Councilmember Jack Evans will introduce bill to legalize sports betting in the District of Columbia

For Immediate Release:  September 18, 2018

Contact: Joe Florio, Director of Communications

Councilmember Jack Evans will introduce bill to legalize sports betting in the District of Columbia

Washington, DC – Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans will introduce the “Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018” on Tuesday during the Council of the District of Columbia’s regularly scheduled Committee of the Whole meeting.

On May 14^th, the Supreme Court of the United States reversed a 1992 law which banned sports betting and today, more and more states are working to legalize and regulate this industry. Sports betting is legal in five states including Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Mississippi, and West Virginia.

Sports betting moved closer to the District with the August 30 opening of sports betting at the Hollywood Casino in Charlestown, West Virginia. The general manager of the Hollywood casino told the Washington Post in August that they were heavily targeting the D.C. metro area because they have the advantage of being, “the only game in town.”

The legislation’s purpose is to legalize sports betting in the District of Columbia, while also creating strong regulatory structures that ensure consumer confidence. The Councilmember’s office worked closely with the District’s Lottery to craft legislation that would maximize the revenue realized by the District. Residents and visitors will be able to bet both online or in person, and the Lottery will have broad powers to ensure the integrity of the system.

“Today, we take the first steps towards capturing this exciting new stream of revenue, instead of watching District resident dollars fill the coffers of other jurisdictions,” said Councilmember Evans. “The District of Columbia will be the leader in a fast-growing industry. The city should take advantage of our ability to act before the Maryland or Virginia legislatures to create a thriving sports betting market, which will attract consumers to the District and generate revenue for District residents.”

A portion of the revenue generated from sports betting may go to partially fund the recently passed “Birth-to-Three for All DC Act” which promotes early childhood wellness programs.

“The Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018” was introduced by Councilmember Evans. At the time of this announcement, Councilmembers Cheh, Gray, and Todd are co-introducers. The bill will be referred to the Committee on Finance & Revenue.

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