos and sportsbooks. In this way, even if your payment method is somehow hacked, your savings will be safe.

2. Set a Budget Before You Start Gambling

At the start of each new gambling session, decide how much money you can dedicate to gambling. Since all forms of gambling are primarily based on chance, you should be prepared to lose your funds. Consider this loss as a payment for the entertainment provided by gambling operators. You should never gamble money that you cannot afford to lose.

3. Use Powerful and Secret Passwords to Protect Your Account

When registering your Washington DC gambling account, you will be asked to enter a password. You should always pick a strong and unique password. In addition, you should never divulge your password to anyone, not even the gambling site’s customer care team. You should also activate two-factor authentication to further enhance the security of your account.

4. Limit Your Gambling Session to a Reasonable Period

It’s best to begin a gambling session with a plan that includes an estimated length of time. Online gambling for long periods can tire you and this can lead to increased frustration and poor judgment. It is up to you to determine what a reasonable gambling session time is, and you can use the site’s voluntary limits to remind you once the time has elapsed.

5. Use Secure Networks to Connect to Washington DC Gambling Sites

Even though you don’t need VPNs to join the best sites for online gambling in Washing DC, you should use them to mask your connection details. When you connect to a site using a VPN, you are hiding your connection details, such as IP address, from individuals and computers that may be spying on you. This makes it much harder for cyberattacks to be successful.

How Washington DC Gambling Compares to its Neighboring States

Here’s how states neighboring DC treat different types of gambling:

• Maryland online gambling is illegal, however, the State is home to several legal land-based casinos and racetracks.
• Unlike in Washington DC, Delaware online gambling sites are legally allowed to operate. These include both online casinos and sportsbooks.
• Virginia online sportsbook laws allow online sports betting. However, online casino gaming is forbidden. Moreover, whilst land-based gambling is permitted, there are currently no establishments offering these such services.

The Best Gambling Site in Washington DC

If you’re looking for the single best Washington DC gambling site, you needn’t look further than BetOnline. This powerful online platform offers all forms of gambling, including sports, games, and lotteries. It is easy and safe to use and allows you to pay using both USD and cryptocurrency.

Join BetOnline today to access the awesome range of gambling opportunities provided by this site. You can choose your favorite welcome bonus with your first deposit and look forward to an almost endless list of ongoing promotions afterward.