Washington DC Legislation Introduces New Bill to Legalize Sports Betting

The Supreme Court of the United States decided to remove the 1992 law, which banned sports betting in the country. The change in the federal law was due to the challenge from New Jersey. As a result of this monumental decision, Delaware, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, and West Virginia were the first five states to make this practice legal.

 

It looks like Washington DC will be next one to make sports betting legal as Jack Evans, the council member from D-Ward 2 introduced a new bill. Robert White, Anita Bonds, Brandon Todd, Vincent Gray, and Mary Cheh were the other council members who introduced it along with Evans. According to the bill, visitors and residents in the capital will have the right to place bets on sports games. Known as the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018, the bill aims to create regulatory frameworks, which will instill confidence among the consumers.

 

According to Evans, it is important for Washington DC to make the most of the Supreme Court’s decision, as it has the potential to increase revenue for the District. Under the new bill, residents can place wagers in offline and online facilities.

 

If the bill gets passed, the residents no longer have to visit Hollywood Casino, located in West Virginia, to place bets on sports games. Evans stated that by being one of the first, they have a lot to gain from sports betting. However, if they fail to implement the bill, they could lose out on large amounts of revenue, which will go into the pockets of other cities.

 

According to the press release from the council member, the District Lottery will be the ones in charge of providing licenses to the operators. Also, they will report and prohibit fraudulent behavior, to preserve the system’s integrity.

 

Evans believes if the city acts before Virginia or Maryland, they will create a market for sports betting, allowing this practice to thrive in the district. The bill doesn’t only focus on legalizing sports betting; it aims to fund other programs as well.

 

Under the bill, gambling operators have to pay a fee of $5,000, $10,000 or $50,000 to get a five-year license. A portion of the revenue generated will fund “Birth-to-Three for All DC Act,” a program for promoting childhood wellness. The remaining revenue will go to the Commission of the Arts and Humanities. If there is excess, the amount will go to Washington DC’s general fund.