Cards On The Table: Poker, Blackjack In The DC Budget Proposal

Poker and blackjack may be coming to the nation’s capital.

Mayor Muriel Bowser of The District of Columbia has introduced the Poker and Blackjack Gaming Authorization Act of 2025, a proposal that would bring legal card gaming to the capital city for the first time.

The proposal is part of the 2026 budget for Washington, D.C.

If passed, the legislation would allow poker and blackjack at licensed establishments throughout the city, with the Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) handling all regulatory oversight. Only venues that receive proper licensing and approval from OLG would be permitted to operate card gaming facilities.

Initial two-year licenses would cost $5,000 to apply, plus another $2,000 for each gaming location. That would come with background investigations and onsite inspections as part of the process.

Renewals would run $1,500 plus $500 per location, and operators could add new locations during renewal for $1,000 each. Even the companies supplying cards and equipment would need permits from OLG.

Revenue and oversight

The proposed legislation includes a 25% tax on gross gaming revenue from poker and blackjack. Operators would need to file monthly returns with the chief financial officer showing how much they brought in the previous month.

The CFO would be responsible for setting the operational rules, covering everything from internal controls and security requirements to betting limits and age verification standards.

Only players 18 and older would be allowed to participate. Establishments that already have certain types of alcohol licenses would need to get an additional annual endorsement for $500 from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration.

OLG would have broad enforcement powers, including the ability to issue fines and conduct audits and investigations. The attorney general could also bring court cases against rule violators.

Implementing the program would require OLG to bring on additional staff — an investigator/licensing specialist and a compliance auditor — costing $249,000 in fiscal year 2026.

D.C. officials aren’t making revenue predictions yet, acknowledging they don’t know how many operators might actually set up shop or whether card games would simply shift gambling dollars from existing activities.

“The District has enjoyed healthy revenues over the last 20 years and has been growing over the last 20 years,” Nina Albert, deputy mayor for planning and economic development, told ABC7. “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.”

The proposal, as part of the entire budget, will be sent to the city council. The council will vote on the budget in July.