Washington D.C. Real Money Online Poker Rooms & Top Poker Apps in WA

Find the best online poker rooms in WA and learn about gambling laws in The Evergreen State

Hero image
#1 Best poker room
ignition_poker_room
4.5 stars
$1,500 Crypto Bonus

4.5

Overall Rating

18

Top features:

  • Exclusively for US players
  • Broad selection of tournaments
  • Fixed, NL, and pot limit games

What we like:

  • High traffic 24/7
  • Monthly Millions tournament
  • Quick payouts
#1 Best poker room
ignition_poker_room
4.5 stars

Bonus:

$1,500 Crypto Bonus

Top features:

  • Exclusively for US players
  • Broad selection of tournaments
  • Fixed, NL, and pot limit games

Bonus:

$1,500 Crypto Bonus

4.5

4.5 stars
18

What we like:

  • High traffic 24/7
  • Monthly Millions tournament
  • Quick payouts
#2 Rakeback deals
everygame_poker_room
4 stars
200% up to $1,000

4

Overall Rating

29

Top features:

  • Satellites and qualifiers to live events
  • Stakes start at $0.02/$0.04
  • Supports credit cards and cryptos

What we like:

  • 25+ years on the market
  • Great tournament selection
  • Easy to clear bonus
#2 Rakeback deals
everygame_poker_room
4 stars

Bonus:

200% up to $1,000
#2 Rakeback deals

Top features:

  • Satellites and qualifiers to live events
  • Stakes start at $0.02/$0.04
  • Supports credit cards and cryptos

Bonus:

200% up to $1,000

4

4 stars
29

What we like:

  • 25+ years on the market
  • Great tournament selection
  • Easy to clear bonus
#3 Best mobile app
bovada_poker_room
4.5 stars
100% up to $500

4.5

Overall Rating

31

Top features:

  • Guaranteed tournaments
  • Freerolls and SNGs
  • Micro to high stakes

What we like:

  • Reliable customer support
  • Recreational player pool
  • Online since 2004
#3 Best mobile app
bovada_poker_room
4.5 stars

Bonus:

100% up to $500
#3 Best mobile app

Top features:

  • Guaranteed tournaments
  • Freerolls and SNGs
  • Micro to high stakes

Bonus:

100% up to $500

4.5

4.5 stars
31

What we like:

  • Reliable customer support
  • Recreational player pool
  • Online since 2004

Key Things You Need to Know

  • Offshore poker sites aren’t licensed and regulated, but they aren’t against DC’s poker laws.
  • Even playing land-based poker is illegal in Washington D.C.
  • To play legal land-based poker options, you need to head out of the state.
  • Cryptocurrency online poker sites provide anonymity for players based in the District of Columbia.
  • Some tournaments can offer prizepools worth one million dollars or more.

List of the Top Online Poker Rooms in Washington D.C.

  • Ignition – Best online poker room overall in Washington D.C.
  • Everygame – Most generous rakeback deals in D.C.
  • Bovada – #1 native mobile poker app available in D.C.

Reviews of the Top Three Online Poker Rooms in Washington DC

Ignition Poker

Ignition Poker Room

Ignition Poker has been around since 2016 and offers some of the biggest tournament prizepools in the US. Play Texas Hold’em, Stud, or Omaha in cash games, or hit the tournaments and SNGs for a shot at some big prizes.

Cash games are popular at Ignition Poker. However, the biggest traffic tends to be at the lower $0.10/$0.20 levels.

The most valuable tournament at Ignition Poker is the Golden Spade Open with a $1-million-guaranteed prizepool. The Gumball 3,000 is also worth looking up. Its giant $250,000 guarantee ensures a regular turnout every time.

As a new player joining Ignition Poker right now, you can claim a 200% deposit match bonus worth up to $2,000 (USD) when using a debit card. Alternatively, you can earn $3,000 if you use your favorite cryptocurrency. Half of the bonus amount is for the poker platform, and half is for playing slot online at Ignition Casino.

In addition, you can enter a special $2,500 freeroll that’s reserved just for new sign-ups. Start your journey today with a first deposit.

Bovada Poker

Bovada Poker

Bovada Poker used to operate as Bodog, and it’s home to a range of poker variants, such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi, and Omaha Hi-Lo. The poker site has been around since 2004 in one guise or another.

Tournament gameplay doesn’t get much bigger than the Monthly Millions, which supports a $1 million guaranteed prizepool.

As a new Washington, D.C. player, you can claim a straightforward welcome bonus worth 100% up to $500. Use the code PWB500 when you open your account. AMEX, MasterCard, VISA, and Bitcoin are among the deposit options that you can use at Bovada.

America’s Cardroom

Americas Cardroom

America’s Cardroom (ACR) has an immense library of poker games for you to choose from. Playing poker means picking from a host of Texas Hold’em and Omaha games, as well as Seven-Card Stud, Razz, or Hi-Lo.

You can deposit with your regular Visa or MasterCard when you open an America’s Cardroom account. This offshore site also facilitates Bitcoin deposits before you hit the gaming table.

Don’t wait around for a new deal: sign up for a 100% deposit match bonus when you open your account. It’s worth up to $2,000 when you make a deposit.

Online Poker Laws & Regulations in Washington DC – Is It Legal?

Washington, D.C.’s Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act (2018) makes it legal for you to engage in gambling online. D.C. sports betting, the lottery, and daily fantasy sports are now fully legit in the state.

There are several land-based cardrooms available if you travel outside DC. Home poker games, and social gambling, such as charity poker events, are legal according to the capital’s laws.

Can you play poker online in Washington D.C., though? While there are no legal online poker sites in Washington, D.C. yet, betting real money at offshore poker sites isn’t strictly against DC gambling laws.

When Will Washington DC Legalize Online Poker?

It’s tough to say when legal online poker options will arrive in Washington, D.C. Live poker is fine at casinos outside the District of Columbia but given the lack of options to play poker in land-based legal poker rooms, we’re not sure that DC has plans to change anything for the time being. Moreover, there doesn’t seem to be any moves to change the laws to facilitate playing poker over the internet in Washington, D.C.

As touched on, visiting other sites to engage in gambling isn’t illegal under the current gambling laws. It is unregulated, so for the time being, you’ll need to head to the types of sites featured on this page.

How to Choose the Right Washington, D.C. Poker Site for Your Playing Style

Before you play poker at our recommended online poker sites in the District of Columbia, be sure to read our reviews. We have collated the best poker rooms based on game selection, bonuses, and tournaments:

  • Cash game variety: BetOnline Poker
  • Betting limits: Bovada Poker
  • Freeroll availability: Ignition Poker
  • Poker welcome bonus size: Everygame Poker
  • Tournament variety: America’s Cardroom
  • Mobile betting: SportsBetting.ag Poker
  • Rakeback: Everygame Poker

What Varieties of Poker are Available Online in Washington, D.C.?

Let’s explore the five most commonly offered poker games at trusted offshore sites in DC. These include:

Texas Hold’em

This world favorite amongst poker players regularly features in tournaments and competitions. It is the go-to game for anyone wanting to make money long-term. Use any of your two hole cards and five community cards to form the best five-card hand possible.

Omaha/Omaha Hi-Lo

Another favorite variant among DC poker fans is Omaha. This game, like Texas Hold’em, can be played with different limits. However, the hand starts differently as you receive four hole cards instead of two. You must use two of your cards when making a poker hand.

Omaha Hi plays with the best possible poker hand winning the entire pot. In Hi-Lo, the pot may be split between the highest and lowest hands.

Seven-Card Stud

Popular with players in the District of Columbia, Seven-Card Stud sees you make use of seven cards in total (distributed over several betting rounds) to ultimately put together a five-card hand you think will triumph. You can also play Five-Card Stud at some online poker sites.

Boost Poker

Boost Poker is a form of fast-fold Hold’em. You move tables as soon as a hand ends. This increases your hand volume and helps your long-term returns.

Windfall Poker

Windfall Poker is a type of turbo SNG where the prizepool is randomly chosen at the beginning of the tournament. It’s a winner-takes-all tourney, except at the highest level where the prize money is split among every competing player.

A History of Online Gambling and Poker Legislation in Washington DC

Being able to play live poker isn’t an option if you live in DC. Nor can Washington, D.C. residents visit casinos or engage in many gambling options inside the state.

Let’s explore the evolution of gambling in DC with our simple timeline:

  • 1982: Washington passes its first modern gambling laws, allowing residents to bet on the DC Lottery.
  • 2011: The city council in Washington, D.C. approves live poker, online poker, online casinos, and general internet gambling. The decision is struck down by the courts shortly after.
  • 2018: The Supreme Court vetoes the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, clearing any obstacles for legal sports betting in Washington, D.C.
  • 2018/2019: The District of Columbia passes the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act, creating the opportunity for online gambling at sportsbooks and lottery sites. Washington DC casinos remain off-limits, however.
  • 2020: The first legal sports betting sites go live in Washington, D.C.

Can You Play Online Poker for Free in Washington DC?

There are ample ways to play poker for free in DC. The best online cardrooms offer play-money tables where you can learn the rules without busting the bank. From there, it’s a short hop to the micro-stakes cash games and tournaments.

Alternatively, you may enter freerolls. These are free-to-enter tourneys that carry a small prizepool that is shared among the top finishers.

Mobile Online Poker in Washington DC

Online gambling via your mobile isn’t an issue in DC. If you live in the District of Columbia, you can play via a downloadable app or use the mobile browser on any iOS and Android mobile device to play poker over the Internet. In most cases, you must play directly through your smartphone browser.

What Online Poker Tournaments Are Available to Washington DC Poker Players?

You can play tournaments, Sit ‘n Gos, and bounties at top offshore sites if you live in DC. Let’s look at some of the most popular games on offer right now:

Freerolls

Freerolls are free to enter but offer real-money prizes. Some poker rooms offer freeroll tokens when you sign up. However, you still may enter freerolls if you’re a regular player by checking the daily and weekly schedules.

Freezeout Tournaments

Freezeouts are probably the most popular tournaments in the poker room’s calendar. Once you’ve bought in, you have one shot at winning prize money or risk being eliminated. Most SNGs, STTs, and MTTs operate as freezeouts.

Multi-Buy Tournaments

These poker tournaments give you the choice of buying several sets of chips before they commence, giving you the option to fall back on them if needed.

Re-buys

In re-buy tournaments, you can buy back in if you bust out. The re-buy period is limited and usually ends with a short add-on period where you can purchase a final stack of chips. The tourney reverts to a freezeout from thereon.

Guaranteed Tournaments

Guaranteed tournaments offer set prizes that must be honored by the online poker room, regardless of the number of players. The poker site risks paying overlay if there are insufficient players to meet the guarantee.

Online Satellites

With online satellites, you can win entry into bigger tournaments without risking the entire buy-in. Satellites normally start at a free-entry level, though micro-stakes and mid-level buy-ins are also supported.

Bounties

Bounty games award prizes every time you bust a player. The more players you bust, the bigger your profits.

Banking Methods on Online DC Poker Apps

You can choose from an array of banking options when you deposit at Washington D.C. online poker rooms. Use your Visa or MasterCard to make an instant deposit, or dive into your cryptocurrency wallet to transfer Bitcoin in seconds. Withdrawal limits and charges vary from site to site, so always check the terms before you play.

Rakeback at Washington, D.C. Online Poker Rooms

Some online poker sites in DC offer rakeback to their most-valued players. It’s a form of refund on your tournament and cash game fees. Deals vary from site to site, so check our reviews to find out which sites have the best offers.

Top 3 Brick ‘n Mortar Poker Rooms & Casinos in Washington DC

Unfortunately, there are no casinos or poker rooms that are legal in Washington, D.C. You must head out of the state to get your poker fix.

Horseshoe Baltimore

The Horseshoe in Baltimore, Maryland, is a Caesars-run casino that is notable for its 23-table, WSOP-dedicated poker room. This gambling venue offers Texas Hold’em, Stud, and Omaha for its main course. Come for the poker, and stay for the world-famous steak dinners!

MGM National Harbor

The MGM National Harbor is in Oxon Hill, Maryland, not far from DC. Cash tables handle eight per table, but there is plenty of tournament action too across the 45 tables. Look out for the dedicated High-Limit Saloon that spreads everything from big-money No Limit Hold’em to 5-Card Omaha.

Hollywood Casino

Hollywood Casino is less than an hour from the District of Columbia, across the border in nearby Charles Town, West Virginia. The journey is worth it.

At Hollywood Casino, you can take your pick of Hold’em and Omaha cash games and tournaments on any one of 16 tables. Best of all, the poker room runs 24/7, meaning you never have to leave early if you want to make it back to DC.

Land-Based Poker Rooms Planned in Washington DC

We haven’t seen any indication that Washington, D.C. is aiming to open any more land-based poker rooms. For now, if you live in the District of Columbia and want to engage in poker, it is only legal to do so if you cross the state line into West Virginia, Maryland, or neighboring states that have casinos.

Poker Promotions in Washington, D.C.

Looking for gambling bonus deals at online poker sites? Here are some of the great poker deals you can claim today:

Welcome Bonus

Many poker sites welcome players with a handsome bonus. A deposit match deal usually doubles your first lot of funds. However, it’s also possible to claim freeroll tokens, rakeback, and much more.

Freerolls

Freerolls are free-to-enter tournaments that carry a small prizepool. Some online poker rooms offer freeroll entries as part of their welcome package.

Rakeback

Rakeback guarantees a small refund of cash rake or tournament charges. Use your rakeback as pure cash or invest it in other cash games and tournaments on the poker site.

Why Play at Washington, D.C. Poker Rooms Online?

D.C. has no regulated online poker websites at this time. In addition, there are no legal brick ‘n mortar cardrooms in the state. Offshore poker sites are your only option for playing cash games and tournaments, but that needn’t be a bad thing. Here’s why:

Dedicated Bonuses

All our trusted gambling sites offer a bonus of some kind or another for you to gamble with. Some provide dedicated bonuses tied to specific games, tournaments, or activities. Every one of them offers a welcome bonus.

Play Multiple Tables

You can multi-table when you play poker online provided you have a large enough monitor, and you can handle lots of action at once. That’s one benefit of playing online you won’t get in a casino setting.

Poker Tournaments

Online sites support dozens of daily tournament options. Play a short SNG or enter a larger MTT with real-money prizes. You can also jump into regular specials like the Monthly Millions.

24-Hour Access

There’s no reason to stop gambling because you’ve run out of time when playing online. Our trusted online poker sites allow you to gamble 24/7, at any venue, whenever it suits you. The same can’t be said of all brick-and-mortar venues.

Anonymity

Legal poker sites aren’t a thing in Washington D.C. Therefore, playing at anonymous tables in real money poker games may tick your boxes. Cryptocurrency poker sites offer more anonymity than generic offshore websites, so they are well worth a look.

Famous Washington DC Online Poker Players

Washington, D.C. has its fair share of poker pros, and here are some of the best of them:

  • Cole South: South is one of the youngest players out there, but he has already snapped up two money places at the WSOP.
  • James Collopy: Collopy is the all-time top-earning player to come from Washington, D.C, with career winnings of $4.9m.
  • Steven Silverman: Silverman has 27 cashes and two WSOP braces to his name.

Washington, D.C. Online Poker FAQ

Is Online Poker Legal in Washington, D.C.?

There are no legal online poker sites that are regulated in the District of Columbia. However, offshore poker sites aren’t illegal under state laws.  

Can You Play Real Money Poker in Washington, D.C.?

Live poker only exists in home games and social gambling. Casinos aren’t legal in the capital, but you can play with real money at offshore sites.

Where Can I Play Live Poker in Washington, D.C.?

Casinos and poker rooms aren’t available in DC, so you’ll need to head out of the state to play real money poker games. You can find cardrooms in neighboring cities like Baltimore.

What’s the Largest Cardroom in Washington, D.C.?

There isn’t a cardroom operating in Washington D.C. We’d say the MGM National is the biggest “nearby” cardroom.

Can I Play Online Freerolls in Washington DC?

Yes. Top DC poker sites offer freerolls that don’t cost money to enter. However, you have a shot at winning prize money guaranteed by the cardroom.

Are There Comp Points at Washington DC Poker Sites?

Yes, but it is entirely dependent on which poker sites you play at. Earn comps when you play real-money poker games, then redeem your points for cash or to unlock tiers.

Can You Predict the Results of an Online Poker Game?

No. The shuffle and deal of poker cards are governed by a random number generator that is regularly tested. Secure software also ensures you can never see your opponents’ cards.

Are There Any Famous Poker Players from Washington DC?

Yes. Players like Cole South, James Collopy, Steven Silverman, Carlos Chadha Villamarin, and Robert McLaughlin have all made their name in the District of Columbia.

Is Ignition Legal in Washington DC?

Ignition Poker operates offshore but accepts players from Washington. Always check the terms and conditions of offshore poker sites to see which US players are accepted.

Can You Play at BetOnline Poker from Washington DC?

Yes. BetOnline operates in a legal gray area, but it does accept players from Washington, D.C. You may claim a welcome bonus when you open your gambling account at BetOnline.

What’s the Difference Between P2P and Poker Games at Online Casinos?

RNG casino games like video poker are programmed by a computer. Payouts are fixed, and you must overcome a house edge to win. P2P poker games are played among real players making real decisions.

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