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Wendell Fielder, chairman of the city’s subcommittee on local business development, introduced the Internet Gaming and Consumer Protection Act of 2026 this week.
“This bill reflects a practical, data-informed approach to strengthening consumer protections, modernizing our gaming framework, and capturing revenue that is currently flowing outside of the district’s oversight,” Fielder wrote in a letter introducing the plan.
Bringing Players Into A Regulated Market
In the legislation, Fielder notes that D.C. residents wagered $700 million on unlicensed gaming platforms in 2024. The councilman hopes to bring many of those users into a regulated environment that could benefit the city.
“These figures make clear that iGaming is not a new activity – it is already occurring,” he said. “The policy question is whether the district will regulate it effectively or allow it to remain unregulated.”
Fielder pointed to states where iGaming has succeeded as examples to follow, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan. He projected that the city could bring in “substantial new tax revenue over time” and could help fund “behavioral health services, responsible gaming programs, and broader community investments.”
The bill would legalize online poker and other casino games, and the Office of Lottery and Gaming would be charged with regulating the industry. Operators would pay a non-refundable application fee of $2 million; the license could be renewed every five years for $500,000.
Sports betting operators already in the city would receive an expedited review to add online gaming. The industry would be taxed at 25% of gross gaming revenue. The first $500,000 would be used to address gambling addiction and behavioral health concerns in the city.
The remaining funds would be earmarked for the general fund, with 90% of that then divided equally among the Office of Victims Services and Justice Grants, Department of Employment Services, and Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking.
Sweepstakes Banned, Shared Liquidity Poker Part Of Plan
Additionally, sweepstakes gaming operators would be banned as part of the legislation. The bill includes language for sharing poker liquidity with other markets. The city has a population of just about 672,000.
Washington D.C. legalized mobile sports betting in 2018, but it has seen some struggles along the way. The district began with a one-operator approach, but abandoned that structure in 2024. First, it brought in FanDuel, then it allowed other operators for a more competitive market.
Whether online gaming gets passed in the nation’s capital remains to be seen, but former Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed for legalizing live poker over the last few years.
Source: https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-ne...ino-poker-legislation-filed-in-washington-d-c
“This bill reflects a practical, data-informed approach to strengthening consumer protections, modernizing our gaming framework, and capturing revenue that is currently flowing outside of the district’s oversight,” Fielder wrote in a letter introducing the plan.
Bringing Players Into A Regulated Market
In the legislation, Fielder notes that D.C. residents wagered $700 million on unlicensed gaming platforms in 2024. The councilman hopes to bring many of those users into a regulated environment that could benefit the city.
“These figures make clear that iGaming is not a new activity – it is already occurring,” he said. “The policy question is whether the district will regulate it effectively or allow it to remain unregulated.”
Fielder pointed to states where iGaming has succeeded as examples to follow, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan. He projected that the city could bring in “substantial new tax revenue over time” and could help fund “behavioral health services, responsible gaming programs, and broader community investments.”
The bill would legalize online poker and other casino games, and the Office of Lottery and Gaming would be charged with regulating the industry. Operators would pay a non-refundable application fee of $2 million; the license could be renewed every five years for $500,000.
Sports betting operators already in the city would receive an expedited review to add online gaming. The industry would be taxed at 25% of gross gaming revenue. The first $500,000 would be used to address gambling addiction and behavioral health concerns in the city.
The remaining funds would be earmarked for the general fund, with 90% of that then divided equally among the Office of Victims Services and Justice Grants, Department of Employment Services, and Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking.
Sweepstakes Banned, Shared Liquidity Poker Part Of Plan
Additionally, sweepstakes gaming operators would be banned as part of the legislation. The bill includes language for sharing poker liquidity with other markets. The city has a population of just about 672,000.
Washington D.C. legalized mobile sports betting in 2018, but it has seen some struggles along the way. The district began with a one-operator approach, but abandoned that structure in 2024. First, it brought in FanDuel, then it allowed other operators for a more competitive market.
Whether online gaming gets passed in the nation’s capital remains to be seen, but former Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed for legalizing live poker over the last few years.
Source: https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-ne...ino-poker-legislation-filed-in-washington-d-c
