Washington, DC, could be taking its first steps toward allowing live poker and blackjack inside sports arenas. Tucked into Mayor Muriel Bowser’s 2025 budget plan, a proposal would allow certain locations—like Nationals Park, Audi Field, and Capital One Arena—to offer live dealer card games.
Good to know
- Proposal is part of the 2025 budget, not a standalone bill.
- Poker and blackjack could be added to Class A sports betting venues.
- Local businesses like bars and hotels could apply for licenses.
Instead of pushing for separate legislation, the city included the Poker and Blackjack Gaming Authorization Act of 2025 within the budget document. By doing so, officials hope to ease the rollout without going through lengthy public or political debate. The act appears on page 15 of the budget proposal.
City leaders describe the move as exploratory rather than a push to turn DC into a casino hub. They want to test how regulated poker and blackjack might function in a city that already permits sports betting.
Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Nina Albert made the administration’s position clear. “The District has enjoyed healthy revenues over the last 20 years and has been growing over the last 20 years,” she said. “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.”
Licenses Could Expand Access Beyond Arenas
The plan allows businesses to apply for two-year licenses to host live dealer games for $5,000. That means hotels, restaurants, and bars could get involved—offering poker tournaments or blackjack nights to attract guests and generate revenue.
Attorney Ian Thomas, who previously advised on DC’s sports betting rollout, sees a smooth transition. “There is an infrastructure that came from sports betting, so I hope this will be a lot more seamless when this happens,” he said. Thomas compared the setup to Florida’s poker rooms, which can produce up to $12 million in annual revenue for local operators.
Various Event Models Under Review
The city has not shared any revenue projections yet, but officials are looking into multiple options. These could include single major events, monthly poker tournaments, or daily live games. Each setup would carry different revenue potential and regulatory requirements.
“You can have a single marquee event, you can have multiple monthly events, or you can have daily events,” Albert said. These ideas are still in early discussion stages, and no final decision has been made on implementation.
The DC Council will review the entire budget, including the card game proposal, in the months ahead.
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