Poker in Washington, D.C.: Live, Cashgames, Tournaments
If you want to play for real money poker cash games in Washington, D.C. in District of Columbia District of Columbia with 681.170 inhabitants, you will need to visit a official casino or a poker room.
In Washington, D.C. and throughout District of Columbia District of Columbia, poker is considered a game of luck. Therefore, it is solely accepted in casinos to gamble for real money. On this page we present you all the different options to play poker in Washington, D.C. and explain you the legal framework in District of Columbia District of Columbia.
Legal notice: Is it legal to play poker Washington, D.C. ?
Poker Cash Games can meet in District of Columbia District of Columbia and therefore also in Washington, D.C. the element of the offence of illegal gambling. Punishment according to these laws is if one hosts a public game of chance or takes part in it.
Is poker in District of Columbia District of Columbia classified as a game of chance?
The problem of whether poker is a game of chance is still to be answered. However the legislation in United States and therefore also in Washington, D.C. rates poker as a game of luck. The national casinos in United States have of course a license.
Poker in pubs in Washington, D.C.
Risk for the pubs & hosts: There is possibility of losing the official permission to operate a restaurant in Washington, D.C. if you make yourself liable to prosecution.
Conclusion
- Poker cash games are generally not legal in United States and therefore also in Washington, D.C..
- The casinos in United States have a licence.
- Often it is very challenging for the authorities in Washington, D.C. to verify prohibited gambling.
- Tournaments are considered a game of skill, cash games a game of luck
Please note that the information provided does not constitute legal advice under the law and cannot replace legal advice, as such advice always requires knowledge of all individual circumstances, in particular of the specific individual case.
Cashgames: Real money poker games in Washington, D.C.
Real-money games are publicly illegal in Washington, D.C.. If plan to poker for real money in Washington, D.C., you will have to go to casinos & poker clubs and poker rooms in the surrounding area. Please check out the section on Home Games if you are looking for additional options.
Poker tournaments in Washington, D.C.
Poker tourneys in Washington, D.C. are no problem under certain conditions. Tournaments are legal as long as no real money is paid out, but the award is a non-cash prize. Furthermore, big poker tournaments take place often in District of Columbia District of Columbia! For an fast list of the upcoming tournaments in Washington, D.C., please search for our tournament calendar.
Poker Clubs: The best poker rooms in Washington, D.C.
Additional alternatives are offered by the various poker clubs & poker rooms with tournaments in and around Washington, D.C.. With us you will find a good list of all poker clubs & poker rooms in Washington, D.C.:
Live poker in casinos near by Washington, D.C.
You are not able to play live poker in Washington, D.C. in any casino in the city center. District of Columbia District of Columbia has its casinos mostly in small towns and outside the heart of the city. It is certainly fast to visit them by car or public transport. Most have on top an own transfer busses. In case you decide to go by your own car, all casinos offer spacious parking facilities for poker enthusiasts. Meanwhile, however, just each casino in United States is offering poker games. There are different poker tournaments and events where you can participate. On our site you'll see a summary, arranged by federal states, of all places offering poker with their individual games and all important infos. Within a radius of Washington, D.C. you will see a good variety of casinos with poker games with a decent driving time.
Homegames: Pokern for real money in Washington, D.C. in private locations
In Washington, D.C. the laws of the federal state District of Columbia District of Columbia applies. If you want to organize legal poker home games in Washington, D.C., you must be aware of these points.
Is it a public poker round?
If the poker game is not public, it can be allowed in general and does not have to justify any criminal liability. A poker round is public after the jurisdiction in District of Columbia District of Columbia, if "it is made outwardly recognizably accessible to a not firmly closed circle of acquaintances". The best example of this is the poker for substantial amounts of money in Washington, D.C.'s bars, which usually anyone can access. It's forbidden.
Habituality
Even a closed society can be considered public in District of Columbia District of Columbia based on § 285 II StGB, if gambling takes place there according to law.If the round takes place regulardy, it is illegal in private rooms in Washington, D.C. as well as in public. So, if cash games are played for every week on the same day, it does not matter if it is a private room or not. Both are not allowed.
The best Online Poker Rooms in comparison
Please be aware that online poker is regulated in most states. There are currently 4 states that offer legal online poker for real money in the United States – New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Pennsylvania became the latest to join this group when PokerStars went live in the state on Nov. 4, 2019.
- WSOP/888 US is currently the only poker site that shares online poker players between all three legal online poker states (NJ, Nevada & Delaware). It’s currently the #1 US online poker site by traffic.
- Poker Stars – New Jersey and Pennsylvania
- Party Poker – New Jersey only
- Pala Poker – New Jersey only
Non-regulated online poker sites in the United States are online poker platforms that operate without the oversight of a governmental regulatory body, such as a state's gaming commission. This means they do not have to adhere to the same rules and regulations that regulated sites do, which can sometimes pose significant risks for players. Important considerations for players on non-regulated sites include the potential for unfair games, lack of protection for player funds, and legal risk. Unfair games can occur if the site's software is not regularly audited for fairness. In terms of financial protection, non-regulated sites might not separate player funds from operational funds, which can pose a risk if the company goes bankrupt. Additionally, it is important to note that while playing online poker is not explicitly illegal at the federal level in the U.S., state laws vary widely and some states have laws against playing poker on non-regulated sites. Therefore, players should be well-informed about their state's specific laws before deciding to play on non-regulated sites.
