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Lawmakers considering bill to legalize online casinos in Washington, DC
Legislation in the nation's capital aims to legalize and launch real money online casino apps while also banning online sweepstakes casinos.
Lawmakers in Washington, D.C., have been presented with a piece of legislation that would legalize online casinos in the nation's capital. As introduced by Councilmember Wendell Felder, Council Bill 260656 would not only authorize regulated real money online casino apps but also ban unlicensed gaming operators that use a dual-currency system, commonly known as sweepstakes casinos.
Councilmember: Legalizing DC online casinos would be 'meaningful' for District
Calling it the "Internet Gaming and Consumer Protection Act of 2026," Felder called Council Bill 260656 the proposal "a practical, data-informed approach to strengthening consumer protections" while also modernizing the area's regulated gaming framework. On top of that, legal real money online casino apps in Washington, D.C., would keep revenue that is flowing outside of the District's oversight within its jurisdiction.
Felder added that District residents already have access to offshore sites that offer casino-style gaming, but without a legal framework, there is no guarantee or assurance of "meaningful consumer safeguards" such as age verification and security measures to protect users' personal and financial information.