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OLG says no commercial‑bingo applications yet; neighboring casinos are key competitors
Summary
OLG told the committee it has not yet received commercial‑bingo applications and said table gaming outside a casino environment is difficult to make profitable; officials noted casinos near the District remain direct competition for large events.
The committee asked OLG for an update on commercial bingo and the potential for table gaming in the District.
Randy Burnside said OLG has not yet received applications for commercial bingo since legalization and is finalizing rules; he said some potential entrants view the current structure as cost‑prohibitive and that large commercial bingo suppliers might require law changes. On table games, Burnside said federal law prevents casinos in the District and that table gaming outside a casino environment is typically unprofitable; he noted that National Harbor and prospective projects in nearby Virginia and West Virginia represent direct competition for any major poker‑oriented events.
Burnside said the agency is supportive of efforts to attract major events that fill hotels and benefit local businesses but cautioned that the economics of table games and the proximity of established casinos make standalone table‑gaming operations challenging under current law.
