A District law to establish Internet gambling through the D.C. Lottery has cleared the congressional approval process, making the city the first U.S. jurisdiction authorized to allow online poker and betting on fantasy sports. At-large D.C. Councilman Michael Brown introduced the idea as an amendment to a December spending bill needed to close a $175 million budget gap in the current fiscal year. The council gave its approval and the 30-day waiting period for Congress to act on it ended last week. The law allows the D.C. Lottery to create online poker and other “games of chance” and betting on fantasy sports leagues similar to those already established on the web, officials said. The city’s chief financial officer estimates the city could raise $13 million in additional revenue from the gambling in fiscal 2014.
A D.C. Lottery spokeswoman said they’re in the early stages of planning and could not immediately comment on specifics.
