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Legalizing online casinos in Washington, D.C. could pressure neighboring states
Should lawmakers in the nation's capital decide to push forward with legalizing real money online casinos, it could cause a ripple effect in the DMV.
The wave of potentially legalizing online casinos has reached our nation's capital, as lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are considering a Council Bill to authorize regulated iGaming. While time will tell if the proposal makes any headway, should it cross the finish line, or even come close, it could play a role in neighboring states to follow suit – particularly Maryland and Virginia.
Recapping bill proposal to legalize D.C. online casinos
As proposed by Councilmember Wendell Felder, Council Bill 260656 – also known as the Internet Gaming and Consumer Protection Act of 2026" – aims to legalize online casinos as a "practical" way to strengthen protections for consumers, who, according to Felder, are already gambling with unregulated platforms.
By authorizing real money online casino apps in the District, officials would be able to offer a safer avenue for online gambling while also keeping revenue from flowing outside of the area.
According to Felder, initial annual tax revenue generated by new online casinos could reach tens of millions of dollars, which the District could use to support behavioral health services, responsible gaming programs and broader community investments.
A public hearing for the proposal is scheduled for May 4. But if the bill gains traction, it could have a more widespread impact beyond Washington, D.C.
Virginia, Maryland could feel pressure to regulate iGaming
Should legislators continue to push Council Bill 260656 forward, neighboring states could feel the pressure to revamp efforts to legalize casino games online. That is especially true for Maryland and Virginia, which see a number of residents commute to D.C. on a daily basis.
Both jurisdictions are no strangers to considering online casino legalization. Earlier this year, Virginia saw a bill fall short of passage, though it's likely lawmakers will resume conversations in 2027.
Meanwhile, in Maryland, there was much support from casino operators in the state to regulate online casinos, though no bills made it out of committee.
Should Washington, D.C., succeed in legalizing online casino gaming, or even games like online keno for real money, it would assuredly create more urgency for Virginia and Maryland to do the same. Like D.C., both states offer legal online sports betting, and all three jurisdictions have big-name brands such as BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, Fanatics and FanDuel. Then, residents could take advantage of the latest DraftKings Casino promo code.
In the nation's capital, the iGaming proposal would give licensed sportsbooks an expedited review and approval for an online casino license. That means if D.C. approves Council Bill 260656, those online sportsbooks would be cleared to apply for and receive online casino licenses, creating an advantage for the District over its two neighbors.
