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Lottery director says bill 'satisfactorily' meets criteria but urges stronger problem‑gambling funding and codified rules
Summary
Thomas R. Burnside of the Office of Lottery and Gaming told the committee the bill aligns with DC's gaming framework and could be implemented with emergency rules, but recommended higher dedicated funding for problem‑gambling services and emphasized OLG's need for the 2% regulatory assessment to support oversight.
Thomas R. Burnside, OLG executive director, told the committee he evaluates gaming legislation against three criteria — alignment with the District’s gaming framework and revenue opportunity, consumer protections and adequate oversight funding — and said the bill in its current form "satisfactorily meets all 3 of these criteria." He recommended several technical changes and urged the Council to consider a higher annual allocation for problem‑gambling services than the bill’s starting $500,000.
OLG staff described practical steps for implementation: emergency rulemaking within 90 days, licensing processes for potential operators (OLG expects current licensed sports‑wagering operators to have a deployment advantage), AML and KYC enforcement, and reliance on third‑party game testing. Burnside also recommended placing responsibility for problem‑gambling program administration with public‑health agencies and ensuring the regulatory assessment (2% of adjusted gross gaming revenue) funded OLG's oversight operations.
