Washington, D.C. 2025 budget quietly seeks to legalize live dealer card games at stadium-based sportsbooks
Washington, DC, may soon see poker and blackjack tables added to its sports venues, following a quiet proposal embedded in Mayor Muriel Bowser’s 2025 budget plan. The initiative would legalize live dealer card games at select Class A sports betting locations, such as Nationals Park, Capital One Arena, and Audi Field, expanding entertainment options at facilities that already host sportsbooks.
Rather than introducing standalone legislation, the Bowser administration inserted the proposal into the broader budget as a way to advance the plan without triggering the lengthy public or political processes that typically accompany new gambling legislation.
On page 15 of the budget document, the city outlines the Poker and Blackjack Gaming Authorization Act of 2025, a move that has drawn both interest and scrutiny. The city says this move just allows them to study what it would look like and start a dialogue with the outside marketplace.
Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Nina Albert explained that the goal is not to turn the District into a gambling destination akin to Las Vegas, but to explore regulated opportunities that could support jobs and tax revenue without opening the door to full-scale casinos.
“The District has enjoyed healthy revenues over the last 20 years and has been growing over the last 20 years,” Albert said.
“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.”
Under the proposal, individual businesses could apply for a license at a cost of $5,000 for a two-year term. That provision opens the door for hotels, bars, and restaurants to potentially host poker or blackjack tournaments, creating new opportunities for local hospitality operators.
“There is an infrastructure that came from sports betting, so I hope this will be a lot more seamless when this happens,” said Ian Thomas, a principal at Offit Kurman who advised businesses during the early rollout of sports betting in DC. He sees potential for poker rooms in hotels and restaurants, similar to models in Florida, where local revenue from such operations can reach $12 million.
Although the city has not released official revenue projections, Albert said multiple event models are under consideration. These include one-off marquee poker events, monthly tournaments, or even daily play, each carrying its own financial implications.
“You can have a single marquee event, you can have multiple monthly events, or you can have daily events,” Albert explained. The DC Council is expected to deliberate and vote on the full 2025 budget in the coming months.
https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/05/30/106492-washington-dc-2025-budget-quietly-seeks-to-legalize-live-dealer-card-games-at-stadiumbased-sportsbooks