License Name
District of Columbia Sports Wagering Operator License
- Direct message
- Leave a review
- Bookmark
- Share
- Report
- prev
- next
Issuing Country/Region
United States – District of Columbia
Regulatory Body
Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG)
Types of Regulated Games
Sports betting (retail and mobile)
Market Coverage
Local (District of Columbia)
Regulator's Reputation
Good
Legal Entity Requirements
Business registration with a valid Basic Business Number and local business participation required
Minimum Share Capital
Not specified in public sources
Directors and Shareholders Requirements
Approval of all controlling persons; disqualifying offenses bar licensure; required CBE participation plan for most applicants
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Requirements
Compliance with federal and local AML regulations and D.C. Lottery Minimum Internal Control Standards (MICS)
Data Protection Requirements
Internal controls must address data security according to OLG MICS
Reporting Requirements
Regular reporting to OLG as per license conditions and MICS
Audit Requirements
Subject to audits by OLG; annual financial audits required
Software Certification Requirements
Gaming software must comply with MICS and may require certification/testing
RNG Certification
Not applicable (sports betting does not use RNGs as in casino games)
Payment System Requirements
Use of secure, auditable payment systems required
Server Location Requirements
Not specified in public sources
Domain Name Requirements
Not specified in public sources
Language Support Requirements
Not specified in public sources
Currency Support Requirements
US dollars (USD) mandatory
Legal Compliance Costs
Varies; includes legal, CBE planning, and application costs
Background Checks
Mandatory criminal background checks for key persons and owners
License Scope Restrictions
Cannot offer sports betting within certain proximity of Class A facilities; no bets on D.C.-based college teams or events held in D.C.; no high school sports betting
Jurisdictional Tax Compliance
Subject to D.C. gambling tax regulation; see income tax field for rates
Player Data Storage Requirements
Must comply with internal control and data security policies
Cross-Border Operations
Operations restricted to within D.C.; online/mobile betting must also be geofenced to the District
License Application Transparency
Application reviewed by OLG and some elements (such as partner CBE information) are public
Regulatory Contact Point
OLG Regulation and Oversight Division
Compliance Officer Requirement
Licensees required to maintain compliance with MICS and designate responsible persons
Local Partnership Requirements
Class A and B applicants must demonstrate significant CBE participation or receive a waiver
Legal Dispute Resolution
As per D.C. law; legal disputes resolved in D.C. courts
License Transferability
Not specified in public sources
Sub-Licensing Rules
Not permitted according to regulations
License Cost
Class A: $1 million (five years); Class B: $100,000 (five years); Class C: $2 million; DC Lottery-Operated Retailer: $5,000 (two years)
Annual Fees
Class A: $500,000 (renewal, five years); Class B: $50,000 (renewal, five years); Class C: $1 million (renewal, five years); DC Lottery-Operated Retailer: $5,000 (two years)
Income Taxes
Class A: 20% of gross revenue; Class B: 10% of gross revenue; Class C: 30% of gross revenue
Player Winnings Taxes
Not specifically mandated for withholding in public sources
Financial Guarantees
Bonding requirement as determined by the OLG
Liquidity Requirements
Not specified in public sources
Financial Reporting Requirements
Regular, detailed reports per D.C. MICS and regulations
Application Processing Time
Application filing can be completed in up to 90 days; OLG review up to 45 days
Required Documents
Basic business license, business plan, CBE plan, financial disclosures, background check info, operating agreement, other supporting documents as required
Business Plan Requirements
Mandatory, including CBE capacity building plan
Internal Policy Requirements
AML, KYC, responsible gaming, data security policies required under MICS
Testing Requirements
Internal controls and technology testing per MICS
Certification Requirements
Compliance with MICS; outside software certification as required by OLG
Staff Qualifications
Not specified in public sources
Physical Office Requirements
Not specified in public sources
Local Representative Requirements
Must have significant local business participation
Marketing Restrictions
Compliance with DC advertising laws; prohibitions on targeting minors and restricted groups
Responsible Gaming Measures
Required by OLG; self-exclusion, information provision, and responsible gaming controls
Self-Exclusion System
Self-exclusion mechanism must be in place
Age Verification Procedures
Mandatory under local law; typically 18+
KYC Procedures
Customer identification policies as required under AML and MICS
Customer Support Standards
Not specified in public sources
Complaint Handling Procedures
Complaints must be addressed per licensee policy and may be escalated to OLG
Player Funds Protection
Policies for the protection and segregation of player funds required
Payout Timelines
Not specified in public sources
Bonus and Promotion Regulations
Promotions must comply with state advertising and consumer protection laws
Permitted Games List
Only sports betting; no casino-style gaming permitted
Betting Limits
OLG sets maximum bet limits via regulation
RTP Requirements
Not applicable
Jackpot Regulations
Not applicable
Live Game Requirements
Not applicable
Mobile App Compliance
App must comply with geofencing and other OLG standards
Affiliate Program Rules
Not specified in public sources
Security Standards
Must comply with OLG internal control and security requirements
Encryption Requirements
MICS require protection of sensitive information; SSL/TLS encouraged as standard practice
Backup Requirements
Licensees must have backup procedures as per internal controls
Monitoring Systems
24/7 system monitoring and reporting required under MICS
Operation Logging
Detailed logs of betting and operational activity required; must maintain audit trails
Anti-Fraud Systems
MICS require robust anti-fraud controls
API Integration Standards
Not specified in public sources
Hosting Requirements
Not specified in public sources
CDN Usage
Not specified in public sources
Scalability Requirements
Not specified in public sources
Uptime Requirements
Not specified in public sources
Technical Support Availability
Not specified in public sources
License Duration
Five years for most operator licenses (two years for DC Lottery-Operated Retailers)
Renewal Procedure
Complete renewal application and payment of renewal fee before expiration
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Fines, license suspension or revocation for violations
Ownership Change Rules
Licensees must notify OLG in writing of significant changes within 10 days
Mergers and Acquisitions Rules
Subject to OLG notification and approval
Subcontractor Regulations
Use of subcontractors must comply with CBE requirements and OLG oversight
Branding Requirements
DC license must be displayed at premises and within mobile applications
Intellectual Property Protection
Required for software and content
Dispute Arbitration
D.C. statutory dispute processes and court jurisdiction
Insurance Requirements
Not specified in public sources
Charity Contributions
Not specified in public sources
Staff Training Requirements
Not specified in public sources
Innovation Support
Not specified in public sources
Sustainability Initiatives
Not specified in public sources
Accessibility Standards
Not specified in public sources
Multilingual Support
Not specified in public sources
Cryptocurrency Support
Not specified in public sources
Esports Betting Regulations
Not specified in public sources
Fantasy Sports Regulations
Not specified in public sources
Official Address
Office of Lottery and Gaming, 2235 Shannon Place SE, Room 5007, Washington, DC 20020
Online Application Portal
https://dclottery.com/olg/sports-wagering-application
Work Hours
Monday to Friday, 08:15 – 16:45
Facebook URL
https://facebook.com/DCLottery
Twitter/X URL
https://twitter.com/DCLottery
YouTube URL
https://youtube.com/user/DCLottery
Departments
Regulation and Oversight Division, Licensing Unit, Compliance and Enforcement
FAQ Question 1
What is District of Columbia Sports Wagering Operator License?
FAQ Answer 1
The District of Columbia Sports Wagering Operator License authorizes businesses to offer legal sports betting within Washington, DC, regulated by the Office of Lottery and Gaming.
FAQ Question 2
Which jurisdiction issues District of Columbia Sports Wagering Operator License?
FAQ Answer 2
The District of Columbia Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) issues the license in Washington, DC.
FAQ Question 3
What is the cost of obtaining District of Columbia Sports Wagering Operator License?
FAQ Answer 3
Class A: $1 million for five years; Class B: $100,000 for five years; renewal fees and other classes differ.
FAQ Question 4
What are the main requirements for District of Columbia Sports Wagering Operator License?
FAQ Answer 4
Key requirements include business registration, CBE local business participation, background checks, internal controls, AML and responsible gaming policies, and compliance with all OLG rules and MICS