Office of Lottery and Gaming Releases Draft Sports Wagering Regulations

June 14, 2019 – The Office of Lottery and Gaming (Office) today announced the release of its proposed rules governing sports wagering in the District of Columbia. These 90-pages of proposed rules, published in the District of Columbia Register, support implementation of the “Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018” passed by the D.C. City Council in December 2018.

The regulations are subject to a 30-day public comment period before they can be formally adopted.

Beth Bresnahan, executive director of Lottery and Gaming, said, “The regulations, when final, will provide a solid regulatory framework that fosters public confidence and trust in the integrity of sports wagering operations in the District and they will incorporate best practices that have been established in other states.” The new regulations also take into consideration the concerns of those potentially impacted by the legalization of this new category of gaming through the inclusion of strong consumer protections and responsible gaming requirements as well as constituencies operating within the industry.

The Office will be positioned to license qualified applicants in time to begin sports wagering in early September through a process in the proposed rules that will allow applicants licensed in other “Office-approved gaming jurisdictions” to receive a provisional license while completing the necessary steps for a standard operational license. The Office’s proposed sports wagering regulations can be read online. 

Comments should be filed, in writing, no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of the proposed rules in the D.C. Register. Comments should be filed with Antar Johnson, Senior Counsel, Office Lottery and Gaming, 2235 Shannon Place SE, Washington, D.C. 20020, or emailed to SWRules@dc.gov. Copies of the proposed rules may be obtained between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the address stated above.

###