GENERAL OVERVIEW
The DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) supports the development, economic growth, and retention of District-based businesses and promotes economic development throughout the District's commercial corridors.
DSLBD envisions a business environment: District businesses are connected in real-time with local, federal, and global business opportunities; businesses navigate government quickly, confidently, and effectively and, every entrepreneur and business with a great idea and a great plan has the capital to make it happen.
Act 22-594, the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018, amended by Act 23-2, was signed into law on January 23, 2019, and transmitted to the U.S. Congress for review on February 7, 2019. This legislation cleared congressional review and became law on May 3, 2019. The law did the following:
- Legalized sports wagering in the District of Columbia;
- Designated the Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) to assume two distinct roles in the District's sports waging offerings: regulator and operator; and,
- Designated DSLBD to assume a unique role in the District's sports wagering offerings of ensuring CBE Plan compliance by all participating entities.
DSLBD is dedicated every day to ensuring that District small and local businesses have access to all District marketplaces. With D.C. Sports Wagering, this new industry will create many potential opportunities. DSLBD is here to ensure that District Certified Business Enterprises have a fair shot at all the possible opportunities. For this result, DSLBD, in collaboration with the OLG, requires that all entities seeking to participate in D.C. Sports Wagering have an approved CBE Plan that DSLBD will monitor and enforcement is followed.
CBE PLAN APPLICATION
After receiving your application, a licensing file is created with a timestamp, and a Compliance Specialist is assigned to review and evaluate your CBE plan. DSLBD will review and process your CBE Plan within thirty (30) days. A copy of your CBE Plan will remain on file for the Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) and DSLBD for review and processing.
You may also be contacted during the process to determine your eligibility and respond to questions regarding your CBE plan on file. In addition, you will be given five (5) days to respond to inquiries regarding your CBE Plan. If you do not respond to requests from DSLBD staff within the five (5) day period, your file will be denied, and you will be prohibited from going any further in your licensing application.
If your application is approved, a copy of the approval will be emailed to you, with a copy sent to the Office of Lottery and Gaming to include in their final review process.
If your application is denied, you will be provided with an explanation. Reasons for denial include: insufficient information, failing to meet the three-day response deadline, or other issues discovered during the initial review process.
CBE PACKET INSTRUCTIONS
CBE Capacity Building Plan – This document serves as the financial plan which the Applicant will implement over the course of its five-year license. It should clearly articulate and identify the needs of sports wagering and how, on an annual basis, small businesses will fulfill these roles. The document will describe the goods and services used in sports wagering measures activity performance based on specific services required. Finally, it will demonstrate a commitment to meet the needs of the District's small businesses, positioning them toward long-term growth and competitiveness.
Operating Budget – This document serves as the financial plan for a sports wagering licensee. It is a breakdown of annual expenses targeting a 35% SBE spend goal. In developing the budget, factors such as non-sub contractible expenditures will be considered.
Auditor's Report – The Applicant must submit a copy of the Auditor's report in order for a CBE packet to be considered complete. This is found in the Applicant's initial application with the Office of Lottery and Gaming.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW & DOWNLOAD THE CBE PACKET
CLICK HERE TO VIEW & DOWNLOAD THE SPORTS WAGERING APPLICATION
SPORTS WAGERING APPLICATION GUIDE
WAIVER APPLICATION PROCESS
An Applicant may submit a waiver request if it is determined that the 35% CBE requirement cannot be met. Subcontracting requirements may only be waived through the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD).
On behalf of an Applicant, the Office of Lottery and Gaming will submit a waiver request with an Applicant's CBE Plan.
Before DSLBD's Director approves a waiver request, the Director shall: 1) send an electronic notice to all CBEs notifying them of the waiver request; and 2) post a copy of the waiver request on DSLBD's website for ten (10) days to provide the reasonable public notice of the waiver justification, during this time, CBEs will have the opportunity to review the waiver justification and reach out to the Office of Lottery and Gaming and DSLBD if they determine they are able to perform the work.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW SPORTS WAGERING WAIVER REQUESTS
JOINT VENTURE
A joint venture (J.V.) is an association of two or more businesses temporarily formed to carry out single business activity or project for profit. They combine their property, capital, efforts, skill, and knowledge. Joint venture (J.V.) certification can be considered if an applicant is applying for a sports wagering license in the District.
Certification Time
The timeline to certify a J.V. for a sports wagering license is up to forty-five (45) days.
How To Apply
To apply for certification of a J.V., the following documents must be submitted to DSLBD via courier or email, to the attention of Melissa Resil in DSLBD's Business Certification Division, [email protected] for review:
- Executed J.V. Agreement between companies;
- Executed Addendum to the J.V. Agreement (CLICK HERE);
- Proof of bank account in the name of the J.V.;
- Proof of J.V. corporate registration with the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA);
- J.V. Basic Business License, issued by DCRA;
- J.V. Notice of Federal Tax Registration (IRS);
- Documentation demonstrating the J.V. has the competence and expertise in the sports wagering industry (i.e. evidence of past or current sports wagering activities); and
- Any other agreements between the parties regarding the operations of the J.V.
For More Information
If you are interested in forming a J.V., contact the Business Certification Manager, Melissa Resil, on 202-727-3900 or at [email protected].
CLICK HERE TO VIEW & DOWNLOAD THE REQUIRED JOINT VENTURE ADDENDUM
COMPLIANCE & ENFORCEMENT
All Class A, Class B, and MSP licensees except those with approved waivers are required to report to DSLBD on a quarterly basis. Failure to submit these documents in a timely manner may result in DSLBD issuing a fine and will affect the licensee's ability to renew their license.
Links to:
SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
As stipulated in D.C. Official Code §36-621.16(d)(2)(F) which requires posting the relevant or applicable National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP) codes to the Office of Lottery and Gaming and the Department of Small Business Development websites, the following list of NIGP codes are relevant to sports betting operators as they provide certain goods and services which operators may need to purchase.
208-37-15: SOFTWARE, MARKETING, PUBLIC RELATIONS
578-39-00: Gambling Equipment and Accessories
578-53-00: Lottery Equipment and Supplies
838-34-00: Communication Security Systems
912-00-00: Construction Services, General (including Maintenance and Repair Services)
915-22-00: Communications Marketing Services
918-76-00: Marketing Consulting
918-93-00: Security/Safety
936-92-00: Wagering and Gambling Equipment Maintenance and Repair
958-66-00: Lottery Management Services
961-53-00: Marketing Services (Incl. Distribution, Research, Sales Promotions, etc.)
966-57-53: PRINTING OF MARKETING BROCHURES AND LETTERS
990-00-00: SECURITY, FIRE, SAFETY, AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
Disclaimer: This is not a complete list of all goods and services that may be purchased by sports betting firms or their suppliers. As DSLBD receives reports from licensees, this list will be updated to reflect the goods and services purchased by the District's sports betting operators and management service providers.
PAST WORKSHOPS
Inside Track: Working with Caesar’s, BetMGM, Fanduel, and Grand Central
- January 11, 2022
- Featured Speakers: Peter Alvarado from the Office of Lottery and Gaming, Brian Vasile from Grand Central, Johnny Grooms from BetMGM, and David Grolman from Caesars Sportsbook.
- Click here to view the recorded session.
Operating a Successful Sports Book
- September 29, 2021
- Featured Speakers: Peter Alvarado from the Office of Lottery and Gaming, Brian Vasile from Grand Central LLC, and Matteo Monteverdi from Elys Game Technology.
- Click here to view the recorded session.
Click here for a full list of past events and links to recordings.
LEARN ABOUT PAST & UPCOMING OUTREACH EVENTS
Are you a District business interested in learning how you can get access to some of the opportunities in D.C. Sports Wagering? If so, you have come to the right place! DSLBD, in collaboration with the Office of Lottery and Gaming, are working every day to connect District businesses to the many opportunities in D.C. Sports Wagering. We are doing this through matchmaking, informational sessions, training, and workshops.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PAST & UPCOMING OUTREACH HERE
DO YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT DC SPORTS BETTING?
If you have questions about D.C. Sports Wagering, we encourage you to first visit the D.C. Sports Wagering Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Page.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SPORTS WAGERING FAQs
If you have more questions after reviewing the D.C. Sports Wagering Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Page, please feel free to email us at [email protected] or call us at (202) 727-3900
Also, you can visit the Office of Lottery and Gaming's Sports Betting Website.
CLICK HERE TO OLG's SPORTS BETTING WEBSITE
