Obtaining a skill game license in Washington DC is more straightforward than most business owners expect. As of October 2025, the Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) handles all retail licensing for skill game machines. Here is the step-by-step process for getting your DC establishment licensed and earning.
Step 1: Verify Your Alcohol License. You must hold an active on-premises Alcohol License from ABCA. This applies to bars, restaurants, taverns, nightclubs, and hotels. If your alcohol license is pending or expired, that needs to be resolved first. You can check your license status directly through ABCA's online portal.
Step 2: Apply for the Games of Skill License and Endorsement. Submit a Games of Skill License application to ABCA. The license fee is $300 per year, plus a Games of Skill Endorsement at $500 per year. These are separate from your alcohol license but processed through the same agency, which simplifies the paperwork significantly for establishments that already hold ABCA licenses. Applications can be submitted by mail, email, or in person at ABCA offices.
Step 3: Register Your Machines. Each individual skill game machine must be registered with OLG at a one-time cost of $100 per machine. Once registered, each machine receives a sticker that must be visibly displayed at all times. You are permitted up to 5 registered machines per licensed location.
Step 4: Meet Compliance Requirements. Post the required warning signage (minimum age, DC gambling hotline, OLG complaint info) near your machines. Install security cameras with 30-day recording covering gaming areas, cash processing locations, and money storage spaces. Designate staff to monitor the gaming area and check government-issued ID at entry and when cashing out winnings. All players must be at least 18 years old, and intoxicated individuals cannot play. Ensure your machines are from DC-approved manufacturers. Ongoing compliance includes the 10% revenue tax with monthly returns due by the 20th, reported through OLG’s centralized accounting system.
The entire licensing process typically takes 2 to 4 weeks. Working with an experienced provider like Skill Games DC can speed things up considerably because we handle the ABCA paperwork on your behalf. For a full breakdown of DC skill game laws, visit our DC Law page. Ready to get licensed? Request your free consultation today.