District of Columbia Code Division IV. Criminal Law and Procedure and Prisoners. § 22-1704. Gaming; setting up gaming table; inducing play.

(a) Whoever shall in the District set up or keep any gaming table, or any house, vessel, or place, on land or water, for the purpose of gaming, or gambling device commonly called A B C, faro bank, E O, roulette, equality, keno, thimbles, or little joker, or any kind of gaming table or gambling device adapted, devised, and designed for the purpose of playing any game of chance for money or property, or shall induce, entice, and permit any person to bet or play at or upon any such gaming table or gambling device, or on the side of or against the keeper thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of not more than 5 years and, in addition, may be fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01. For the purposes of this section, the term “gambling device” shall not include slot machines manufactured before 1952, intended for exhibition or private use by the owner, and not used for gambling purposes. The term “slot machine” means a mechanical device, an essential part of which is a drum or reel which bears an insignia and which when operated may deliver, as a result of the application of an element of chance, a token, money, or property, or by operation of which a person may become entitled to receive, as a result of this application of an element of chance, a token, money, or property.

(b) It shall be unlawful to install or operate a game of skill machine in the District except as permitted by subchapter III of Chapter 6 of Title 36. Whoever shall install or operate a game of skill machine in the District in violation of subchapter III of Chapter 6 of Title 36 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned for not more than 180 days or fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01, or both.