Councilman Wells Wants to Repeal D.C. Online Gambling

A D.C. Council member wants to repeal a provision that would bring online gambling to the nation's capital.

Appearing on NewsChannel 8, Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) said he hopes to introduce legislation this fall that would stop online gambling before it starts.

A provision authorizing online gambling was slipped into a budget bill late last year. It became law in April when Congress did not object. The District is preparing to become the first jurisdiction in the country to offer online poker, blackjack, slot machines and other games within its borders.

The measure needs to be repealed because “it didn't go through a public process,” Wells said. The issue should receive a full vetting so that residents can say whether it's something they really want, he said.