DC Sweepstakes Ban Bill Races the Year-End Clock
Published · Gamebridge News
Washington, D.C. could be the next place to ban sweepstakes casinos. But time is running short.
The bill is B26-0656, the Internet Gaming and Consumer Protection Act of 2026. Councilmember Wendell Felder introduced it in April. It would do two things at once. It would legalize online casinos under the DC Office of Lottery and Gaming, or OLG. It would also outlaw the dual-currency sweepstakes casino model in the District.
On November 2, SBC Americas reported that several industry sources believe the DC Council could still pass the bill before the end of 2026. The current council period ends on January 2, 2027.
The path is narrow. The council calendar lists legislative meetings on November 10, December 1 and December 15. First, the Committee on Human Services must mark up the bill and send it to the full council. SBC Americas says that committee has not acted since its only hearing, which ran nearly four hours on May 4.
Politics adds another twist. DC voters choose a new mayor to follow Muriel Bowser on Tuesday, November 3. The ballot also includes the council chair, two at-large seats and four ward seats. If the bill misses the December 15 meeting, it would have to be brought back in 2027 before a partly new council and a new mayor.
The sweepstakes part of the bill is broad. It covers any game or platform that uses two or more currencies, credits or tokens, where at least one can be redeemed for cash or prizes. The OLG could send cease-and-desist orders, and the DC Attorney General could sue. Each day of a violation would count as a separate violation.
Felder made his case in his introduction letter. He wrote that DC residents wagered about $700 million on unlicensed platforms in 2024. “The policy question is whether the District will regulate it effectively or allow it to remain unregulated,” he wrote.
Not everyone agrees. At the May hearing, DraftKings called online casino a “natural next step,” while Stop Predatory Gambling opposed the bill. ARB Interactive, the owner of Publishers Clearing House, testified against the sweepstakes ban. Councilmember Christina Henderson summed it up: “The jury is still out on this.” Lines.com says the November 10 agenda is the first one to watch.
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