INFORMATION NOT CURRENT!!!… This page has not been updated since October 1, 2011. The lottery modernization plan has since been postponed indefinitely. Update coming soon.
Summary
The city council of the District of Columbia has already enacted the “Lottery Modernization Act” into law. The city’s lottery operator, D.C. Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board (D.C. Lottery), proposes that its initial internet gaming offerings will be launched as “free play,” rather than operated for real money wagering. Throughout October and November D.C. Lottery is conducting community outreach meetings in each of the city’s eight wards to educate the community about its plans and to address concerns of the community.
Lottery Modernization Act
In December 2010, the city council of the District of Columbia passed a law to amend its budget for fiscal year 2011 (Bill 18-1100 – Fiscal Year 2011 Supplemental Budget Support Act of 2010). The bill was signed by Mayor Vincent Gray on January 27, 2011. The bill was subsequently sent to U.S. Congress for review, in compliance with a legislative procedure that is unique to the District of Columbia. On April 8, 2011, the bill became effective as D.C. Law 18-370 after U.S. Congress declined to act within its allotted time frame. Subtitle G of D.C. Law 18-370 is the “Lottery Modernization Act of 2010.”
The Lottery Modernization Act amends the sections of the D.C. Official Code which deal with lotteries and number games (DC ST § 3-1313. Operation of lottery). The definition of “a lottery or lottery games” is amended so that it now includes “games of skill and games of chance.” The Act allows a lottery or lottery games to be operated on the internet as long as the D.C. Lottery can verify that customers are located within the city’s territorial limits.
Proposed iGaming Internet Demonstration Game (free play) Rules
On June 17, 2011 the District of Columbia Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board published official notice of its proposed rulemaking in the D.C. Register. The Board proposes to add a new Chapter 26 – Games Offered Over the Internet, to Title 30 (Lottery and Charitable Games) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.
D.C. Lottery proposes to initially limit its endeavors to free play “Internet Demonstration Games” in which players can wager only “points or credits that [D.C. Lottery] provides to participants free of charge and that can be used or redeemed only for participation in games or contests offered by [D.C. Lottery].” The set of proposed internet demonstration games includes Victory at Sea, Blackjack, Texas Hold’em, Bingo, Electronic Instant Tickets, and Random Number Generated Games.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission Meetings
Throughout October and November the D.C. Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board will conduct Advisory Neighborhood Commission Meetings in each of the City of Washington D.C.’s eight wards. Meeting schedules and procedural information is provided on the igaming section D.C. Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board website.
Other Research Sources
Council of the District of Columbia website
D.C. Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board website