Best Washington DC Gambling Sites in 2024

Online sports betting became legal in Washington DC when the Sports WageDC Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 was signed in May 2019, and the first bets were placed in 2020. The home of some of the country’s biggest franchises, such as Washington Commanders and Washington Wizards, this Act was a giant leap for the people of Washington.

Of course, its not only people from Washington who can benefit from the betting sites in the District Capital, but also any traveling visitors or bettors from neighboring states who travel across state borders to place wagers. With a handful of top US Sportsbooks to pick from, bettors in Washington have no shortage of betting coverage and exhilarating sports betting bonuses.

Best DC Sports Betting Sites and Apps

Currently, there are only a handful of legal sports betting sites that operate in Washington DC. The legal age for gambling in Washington DC is 18 and would-be bettors need to be in the District Capital to place bets. They do not need to reside in DC, so if you are only passing through, you can still access all the betting markets and stake your wagers.

Betting App Considerations:

It is important to note that Gamebet DC is owned by the DC Lottery. Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM have licenses to operate in Washington DC, but bettors must be within a two block radius of the retail locations to bet at either sportsbook.

Let’s delve into these Washington betting sites and see exactly what each has to offer.

Caesars Sportsbook Washington DC

Caesars Sportsbook is one of the most renowned brands in the US, and it has a retail location in Washington DC in Capital One Arena. There is no better place to pick your wagers than the stadium where the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals play! The sportsbook has a highly rewarding loyalty program and a chunk of big bonuses. Caesars is also an official partner of the NBA, NFL, and NHL. You can find bets on those sports leagues, as well as plenty of other events. Covering over 15 sports, including niche markets such as Lacrosse, Cycling and Aussie Rules, Caesars has something for every bettor. Every day you can expect new feature bets in the Bet Boosts category, and these are not only for the major sports but extend to all important sporting events and competitions.

With its impeccable credentials and generous bonuses, Caesars is a hugely popular option for Washington DC bettors. You can also live stream NFL games in full HD quality on the site or through Caesars’s thrilling betting app.

Top Features:

• Android and iOS Betting App
• Caesars Rewards Program
• Extensive Betting Options
• SGP, Parlays and Round Robin Options
• Live Streams for NFL and More
• Daily Odds Boosts, Parlay Insurance, Tournaments

BetMGM Sportsbook Washington DC

BetMGM, like Caesars, operates loads of land-based casinos in America and abroad. Baseball fans can get excited about BetMGM, as its retail sportsbook is located in Nationals Park, where the Washington Nationals play. Naturally, the Washington DC betting site is flush with baseball bets, from a diverse variety of futures bets to inspiring game and player props, that can lengthen any parlay tremendously. The sportsbook provides betting markets for all the most popular sports in Washington, with a high emphasis on football, basketball, ice hockey and soccer, besides baseball.

It is also worth noting that BetMGM is a great sportsbook for fans of MMA, Golf, Tennis and many more. It has one of the best welcome bonuses around, and bettors will have plenty of chances to extend their funds going forward, with Odds Boost tokens, Parlay Boosts, Free-to-play games and massive player contests.

Top Features:

• Android and iOS Betting App
• BetMGM Loyalty Program
• Competitive Lines
• Teasers and Detailed Round Robin Bets
• Easy Parlay Live Betting and Exceptional Streams
• Odds Boosts, Parlay Boosts and Free-To-Play Games

Gamebet DC and Lottery

Gamebet DC Sportsbook is the official sportsbook of Washington DC and does not have the same location restrictions as Caesars or BetMGM. It is easy to sign up for and has sleek mobile apps for Android and Apple users, but the game cards and betting options are not quite as diverse as its competitors. If you are a casual bettor, you will probably not even notice that it is a bit limited, as you can still bet on over 10 sports and have a good range of player bets, props and standard betting markets. Football, basketball, hockey, soccer and baseball pro leagues are all covered, and you can also find the occasional college sports game or two.

So what exactly is missing you may think. Well, there are preselected SGPs, player props, totals and halves/quarters markets, but within these categories, there are not many options. You cannot find alternate lines for many props, nor find player props for more than 2 or maximum 3 players in one game. That, and the fact that the juice is a little higher than at the other sportsbooks, may turn pro bettors away from Gamebet DC Sportsbook. However, if you are not within 2 blocks of the retail locations of Caesars or BetMGM, then you can always rely on Gamebet DC  to provide you with your betting options in Washington DC.

Top Features:

• Android and iOS Betting App
• Less Location Restrictions
• Parlays and Round Robin Betting Supported
• Easy Parlay Live Betting and Exceptional Streams
• Multi-Sport Parlay Boosts and Insurance Bonus Bets

What Could Be Improved:

• Limited Betting Variety
• No Live Streaming

FanDuel Sportsbook – Retail Only (Pending Live)

It will be another cataclysmic step for bettors if FanDuel launches its live sportsbook and betting app in Washington DC. Currently, it has a retail sportsbook at Audi Field, where MLS soccer team DC United plays. FanDuel has a ton of great bonuses and a variety of betting markets that sports fans can take advantage of.

FanDuel has some highly competitive betting lines and prices its odds generously, giving bettors good value for money. It may only bring a few cents here or there, but you can really feel the difference when placing multiple selection parlays or round robins, or when you check your bankroll at the end of the month.

Top Online Sweepstakes Casinos in Washington DC

Online casino games for real money are not permitted in the District Capital. There are no legal online casinos in Washington DC, and we highly recommend players to avoid using offshore casinos as they do not operate legally and therefore are not reliable.

Instead, we would guide you towards the Washington DC Sweeps Casinos. On these sites, you can play all the best casino games without using real money. Sweepstakes casinos use virtual currencies, such as Gold Coins, which you receive when you sign up and through numerous promos. You can use these Gold Coins to start playing your favorite games, and there is an abundance of choice. If you have played some online slots, table games or live dealer games, then you may recognize some of the game developer studios that provide the games for Washington DC Sweepstakes Casinos. These include NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Real Gaming, Habanero, Playson, and so on.

Check out what welcome offers you can snap up at the following Washington DC Sweeps Casinos.

Washington DC Sports Betting Legalization Timeline

After the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 was repealed, a number of states immediately took the reigns and proposed bills to legalize sports betting. Washington DC did not spend too much time in forming a proposal for the US Congress, to legalize retail and online sports betting.

• May 2018 – Repeal of PASPA
• January 2019 – The Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act was signed and handed to Congress
• May 2019 – The Act is approved by the US Congress and becomes law
• May 2020 – The first sportsbook, GamebetDC goes live and takes bets
• June 2021 – BetMGM launches in Washington DC
• August 2021 – Caesars Sportsbook goes live in Washington DC

College Sports Betting in DC

College betting is permitted in Washington DC, but unfortunately, you cannot place bets on local college teams or collegiate events. Therefore, fans of Georgetown Hoyas, George Washington Colonials, or the American Eagles cannot bet on their teams within Washington DC. Instead, they can bet on March Madness or NCAAF games that do not involve those teams.

Gaming Laws & Tax in Washington DC

Bettors must be at least 18 years old to sign up for a sportsbook and place wagers. The law also states that bettors must pay tax on their winnings, but Washington DC only charges a 10% tax. This is extremely low, especially when compared with the neighboring states of Virginia and Maryland, where bettors have to pay 15% taxation on their winnings.

DC Sportsbooks vs Neighbor States

Though the betting options for bettors in Washington DC are ample, it is always worth knowing what other opportunities lie beyond the District Capital. Virginia and Maryland both provide online sports betting sites and mobile apps for sports fans. They have slightly more options than DC, which may tempt some bettors to sign up for sports bets in those states.

MD Sportsbooks and Betting Sites

All the top US betting sites operate in Maryland, so you can really swing for the fences with your betting predictions. BetMGM and Caesars operate in Maryland as well. If you have an account with Caesars Sportsbook, you can have multiple accounts for each state you travel to, and simply toggle location between DC and Maryland. BetMGM has a slightly less complicated system, in which you have one consolidated BetMGM account that can be used in all states where the sportsbook operates.

Here are the top sportsbooks you can sign up for in Maryland:

• Caesars Sportsbook
• BetMGM Sportsbook
• DraftKings
• FanDuel

VA Sportsbooks and Betting Sites

The Old Dominion, or Virginia, has a plethora of great sportsbooks to pick from, including Caesars and BetMGM. There are far more options for sports bettors in Virginia, including a range of retail sportsbooks in land-based casinos around Chesapeake Bay. You don’t even need to go that far either, as you can even head into Arlington across the Potomac River, head over to a sports bar and start placing the bets on your mobile betting app.

• Caesars Sportsbook
• BetMGM Sportsbook
• FanDuel
• DraftKings
• Betway
• SI Sportsbook

Most Popular Sports in Washington DC

The District Capital is home to some of the biggest franchises in US sports, with fanbases that stretch across the whole country. Washington DC only covers under 70 square miles, and so all the stadiums and arenas are within close proximity of each other. The city is one of only 13 cities in the US with teams in all four major professional men’s sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA). It also has a prominent soccer following and some top collegiate teams, though you will not be able to bet on any local college events unless you go into Virginia or Maryland.

Football – Washington Commanders

Washington DC sports fans are hugely passionate about football. The Washington Commanders play in FedExField, which is located in Landover, Maryland, and is only 5 miles east of Washington DC. The Commanders have been a part of the NFL since 1932, and they play in the East Division of the National Football Conference. The franchise won 2 NFL Championships prior to the NFC-AFC merger in 1970, and since then they have added a further 3 Super Bowls to their NFL Championship tally. After beating the Buffalo Bills in the 1991 Super Bowl, the Washington Commanders went into a slow decline. The Commanders were owned by Daniel Snyder from 1999 up until 2023 when they were acquired by Josh Harris for a cool $6.05 billion. Under new ownership and with lots more investment in the stadium and facilities, the Washington Commander fans will hope for a breakthrough and success in the upcoming years. The Washington Commanders have deep rivalries with the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Giants, and the Philadelphia Eagles. The diehard fans look forward to those games with huge anticipation, and some may dare to place some thrilling wagers to back the Commanders.

Basketball – Washington Wizards & Washington Mystic

Fans of basketball, especially those who watched Michael Jordan, will instantly recognize the Washington Wizards. After all, this was the team that the legendary basketball player finished his career. The Wizards are massive in Washington DC, and games at the Capital One Arena are usually sold out. This is not only because the Fan Experience and seating at the arena are quite cheap, but because of the relentless devotion that NBA fans in Washington DC have for the team. Though not many of the fans were around when the Wizards won their last NBA Championship, in 1978. This does not take away any of the excitement at all, as the Wizards have some of the most fun players to watch in the competition.

The Washington Mystics were formed in 1998, and play in the WNBA. The team is the women’s counterpart of the Washington Wizards and plays at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington DC. The team did not have an easy start in the WNBA, reaching two all-time-low records in 2001 and 2003. After slight improvements in its results, the team slumped to the bottom once again in 2008. This all changed in 2010 when the Mystics took first place in the Eastern Conference and then went on to the NBA Finals, where they lost to Atlanta Dream. In 2018, the team reached the WNBA Finals again but lost to Seattle Storm. They returned to the WNBA Finals the following year, beating Connecticut to win their first WNBA Championship.

Baseball – Washington Nationals

2019 was a fairytale year for baseball fans in Washington. The Washington Nationals won the World Series, beating the Houston Astros 4-3 in the finals. The team plays in the National League, East Division, where they compete against the Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies. The team was originally called the Montreal Expos, and based in Quebec Canada. Even then, the Nationals had a rivalry with the Phillies, but the rivalry increased when the franchise relocated to Washington DC in 2005. The team was rebranded as the Washington Nationals, and in 2008 it moved to Nationals Park in Washington DC. Though the Nationals still have only one World Series to date, they are hugely popular in DC.

Hockey – Washington Capitals

The Caps, or Washington Capitals, play in the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference of the NHL. The team was founded in 1974 and has won 1 Stanley Cup and 2 Conference Championships. The team’s only NHL Championship win came in 2018, when they beat the newly-founded Las Vegas Knights in the Stanley Cup Finals 4-1. The standout player during this season was Alexander Ovechkin, who broke many NHL records in the process. He was awarded the Rocket Richard trophy at the end of the season, for the seventh time in his career. Ovechkin still plays for the Caps, and alongside assist-maestro Nicklas Backstrom, the team is one of the most exciting to watch in the NHL. It is even more exciting for bettors, as they can find multitudes of player props, specifically goal scoring bets on Ovi for the Caps.

Soccer – DC United & Washington Spirit

DC United was formed in 1996 and plays at the Audi Field in Washington DC. In its inaugural season, the team won the MLS Cup and went on to win the US Open Cup. It was a hugely successful introduction for Washington DC in US soccer, and the team powered on in the next few years to win two more MLS Cups, the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and even the inter-continental Copa Interamericana. The team has had plenty of success since then, and has attracted fans from outside the US as well. In 2018, Wayne Rooney joined DC United, and though he did not win any trophies with the team, he pumped up the viewership figures of the team. The main man to watch at DC United now is Christian Benteke, who joined the team in 2022. Playing alongside homegrown talents such as Ted Ku-DiPietro and Jackson Hopkins, Washington soccer fans will hope to see some more trophies added to the team’s silverware.

Washington Spirit also plays at Audi Field and is a top NWSL team. Though it did not have the same rampaging start as DC United, Washington Spirit paced itself with its ascension to the top, and won its first NWSL Championship in 2021. It was a fierce campaign, and goalie Aubrey Bledsoe was pivotal in bringing the team to a third place finish during the regular season, for which she won the MVP. Ashley Hatch registered 11 goals during the regular season and playoffs, to help guide Washington Spirit to their first NWSL Cup.

How We Pick the Top Washington DC Sportsbooks

The most important criteria that we look for in a sports betting site is whether or not it is legal. We only review betting sites that operate legally in Washington DC and advise bettors to stay away from offshore sportsbooks. The main reason is that no gambling regulator ensures you will receive your money from offshore betting sites. At state-recognized betting sites, you can send money through to your account without any fear of losing that money. Our betting sites are obliged to pay out your winnings. They also operate with security features such as SSL data encryption and firewalls to ensure all your personal details are safe.

After checking whether a sportsbook is legal or not, we evaluate and test its services. This includes going through all the sports coverage and checking out what types of betting markets the sportsbook has to offer.

Then, topping up an account and making a note of how quickly and efficiently the sportsbook manages deposits. We also analyze the sports betting bonuses, reading the fine print and rating how valuable the sports betting bonuses are. No review is complete without a test of the customer support channels. This is another crucial element of sports betting, as you always need support that is both reliable and swift in its response time.

Start Betting on Sports in Washington DC

After choosing a Washington sports betting site, you can register an account, make a deposit, and start betting within minutes. All you need to do is click on the Sign Up or Join button, submit a username and password, and then fill in a registration form. The form will require personal information such as your date of birth, address, contact information, cell number and the last 4 digits of your SSN.

Once you have done that, you can verify your account by providing the further documents that are needed, and you are good to go. The personal information and documents that you submit will be kept safe under lock and key. In fact, the sportsbooks only require the information to confirm your identity, which is part of Washington DC gambling law.

With your account up and running, you can make your first deposit by navigating to the cashier page and then selecting a deposit method. Deposits are handled immediately, so as soon as you confirm the transaction from your bank or eWallet, your betting account should be topped up. You can also download the mobile apps (for Caesars or BetMGM) when your account has been made. These can be found in the Google Play Store and Apple Store, and only take a few minutes to set up. You can also manage your deposits and withdrawals through the app, in the same way that you would on a desktop.

Types of Online Sports Bets in DC

Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM Sportsbook both have a large selection of betting markets, and our top tip for all sports bettors is to know what bets they have at their disposal. By learning about all the different betting markets and types of system bets that you can form, you can take advantage of all the features these betting sites have to offer.

Standard Betting Markets

The three main betting markets you should know are the moneylines, point spreads and totals bets. These are offered on virtually every sports event and are the three most commonly picked selections.

Moneylines are bets on who will win a game or match. For example, Washington DC NFL fans can bet on the Washington Commanders to win their next game. These are mostly two-way bets, unless you are betting on a sport in which there are more possible outcomes. For example, in soccer, games can end with either team winning or in a draw. Therefore, you can bet on team A to win, team B to win, or on the game to end in a draw.

Point spreads are bets that level the playing field by using a betting line. This line balances out the chance between the favorites and underdogs, so effectively, they have an equal chance of winning. For example, let’s say there is a game between the Washington Wizards and the Milwaukee Bucks where the Wizards are the underdogs. The sportsbook offers a betting line of 5.5, giving the Wizards a boost of +5.5 points and the Bucks a -5.5 point deficit. If you bet on the Wizards to win, then you need them to either win the game or lose by up to 5 points. As long as they do not lose by 6 or more points, you have won your bet.

Totals are bets on the number of points or goals that will be scored during a game. This betting market also introduces a betting line, and you have to simply bet on whether the game will end with over or under that number of points. It does not matter which team wins the game, or if one team ends up scoring all the points or goals. As long as the combined score of both teams at the end of the game is in the range of points you bet on, you win your bet.

Alternative Betting Markets

So we have talked about betting lines, but now we can explore them a little further in the alternative point spreads and totals markets. Basically, the simple spreads and totals try to find the exact balance, so the odds are -110 or thereabouts. You are essentially betting on a result that has a 50-50 chance of winning.

With alternative markets, you can look for higher or lower betting lines, to change the odds to your liking. Be careful though, as they can be a lot more risky. For example, if the spread on the Commanders is -4.5 and you pick a line of -10.5 then you will need the Commanders to beat their opponents by a margin of 11 or more. The odds will be a lot longer, but your bet is far more of a longshot. The same goes for totals bets, when you pick a higher combined score and then bet over, or pick a lower combined score and bet under.

Player Bets

If you have a favorite player in the Washington Commanders, Washington Wizards, Washington Nationals or any other team, then you can back your player through player props. What types of bets are on offer varies widely between sports. NFL fans may be able to pick out bets on passing yards, touchdowns, and various similar bets. In basketball games though, you may find bets such as player points, three pointers, assists, rebounds, and more. It is always worth checking out player bets, as the odds can sometimes be extremely generous.

Live Bets

Live betting is one of the most exciting parts of online sports betting. If you have an account with Caesars or BetMGM, you can download the designated betting app and then open up the betting markets whenever you like. This is highly recommended for live bettors, as they can always check the odds on live betting markets, and occasionally snap up some flash bets.

The odds on live bets change continuously throughout a game, to reflect what is happening on the court or the field. If you are good at anticipating what will happen next and can pick out some early signals, you can put your hunches to the test through live betting.

Another aspect of live betting is the cash out feature. Both BetMGM and Caesars offer cash outs, which you can trigger at any point in the game. These are payouts that the sportsbooks offer on your bet. If your bet is winning, you will have a generous cash out. However, if your bet is losing, then your cash out will be significantly smaller. It is always a good option to have and can cut your losses or lock in some winnings when necessary.

Futures Bets

Futures are bets that relate to a whole season. Instead of betting on individual games each week, you can bet on how far you think your team will go in the championship. As a supporter of the Washington Commanders, you can check out the odds on them to win the NFC East Division, Conference Championship, or even the Super Bowl.

Be sure to also look out for special futures such as player awards, coach awards, and more. For more specifics, you can refer to our betting props page, where we go into detail about what types of props are on offer at Caesars and BetMGM Sportsbook.

Parlays and SGP Betting

Parlay bets can be extremely profitable and fun to try out, but you should also be cautious about how you use them. When you have picked a few selections that you want to bet on, you can choose to place each bet individually or combine them into a parlay for far longer odds. The odds for each bet are then multiplied against each other, and you can form some pretty lucrative bets. Experiment with them a little and you can see how adding one bet can lengthen the odds tremendously, or taking out one bet significantly diminishes the odds. All the odds are calculated for you on your bet slip, so you can play around with your parlays before committing and staking your wager.

Same game parlays are multiple leg bets all on the same game. For example, you can form a bet on the Washington Commanders to win their game, for the game to end with over 25.5 points, and for your favorite player to score a touchdown. The idea is quite simple: if you know the teams and players in one game very well, then why look to parlay your bet with other games? You can bet on multiple aspects of one game, combining totals, moneylines, player bets and more. Although you should know that some bets cannot be combined into SGP bets, as they may have overlaps.

Round Robins

Say you want to go for the lengthy odds but are not 100% sure about one or two of your selections. Instead of scrapping your bet, you can always try a round robin bet. This is basically a parlay bet in which you do not need all your selections to win. This bet will take all your selections and make a number of cross parlays, so you can still receive some returns if one or more of your bets fail to come through. Caesars and BetMGM both offer round robin bets, and you can add loads of selections to your bet to increase your potential returns.

Betting Basic Strategy for Washington DC Bettors

As a casual bettor, it is fun to occasionally stake lengthy parlays or thrilling player bets, and see if your predictions come through. Your winnings can be put into staking a few more bets or you can cash out and enjoy your profit. However, if you bet more regularly, then you may want to get a little more out of your wagers.

While there is no guarantee that you will win your bets, you can still approach your wagers with tact and a winning strategy. Here are a few tips that all bettors can benefit from.

Bank Smart

A losing streak or a big win may not be as dramatic when you consider the bigger picture. If you want to ultimately make a profit from your betting, you should always think about how much you are spending and making in the long run. Forming a budget is crucial, as you should never end up spending more than you can afford to lose.

If you bet regularly, then having some kind of budget or limit is even more important. BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook both have responsible gambling tools that let you set how much you can deposit each week or month. Once you have your budget, it will be much easier to organize your betting.

You can experiment by allocating some funds to parlays or to single bets, and even leave a little extra for your longshot bets.

Take Up Sportsbook Promos

When there is a big hyped-up game or the playoffs start, you can expect the top Washington DC sports betting sites to start serving promotions. Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM are both renowned for offering generous bonuses. These are displayed both on the betting site and through each sportsbook’s betting app, so it is highly worth downloading the apps to stay ahead of any offers.

But taking up a sportsbook on their offer is only the start of it. You should also try to stretch the offer as far as possible, to get the most out of the offer. What we mean by this is that if there is a deposit or reload bonus, then you should plan ahead and try to make a big deposit, to claim as much as you can from the bonus. The same goes for profit boost tokens, where it is better to try to exploit that bonus as much as possible by placing a bigger stake. Of course, you should never go overboard with your spending, but instead, maximize any bonus as far as your budget allows.

Try Different Betting Markets

Always sticking to the same types of bets works for some but it does not work for all. If you are on a losing streak though, it may be good to mix things up a bit. Especially if you are starting to lose some confidence or settle for bets that you are unsure about. The idea here is not to go out and bet on new sports or on teams that you have never seen before, but instead to tap into your sports knowledge and see if there are other aspects of games that you can have more success at predicting.

You can substitute your moneylines for halves or quarters bets (or periods for hockey bettors). So instead of betting on the full time winner, maybe you can find more luck betting on which team will be ahead at half time, or whether the two teams will be level at that point in the game.

Or, go for the game props where you have to predict certain statistics in the game. To get a little taster, football bettors can bet on total touchdowns, winning margin, which team will call the first timeout, which team will reach 10 points first, and many more.

Try them out for small stakes, and see whether your alternative betting choices work. If they do, you can put them to the test in the following game week, and then, providing continued success, they may be worth implementing into your weekly wagers.