{"id":372283,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:48","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/dc-law\/district-of-columbia-gambling-laws.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:50:41","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:50:41","slug":"district-of-columbia-gambling-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/dc-law\/district-of-columbia-gambling-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"District of Columbia Gambling Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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District of Columbia Gambling Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Seat of the nation’s government, the District of Columbia takes a limited approach to unregulated gambling<\/a>. Gambling, whether it’s horse-racing or slot machines, is regulated at the state level. Strictly speaking, there are no commercial or tribal casinos in D.C., nor any pari-mutuel options. There are also no licensed casinos or card rooms in the Nation’s Capital.<\/p>\n

Legal Gambling in D.C.<\/h2>\n

D.C has several games of chance<\/a> under the umbrella term "lottery<\/a>." Players must be 18 years of age or older, but a person under 18 may receive a lottery ticket as a gift and be paid a lottery prize subject to certain rules.<\/p>\n

Charitable Gambling<\/h2>\n

Charitable gambling is permitted in various formats in D.C. Qualifying organizations can conduct games of bingo, raffles and "Monte Carlo" nights. Charitable gambling is overseen by the D.C. Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board<\/a> .<\/p>\n

Taxes<\/h2>\n

Federal Law requires the Lottery to report winnings of more than $600 to the IRS and to withhold 25 percent<\/a> of any claim of more than $5,000. other words, if one person wins the jackpot and chooses the $389 million lump sum payment, $97 million will go straight to the IRS.<\/p>\n

The same is true at the state level. While lottery winnings are subject to state income tax in most states, withholding tax varies from zero (California, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and the states with no state income tax) to over 12 percent in New York City. In D.C., the tax rate is 8.5 percent.<\/p>\n

Problem Gambling<\/h2>\n

The National Council on Problem Gambling can provide support to those with an addiction to gambling. Problem gambling\u2013or gambling addiction\u2013includes all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt or damage personal, family or vocational pursuits. The essential features are:<\/p>\n