No Wagering Will Be Allowed at 2027 NFL Draft in the Nation’s Capital
From April 29 to May 1, the 2027 NFL Draft will be held at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Since "America's Front Yard" is located on federal land, betting will not be allowed.
2027 NFL Draft will be on federal land
The National Mall stretches from the U.S. Capitol Building in the east to the Lincoln Memorial in the west.
Federal land comprises 29% of the land in Washington, D.C. Federal land is spread throughout the District of Columbia, from large patches, including the National Mall, to smaller parcels between streets.
There are betting areas
While there will be no betting areas at the NFL Draft itself, there are some nearby. According to the D.C. Entertainment sports gambling restriction zone map, Constitution and Independence Avenues are bet-friendly, where bettors can wager on the picks, and there are bars in the area as well.
GeoComply’s technology
Washington, D.C., uses GeoComply’s geo-fencing technology in order to identify where you can bet and where you cannot. Still, it's not easy for the casual bettor walking around, as they can be in bet-friendly places one minute and, the next, on federal land where wagers are blocked.
According to an NFL release on Thursday, June 25, the Draft Theater, where players’ names are called by the commissioner, will be located in front of the Capitol on the National Mall.
NFL executive Peter O’Reilly said, “The NFL Draft continues to grow as one of our biggest and most accessible events, and we are excited to welcome fans and prospects to Washington, D.C., in 2027.
"Our nation’s capital will provide an incredible, iconically American stage to host fans from around the world, as we celebrate the next generation of NFL stars.”
Big brands are there
All of the major U.S. sportsbooks offer their services in Washington, D.C.
FaDuel is the DC Lottery’s official sportsbook, but DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, and theScore Bet are also available in the district.
Bettors can make wagers at these sportsbooks in Washington, but not on federal land in the district or outside of two-block zones around sports arenas, such as Capital One Arena, home to the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards.
The DMV
The DMV comprises Washington, D.C., and the neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia. Sports betting is legal in all three districts, but NFL Draft betting is not available in Virginia.
Draft is a big party
The NFL Draft is always a big event with fans from across the nation attending to see who their favorite team picks.
Last year, the draft was held in Pittsburgh, Penn., with more than 800,000 fans attending. Betting on the draft was legal there, and there have only been two other occasions where betting was legal when the draft took place: in 2022 in Las Vegas, Nev., and in 2024 in Detroit, Mich.
Who will see their name called early in the 2027 NFL Draft?
Online sportsbooks already have futures bets on who will be the top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, where Texas quarterback Arch Manning has the shortest odds to be selected first overall.
