Washington DC Online Sportsbooks
While it’s not a state, Washington D.C. has many of the same rights that US states enjoy. One of these, now that the federal PASPA sports betting ban has been overturned by the US Supreme Court (in Washington D.C., no less!), is the ability to legalize Washington D.C. online sportsbooks. To that end, the D.C. City Council has done exactly that, and the D.C. Lottery is currently working on an official online site and app that will allow residents to wager on sports citywide.
However, Washington D.C. sportsbooks have been up and running overseas for years. These offshore operators – sites like Bovada, BetOnline, 5Dimes, BookMaker, BetDSI, SportsBetting, and others – have been accepting D.C. bettors for over a combined 100 years. It’s always been legal for D.C. residents to join these sites, too (even when PASPA was still in effect). An estimated 50,000-75,0000 D.C. bettors use these sites every year, and that number continues to grow. Using these sites is 100% legal, and nobody in the city has ever been arrested, fined, or otherwise legally challenged for being members and making real-money sports bets at these venues. If you want to wager at an online Washington D.C. sportsbook but don’t want to use the pending city-sanctioned app, these online sportbooks for U.S. bettors have everything you could possibly want – and then some!
Is it Legal to Bet on Sports in Washington D.C.?
Yes, it is! In December 2018, the Washington D.C. city council approved the legalization of sports betting, which will be handled by the D.C. Lottery and its partnership with INTRALOT. The deal, though unpopular among some council members, is currently being finalized, with the city hoping to roll out sports wagering over the Internet sometime before the start of the 2019 NFL season. However, those living in D.C. don’t actually have to wait in order to wager on the players and sports they love.
A legal alternative to using the pending city betting platform is to use legal offshore sportsbooks that serve US customers. Washington D.C. residents have access to all the best sports betting sites in the business, with Bovada, BetOnline, 5Dimes, MyBookie, and more all on tap. Signing up is fast and free, and all the real-money wagers you place at these sites are encrypted and guaranteed. The process is totally legal and straightforward, and even when your in-city wagering option finally launches, you’ll want to continue using these sites for their robust odds boards, line shopping opportunities, and promotional perks.
Useful Article: Is Online Sports Betting Legal In The U.S.
Will Washington D.C. Residents Get into Trouble for Placing Bets Online?
In a word, No. In fact, online sports betting in D.C. is safer than ever, with the city recently legalizing its own domestic approach. However, in legalizing land-based wagering in the D.C. city limits, the city council did not simultaneously criminalize the use of offshore betting sites, which are where the majority of D.C. bettors have been placing their sports wagers for decades.
These fully legal offshore betting options remain available to the sports fanatics in Washington D.C., and they’re definitely not going anywhere. However, if you remain unsure about the sports betting laws in Washington D.C., the best way to avoid potential problems with these laws is to rely on the information we provide here. In doing so, you will be able to take advantage of the many sports betting opportunities provided by the legal sites we review and recommend. While each of these sites has its particular strengths and individual focuses (particularly where one game may be more prominent than another), all share one thing in common: They are legal for players in Washington, D.C.!
Where Can Washington D.C. Residents Bet Sports Online?
As we indicated, there are many legal options for where D.C. bettors can wager on sports over the Internet. But just because an online site is legal does not make it attractive or reputable. There are a lot of factors to consider before deciding to dedicate your time and money to an online sports betting site. Security, the variety of sports covered, your data privacy, and a site’s payout policies are important factors to keep in mind.
The sites we have reviewed for you today meet the litmus test where all of these considerations are measured – and they also provide a whole lot of fun! There are a lot of scams out there, and it can be a hassle to wade through them all in the pursuit of the perfect Washington D.C. sportsbook. That’s why we’ve made it our job to do the leg work for you, and we've done it! Pick any or all of the sites we recommend, and we’re confident that you’ll love these trusted, award-winning legal sites if you live in Washington D.C. and enjoy wagering on sports.
Best Online Sportsbooks That Accept Washington D.C. Residents
Bovada Sportsbook – Welcomes Residents From Washington D.C.!
Tell someone the Rangers are +130 over the Bruins, and someone who knows what you're talking about will usually respond, "I saw that on Bovada!" That’s because Bovada is easily the most-visited and most-trusted sportsbook on the Internet, and it’s the biggest sports betting site for D.C. gamblers. For the most current odds, the best information, and the lowdown on nuances that make a longshot look like a sure winner, Bovada is the place to place your bets.
Bovada offers pretty much anything you could ever want to wager on, from casino games, live poker, and horse races to national and international sports like football, baseball, soccer, rugby, darts, bowling, and more. Bovada is available for players and fans in the District of Columbia, and new members can get up to $250 in free plays just for signing up today!
BetOnline Sportsbook – Great Sportsbook Bonus For Washington D.C. Bettors
BetOnline is one of the most popular sportsbooks in The District, as it covers all US and international sports on a daily basis (and even has live betting on most prominent daily contests). In addition to all that, the most outstanding features of BetOnline are in their robust banking options. The site accepts more than a dozen different payment options, including Bitcoin and a host of other cryptocurrencies for quick deposits and payouts.
If you live in Washington D.C. and join BetOnline today, you’ll be able to take advantage of a number of different bonuses. These range from racebook rebates, casino free plays, refer-a-friend perks, and more. However, the most popular BetOnline bonus is their new-member sportsbook promo. When making your first deposit at BetOnline, just enter code “BOL1000” to have the site match your deposit by 50% for up to $1000 in free plays. Pad your bankroll and pad your stats at BetOnline!
5Dimes Sportsbook – Reduced Juice On All Tristate Bets!
When is the last time you placed a bet on your favorite European water polo team? Not a big draw in the District of Columbia, to be sure, but D.C. sports bettors and others throughout the US can find such opportunities to bet on both regular and exotic sporting events when they create a 5Dimes account. Typical US favorites like the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and NCAA betting are available at 5Dimes, too, of course.
5Dimes also has Reduced Juice, which is perfect for those who would otherwise get inflated odds at land-based tristate betting venues. Because D.C. bettors are fans of so many nearby teams, weighted lines are a real concern – but not at 5Dimes. Here, bettors pay lower prices on bets across the board, often getting spread and prop wagers at -105 instead of the industry-standard -110 or -115. At in a $520 welcome bonus, a huge variety of alternate lines, and the most player and team props anywhere, and 5Dimes is a can’t-miss book for all D.C. bettors.
Online Sportsbooks That Accept Washington DC Residents
| Washington DC Sportsbooks | New U.S. Player Bonus | Go To U.S. Betting Site | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Review | 50% Up To $250 | |
 | Review | 50% Up To $1,000 NEW! | |
 | Review | 50% Up To $1,000 NEW! | |
 | Review | 50% New Member Bonus! | |
 | Review | 100% Up To $500 NEW! | |
 | Review | 50% Up To $520 |
Washington D.C. Sports Betting Laws
Historically, sports betting has been the most heavily regulated and restricted area of legal gambling. However, with PASPA a thing of the past, that’s started to change – or, at least, the pastime is becoming legal and available in more areas than ever before. While Washington D.C. isn’t a state, it operates like one when it comes to local laws, and now that the city council has approved sports wagering, the activity is on its way to the area in an official, state-sanctioned capacity. You can read up on the proposed rules and regulations specific to sports betting in Washington D.C. here.
It is important to note, of course, that these proposed rules and regulations don’t actually impact your legal ability to wager at offshore sports betting sites, and many D.C. bettors are continuing to forego local options by signing up at these high-value offshore sportsbooks.
Useful Article: Sports Betting Laws in the U.S.A.
Are Online Sportsbooks Accepting Washington D.C. Residents Regulated?
RThe D.C. Lottery’s sports wagering app (powered by INTRALOT) is absolutely regulated, and the service must comply with all rules and regulations outlined by the Washington D.C. city council. However, the offshore options available to area bettors are not regulated by Washington D.C. or the US government in any way. That’s because they all exist and operate outside the physical, geographical purview of American laws. Transactions with these sites are protected by longstanding trade conventions, and D.C. has taken no chances in rocking the boat. (Offshore is a dangerous place to rock boats, after all!) It is and will remain 100% legal and safe to use reputable offshore betting sites for your D.C. betting needs.
Washington D.C. Is A Good Place To Enjoy Sports + Sports Betting
Long before Michael Jordan brought the Washington Wizards to NBA prominence, the nation's capital was as much a sports hub as it is a political entity. From the early days of the Redskins and Senators to today's Nationals, there are players, teams, and sports that excite the gamblers of D.C. Considering how close Washington D.C. is to many of the most active sports hubs in America, it's no wonder that D.C. residents are some of the most dedicated and intelligent online gamers in the country. Sites such as those reviewed here appreciate the presence of smart, intuitive sports fans that enjoy betting not only on their home teams, but on a variety of sports that call on their followers to be intelligent, aware, and alert. That describes D.C. players to a T!
