College Coverage Updated April 2026

Sport PillarCollege Football Betting in DC

College football is one of the highest-handle sports in DC during fall Saturdays, but DC\'s sports wagering law carves out a specific restriction: no bets on DC-based colleges or on any college game played inside the District. This guide covers what is and isn\'t allowed, where to bet legally, and the markets that matter for non-DC college sports.

By BettingInDC Editorial Team · Updated May 16, 2026 · Our methodology

DC\'s college betting restriction (read this first)

The DC Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act prohibits all wagering involving any DC-based college or university. The list:

Georgetown University (any sport)
Howard University (any sport)
George Washington University (any sport)
American University (any sport)
Catholic University (any sport)
University of the District of Columbia (UDC) (any sport)

The restriction extends to any college event taking place within DC, regardless of which teams are playing. This means an out-of-DC matchup like a Maryland-vs-Virginia basketball game would be off-limits if it happened at Capital One Arena, even though both schools are non-DC. This rarely affects football (most college football is played on home campuses) but does affect basketball and hockey tournaments occasionally held at Capital One Arena.

Every other college sport, every other college team, and every game played outside DC is fully available for legal wagering at all six DC operators.

Where to bet on non-DC college football

College football bet types

Point spread

The highest-volume college football bet type in DC, just like the NFL. Spreads in college football are typically wider than the NFL (it\'s common to see -14, -21, or even -35 spreads in mismatched non-conference games early in the season). The wider spreads create more spread variance and bigger backdoor cover opportunities. Spread guide.

Totals (over/under)

Combined points by both teams. College football totals range from 38.5 in defensive Big Ten games to 75.5+ in Air Raid Big 12 matchups. Pace, tempo, weather, and quarterback quality drive pricing. Totals guide.

Moneyline

Pick the outright winner. College football has more lopsided matchups than the NFL, so moneyline pricing on big favorites gets ugly (-1500 or worse is common). Best used when backing legitimate underdogs at +250 or longer. Moneyline guide.

Player props (limited)

Most sportsbooks restrict college player props to a small core (passing yards, anytime TD scorer for star players) and have moved away from broader prop menus following 2023-2024 concerns about prop-related harassment of student athletes. Available props are typically only for the top 1-2 stars per team.

Futures

CFP National Champion (12-team playoff format), conference champion (SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC), Heisman Trophy winner, win totals for each FBS program, season props (10+ wins yes/no), bowl game pools. Conference Championship Saturday and the National Championship game are the two biggest college handle days of the year. Futures guide.

College basketball and March Madness

College basketball betting in DC follows the same rules: no DC-based schools, no DC-hosted games. Out-of-DC college basketball is fully available, including:

NCAA Men\'s Tournament (March Madness): the second-highest college handle event of the year after the CFP National Championship. Bracket pools, individual game spreads, and player props on top stars are all available.
NCAA Women\'s Tournament: rising rapidly in handle following the 2024 South Carolina/Iowa final.
Major conference regular season: SEC, Big Ten, Big East, ACC, Big 12 games are bet heavily, especially nationally televised matchups.

What about bowl games at non-DC venues?

Fully available. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, the Orange Bowl in Miami, the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, and the Peach Bowl in Atlanta are all eligible for betting at every DC sportsbook regardless of which teams are playing. Only the venue and team origin trigger DC\'s restriction, and bowl games are nearly always at neutral non-DC sites.

Frequently asked questions

Is college sports betting legal in Washington DC?

Yes, with important exceptions. DC law prohibits all sports betting on teams from DC-based colleges (Georgetown, Howard, George Washington, American, Catholic, UDC) including football, basketball, baseball, and every other sport. DC also prohibits betting on any college sporting event taking place within DC city limits, regardless of which teams participate. Out-of-DC college sports are fully available for legal wagering.

Can I bet on Georgetown football or basketball?

No. Georgetown is a DC-based university and DC law prohibits all wagering on Georgetown teams in any sport, regardless of where the game takes place. The same restriction applies to Howard, George Washington, American, Catholic, and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). Any market involving these schools is unavailable at all DC sportsbooks.

Can I bet on college player props in DC?

Yes, on out-of-DC college players. The DC OLG permits player props on college sports as long as the team and the game both qualify (no DC schools, no games in DC). However, several sportsbooks have voluntarily restricted college player props nationwide following 2023-2024 concerns about prop-related harassment of student athletes. FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars have all limited college player prop offerings on a case-by-case basis even where state law permits.

What is the College Football Playoff format and futures market?

The College Football Playoff (CFP) expanded to 12 teams in 2024. Futures markets cover: CFP National Champion, conference champion (SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC), Heisman Trophy winner, regular season win totals for each FBS program. Major bowl games (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Fiesta, Peach) get individual market treatment.

When does college football betting peak in DC?

NCAA football handle peaks on three Saturdays: Conference Championship Saturday in early December, the New Year's Six bowl games, and the National Championship game in early-to-mid January. Mid-season SEC and Big Ten rivalry games (Alabama-Auburn, Ohio State-Michigan) also draw outsized DC handle.

Related on BettingInDC

Keep reading: linked guides, team pages, operator reviews, and retail venues on related topics.

Sport Pillar

Sport PillarCollege Football Betting in DC

DC\'s college betting restriction (read this first)

Where to bet on non-DC college football

FanDuel

DraftKings

BetMGM

Caesars

theScore Bet

Fanatics