Washington, DC, Could Soon Have Poker and Blackjack Table Games
Posted on: May 30, 2025, 08:32h.
Last updated on: May 30, 2025, 09:10h.
- Table games might soon operate within Washington, DC
- The city’s mayor has proposed allowing blackjack and poker
- The city’s economy is changing amid a shrinking federal workforce
Washington, DC, could soon have live dealer blackjack and poker games should the mayor of the nation’s capital have her way.
In her proposed 2026 fiscal year budget, which includes $11.9 billion in local spending, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) is seeking to expand gambling in the District to include certain table games. DC is currently home to a city-run lottery along with retail and mobile sports betting.
With the city’s economy shifting with the loss of approximately 40K federal workers under President Donald Trump’s second administration, Bowser says new tax streams are needed. The mayor’s budget plan includes an array of economic development initiatives, including the Poker and Blackjack Gaming Authorization Act.
If approved by the Council of the District of Columbia, the city’s Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) would field applications for such table game privileges. Businesses would need to pay an application fee of $5,000, with annual renewals set at $1,500. Approved poker and blackjack businesses could pay $2,000 a year for each additional location.
Establishments that sell alcohol would additionally need to satisfy a “card gaming endorsement” from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration each year for $500.
The statute proposes that the city collect 25% of the revenue generated by the tables, with operators regulated by the OLG and required to submit monthly returns to Glenn Lee, the city’s chief financial officer.
Blackjack is among the most popular table games for US gamblers. While baccarat is the game of choice overseas, 21, along with poker, roulette, and craps, is wildly popular stateside.
City Sportsbooks With Table Games?
Bowser’s FY26 budget didn’t include a revenue projection for the possible new gambling games. But with the NFL Washington Commanders returning to the city proper in the coming years with a new stadium at the RFK campus, bringing blackjack and poker games to the city would be another attraction for Commanders and visiting NFL fans.
Bowser’s blackjack and poker condition doesn’t exclude retail sportsbooks from housing the table games. Nationals Park, home of the MLB Washington Nationals, has an on-site BetMGM Sportsbook. At Capital One Arena, home of the NBA Washington Wizards, NHL Washington Capitals, WNBA Washington Mystics, and Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team, Caesars Sportsbooks offers retail sports betting.
The Commanders’ forthcoming NFL venue would likely be an appealing location for a retail sportsbook with table games.
Gaming Expansion, but No Casinos
City officials say they’re seeking new tax money through additional forms of gambling, but they aren’t getting on board with full-fledged casinos. That’s good news for MGM Resorts, which operates MGM National Harbor just across the Potomac River in Maryland with more than 2,200 slot machines and 200 table games.
Speaking with ABC7 News, Nina Albert, DC’s deputy mayor for planning and economic development, said Bowser is simply considering possible economic generators.
The District has enjoyed healthy revenues over the last 20 years and has been growing over the last 20 years,” said Albert. “Our population has grown, our business base has grown, we want to continue doing that, but at this moment to ensure we’re still collecting tax revenue and, as importantly, have jobs for people to go into, we need to be exploring every avenue of growth, including sports and entertainment.”
In presenting the City Council with Bowser’s budget, Lee said the operating margin on the $11.9 billion allocation plan is only $500K. Balanced, but extraordinarily tight amid remaining fluctuating costs.
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