In a significant legislative move, the DC Council has recently enacted amendments to its sports betting laws, known as the “Sports Wagering Amendment Act of 2024.” This update marks the first major revision to the District’s gambling regulations in over four decades, specifically targeting Title II of existing legislation.
Approved by the Committee of the Whole in late May, the amendments grant Class A and Class C operators the authority to launch online and mobile sports betting platforms accessible to individuals physically located within DC. However, operators must secure at least a provisional license to legally offer these services.
Under the revised guidelines, the definition of sports wagering and what constitutes a sporting event has been clarified. According to the new provisions, a sporting event now encompasses “any professional sporting or athletic event, collegiate sports, esports, and other sanctioned events, excluding those primarily involving participants under 18 years old.”
The Council’s definition of sports wagering has also been refined to include “accepting wagers on sporting events, individual athlete performances, and various betting types like single-game bets, parlays, and in-play wagers.” These activities can be conducted both in-person and online, through websites or mobile applications.