Washington Commanders DC Stadium Could Have Adjacent Casino Resort
Posted on: November 21, 2025, 08:18h.
Last updated on: November 21, 2025, 08:18h.
- Construction on the NFL Washington Commanders is to begin in 2026
- A casino resort has been proposed adjacent to the RFK campus
- Casinos would need an act of Congress to come to Washington, DC
The new Washington Commanders stadium in Washington, DC, proper, set to begin construction late next year, could include a casino resort should one real estate developer get their way.
In April, the city and the Commanders’ ownership group, led by billionaire Josh Harris, announced a partnership to redevelop the RFK Stadium grounds, which fell into a state of disrepair after sitting unoccupied since 2019. The $3.7 billion project is to include 65,000 seats under a translucent roof, allowing for climate control and sunlight.
The stadium and its two parking garages are expected to account for just 11% of the 180 acres of land on the banks of the Anacostia River in the city’s Hill East neighborhood.
Talks continue about what residents want to see next to the NFL stadium. While early plans call for housing and affordable housing, parks and recreational facilities, hotels, restaurants, and retail shopping, a new proposal includes a little bit of the Las Vegas Strip in the nation’s capital.
DC Casino
A real estate developer based in Pittsburgh has established an LLC within the district called Chatman Holdings, LLC. The minority and women-led entity has proposed a casino resort on Reservation 13, city-owned land directly south of the RFK campus.
Along with a gaming space, the Chatman bid includes numerous restaurants and bars, a 1,000-room hotel, 75K square feet of convention space, a bowling alley, and a movie theater. The scheme additionally features 900K square feet of office space, 1,400 units of affordable housing, and a grocery store.
Chatman officials project the casino development would create 5,000 construction jobs and 5,000 permanent resort positions.
The proposal was met quickly with backlash. Along with concerns that Chatman has no experience building or operating a casino or a resort of such scale, some local leaders said slot machines and table games aren’t what the area needs.
Would the casino’s economic model depend on the patronage of area residents who have a median income between $40,000 and $50,000? Pulling money from a low-income community is not a win to have more development and a grocery store,” said Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Chanettia Nelson.
Other advisory commissioners, however, expressed at least interest in the casino concept.
More jobs are created with a casino,” said Commissioner Shirley Thomson-Wright. “I heard the mayor speak about gambling on several occasions. I think it will carry weight once we hash out the kinks.”
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has backed a city bill to authorize poker and blackjack games. However, the Poker and Blackjack Gaming Authorization Act has stalled in the City Council.
Act of Congress Needed
DC’s gambling options currently include the city-run lottery, in-person and mobile sports betting, and small charitable games of chance.
To allow for a casino, the City Council and the mayor would need to sign off on legislation to authorize casinos within the district. From there, the bill would head to Congress, where the federal lawmaking body would have 30 days to approve the measure. If it fails to act, the statute becomes law.
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