D.C. Pushes Back Online Gaming Meetings

D.C. continues to tap the breaks on online gambling. City lawmakers now say they will delay community meetings aimed at alleviating concerns about the new law.

Perhaps the biggest complaint against the effort to make D.C. the first jurisdiction with state-sponsored, online gaming has been the lack of public input with the process.

Language authorizing the measure was slipped into the budget without a hearing in December and it became law several months later.

In response to growing concerns from residents, city officials delayed the rollout of online gaming and said they would hold community meetings in each ward to answer questions.

But scheduling meetings in the middle of August – when many people are out of town – once again struck a nerve with gaming opponents.

D.C. Lottery Director Buddy Rogow says the meetings will be rescheduled in order to “reach the largest number of D.C. residents.”