Washington, DC, Could Soon Have Poker and Blackjack Table Games

If the mayor of Washington, DC, gets her way, the city might soon feature live dealer blackjack and poker games. 

In her suggested budget for the fiscal year 2026, which allocates $11.9 billion for local expenses, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) aims to broaden gambling in the District by incorporating specific table games. DC currently features a city-operated lottery alongside retail and mobile sports wagering. 

Due to the city's economy changing with the departure of around 40K federal employees during President Donald Trump’s second term, Bowser states that additional tax sources are required. The mayor's financial proposal features a variety of economic growth initiatives, such as the Poker and Blackjack Gaming Authorization Act. 

Should the Council of the District of Columbia give its approval, the city’s Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) would accept applications for those table game privileges. Companies will be required to submit an application fee of $5,000, with yearly renewals priced at $1,500. Licensed poker and blackjack establishments may be charged $2,000 annually for every extra site. 

Businesses that sell alcohol would also be required to obtain a “card gaming endorsement” from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration annually for a fee of $500. 

The law suggests that the city should gather 25% of the income produced by the tables, with operators overseen by the OLG and mandated to provide monthly reports to Glenn Lee, the city's chief financial officer. 

Blackjack ranks as one of the most favored table games for gamblers in the US. Though baccarat is favored abroad, 21, together with poker, roulette, and craps, is extremely popular in the United States. 

City Sportsbooks Featuring Table Games? 

Bowser’s FY26 budget lacked a revenue forecast for the potential new gambling games. With the NFL Washington Commanders set to come back to the city in the next few years with a new stadium at the RFK site, introducing blackjack and poker games to the area would provide another draw for Commanders and visiting NFL supporters. 

Bowser's blackjack and poker regulation does not prevent retail sportsbooks from hosting the table games. Nationals Park, where the MLB Washington Nationals play, features an on-site BetMGM Sportsbook. At Capital One Arena, which hosts the NBA Washington Wizards, NHL Washington Capitals, WNBA Washington Mystics, and Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team, Caesars Sportsbooks provides retail sports betting. 

The Commanders' upcoming NFL stadium could serve as an attractive site for a retail sportsbook featuring table games. 

Gaming Growth Without Casinos 

City officials state they are pursuing new tax revenue through expanded gambling options, but they are not embracing full-scale casinos. This is positive information for MGM Resorts, which manages MGM National Harbor located just across the Potomac River in Maryland, featuring over 2,200 slot machines and 200 table games. 

In an interview with ABC7 News, Nina Albert, the deputy mayor for planning and economic development in DC, mentioned that Bowser is merely evaluating potential economic drivers.

"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.”

While presenting Bowser’s budget to the City Council, Lee stated that the operating margin on the $11.9 billion allocation plan is merely $500K. Consistent, yet exceptionally constrained due to ongoing variable expenses.