If you’ve explored the 68.34 square miles of Washington DC, you’re well aware there are no brick and mortar casinos anywhere. Your only option for gambling in the nation’s capital is driving across state lines or jumping online. Thankfully, there are plenty of great options when it comes to the top Washington DC online casinos. The list we’ve compiled below breaks down the best options available offering safe, secure, and trusted online betting experiences.
When we are looking specifically at the best online casinos in Washington DC, there are several factors that come into play. Further down this page we will discuss what those factors are but right now we want to mention customer safety and security. This is the one must have when it comes to any DC gambling site and with anyone of the recommendations above, you can be totally confident that you will get it.
We also recognize that many people are looking for something in particular when it comes to choosing an online casino. That’s why our experts have taken it upon themselves to review and breakdown the top Washington DC casinos online based on several different categories. You can see those in the next section.
Top Rated Washington DC Gambling Sites by Category
Washington DC casino apps and gambling sites come in all different varieties and some do certain things much better than others. That is why our team has broken down our rankings here into multiple categories to help you make the best choice possible for your needs and desires when it comes to gambling online.
- Best Deposit Bonuses – Las Atlantis
- Fastest Payouts – Bovada Casino
- Most Live Dealer Gaming Options – BetUS Casino
- Best for Video Poker – Slots.lv
- Best Customer Support – Las Atlantis
- Best For Mobile Gambling – BetUS
Any of the Washington DC gambling apps or online casinos that we’ve recommended here are ones that go above and beyond the standards for that particular category. Whether it be for a certain game, payout options or bonuses, each one is a step ahead of others when it comes to that specific characteristic.
Reasons Why These Are the Best Washington DC Online Casinos
The list above was not created with a quick Google search of the best Washington DC online casinos. In fact, no site on our list of recommendations got there by buying their spot. The only way these top DC casino sites made the list is by continually offering the best online casino services in the District. We work hard to only list the best options available, and we work even harder to keep this list up to date.
Here are the three biggest factors we look at during our review and rankings process.
Security, Safety, and Trust
- Site-wide encryption (highest level)
- Dedicated security support teams
- Aggressive approach to digital threat elimination
- A proven track record of offering a safe experience
These are only a few samples of the things we require of Washington DC casino sites to even be considered for our recommended list. We’re adamant that it’s the site’s responsibility to keep you, your money, and your personal information safe while you are gambling online in Washington DC. Unless we’re 110% confident in the safety and security offered, you won’t see us recommending them.
The Right Casino Games
Unfortunately, not a lot of data exists about the most popular real money casino games for residents of Washington DC. All brick and mortar gamblers play in other states, and online casinos aren’t always open about their user stats. This makes it challenging to know which games to focus on when selecting the top Washington DC online casinos.
Here’s what we do. We look for everything. We select the best Washington DC casino sites that offer the highest-quality options for the most games. We shift our focus to finding expansive offerings for the most popular games for money including the following:
Quality, Quality, Quality
This factor is so important we said it three times. To make our list of the best Washington DC online casinos, betting sites need to knock it to the moon with quality. This includes the quality of the games, lobby, customer service, banking, graphics, animations, and more. Outside of security and safety, this is the most crucial factor we assess.
We’ve included a screenshot of our quality control checklist for DC online casinos.
Quality Control Checklist for Washington DC Casinos Online | |
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Are their casino games the newest versions available? | ✔️ or ❌ |
Do they understand the importance of classic game offerings? | ✔️ or ❌ |
Have they upgraded their graphics to high-quality versions? | ✔️ or ❌ |
Do the game animations flow smoothly? | ✔️ or ❌ |
Are their game servers fast enough? | ✔️ or ❌ |
Have their casino games been deemed fair? | ✔️ or ❌ |
Do they have 24/7 customer service options available? | ✔️ or ❌ |
Are Washington DC Online Casinos Legal to Play?
As the District’s stance is so negative against brick and mortar establishments, you’d expect that to be the same with online casinos. However, this is not the case. The Washington DC online gambling laws are not positive or negative; they simply don’t exist. We are unable to find any laws regulating online gambling in Washington DC or stating that it’s illegal here.
Because of this, it’s our interpretation that playing at Washington DC online casinos is legal. For anything to be illegal, it needs to break the law. If there aren’t any laws to break, you can’t break the law. To us, it’s that simple.
Some legal hard knocks argue it’s a gray area, and without regulating language, gambling online in Washington DC is illegal. However, this makes no sense. Here’s a simple analogy. Are there any laws in DC stating running on a treadmill is legal? We’ll save you the search. There aren’t. By their logic, this would make burning those calories illegal. Just because something is not clearly laid out in the law books does not make it illegal.
We predict no changes in the near future for Washington DC gambling laws. While this is not great for those looking for more regulation, it also means no limiting language is expected. We expect the legal status quo to hold for at least the next several years.
Online Sports Betting in DC
Even though DC was one of the earliest adopters of legal sports betting after the 2018 ruling by the Supreme Court, there are still a lot of questions surrounding the best Washington DC betting sites and what they actually are.
There are not a ton of regulated options available to residents and they have made things very complicated with their restrictions and regulations. For that reason, the majority of residents still choose to go with offshore options. The top Washington DC betting apps are currently offshore in our opinion and the ones that get our highest recommendations are as follows:
By choosing any one of the betting apps above, you can feel confident that your money will be safe and you will see quick payouts on your winnings. Be sure to check one or more of them out today to get started.
Lottery Games in Washington DC
Yes! The Washington DC Lottery has actually been around since 1982 and since its inception, the DC Lottery has given out more than $3 billion in prizes and sent more than $2 billion to the District’s General Fund. This fund supports essential services in the District of Columbia.
With the DC Lottery, players are able to play all of the normal types of games that they are used to as well as bet on sports through GambetDC. After looking through all of their different game options we have listed several of our favorites down below, both draw-style and scratch offs.
POWERBALL202 2nd EditionDC Fast PlayMystery MultiplierThe Lucky OneBeltway BucksDC KenoSix Figures
Draw Games | Scratch Games |
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Mega Millions | Washington Football Team |
Are There Lottery Games to Play Online?
The DC Lottery does have online games that you can play at DCiLottery.com. This makes it much easier and more convenient to play the DC Lottery since you won’t need to go to local retailers to buy tickets.
The DC iLottery allows you to play DC-3, DC-4, DC-5, Powerball, Mega Millions and Lucky for Life right online. On top of that, you can play any of their e-Instant games as well. In order to play any of the DC Lottery games, whether online or in-person, you must be at least 18 years or older.
The Law – Brick and Mortar Casinos in Washington DC
If you already know how many casinos are in Washington DC, you can guess correctly where this discussion is going. Brick and mortar casinos are not legal in the area. In fact, Washington DC has the most prohibitive legal language towards brick and mortar gambling in the country. Let’s take a closer look.
Gambling in the District of Columbia is defined as “playing any game of chance for money or property.” The laws for gambling in DC are governed by the Code of the District of Columbia 22-1701. Here are the major takeaways you need to know.
“No house, vessel, or place on land or water, may be set up for gaming purposes. No gambling devices such as slot machines or roulette wheels permitted.” Casinos are illegal in the District.
- Charitable gambling and casino nights are allowed.
- The lottery is legal in Washington DC. (As of 1982)
DC has a strong negative stance against brick and mortar casinos. That being said, their lottery still brings in nearly $230 million yearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are Washington DC Casino Sites Safe?
Yes. There are no risks to you playing at Washington DC casino sites as long as you follow a few straightforward guidelines.
- Never gamble when you’re drunk or emotional.
- Don’t wager on casino games you do not 100% understand.
- Use a strong password, and change it every 60 to 90 days.
- Do not use your online casino account on a shared computer or device.
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How Old Do I Need to Be to Gamble Online in DC?
For most forms of online gambling you need to be at least 21 years old. If you want to play the Lottery or the iLottery, you just need to be 18 years or older.
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What Are the Casino Games I Can Play Online in the District of Columbia?
Any casino game you are used to playing in a brick and mortar setting is available at the best Washington DC gambling sites we’ve recommended here. This includes blackjack, craps, roulette, slot machines, Let It Ride, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, racebook wagering, sports betting, bingo, keno, and daily fantasy sports.
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Can I Play Casino Games for Money in DC?
At brick and mortar locations, no. At the top Washington DC online gambling sites, yes. All of the casino games you’ll find at the online betting sites recommended here are available for real money action. The standard minimum bet at all sites is low at $0.01.
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Can I try these top Washington DC online casinos for free?
You certainly can try all the games for free. Every casino game at these top West Virginia online casinos sites is equipped with a free play option. This option allows you to test out a game, practice a new skill, or get acquainted with a new casino home without any financial risks. You can’t win anything with play money, but it is available and serves a purpose.
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Can I Play Online Poker in DC?
There are actually plenty of options for you to play online poker in DC. In our experience, the best Washington DC poker site to get started at is BetOnline Poker. You can sign up here and receive a first time welcome bonus of 100% up to $1,000.
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Does Washington DC Tax My Online Gambling Winnings?
Yes. You are responsible for reporting any gambling winnings over $600 to the IRS and to Washington DC if you are a resident. The DC tax rate on gambling winnings is 8.5 percent.