Online Casino Gambling In Washington State
The state of Washington became the 21st state to legalize sports betting on March 25th, 2020 when Governor Jay Inslee signed a new sports betting bill into law. Washington was the first state in 2020 to legalize sports betting.
How Sports Betting Became Legal in Washington
Frankly speaking, there’s no specific online gambling Washington state law that would either allow or prohibit online casinos. That’s why it’s fair to say that Washington online gambling isn’t legally prohibited. So, you can enjoy it in any offshore online casino of your choice!
In the past, the state of Washington had some of the harshest anti-gambling laws. When the PASPA ruling back in 2018 occurred, many expected Washington to be one of the last wave of states to legalize sports betting. Now just two years after the May 2018 PASPA ruling, the state of Washington has now legalized sports betting.
The bill that legalized sports betting, HB 2638, made its way through legislation rather quickly. The bill’s sponsor, Representative Strom Peterson (D-Edmonds) was hoping to push the bill quickly through the shortened legislative session and his wishes came true.
Online Casino Gambling In Washington State Treasurer
HB 2638 began to move its way through the legislation with relative ease, passing by fairly solid margins. The bill managed to make its way through to the governor just in time before the end of the Coronavirus-impacted legislative session. The bill passed in the house 84-14 and 34-15 in the Senate. Typically the bill would have gone to a voter referendum in November that would have required a 60 percent majority vote but due to an emergency provision in the bill, it was able to bypass that step.
Governor Jay Inslee signed the bill into law on March 25th, 2020.
What Sports Betting Will Look Like in Washington
While sports betting is now legal in Washington state, there are still plenty of restrictions. First off, the bill only calls for sports betting at the state’s tribal casinos. Sports betting will only be allowed to take place on tribal casino property, there will be no legal state-wide mobile betting in Washington, at least not at this time.
While the sports world is currently in a hiatus thanks to the current Coronavirus pandemic, this may actually be the best time for Washington to legalize sports betting. The state is still months away from launching any actual legal sportsbooks so this current hiatus doesn’t have much of an effect on Washington just yet. The tribes and the state of Washington still have plenty of negotiating in their state compacts before any sportsbooks can be opened. These negotiations could take months before anything is put into place.
Under the new sports betting law, wagers can be placed on both professional and collegiate sporting events. However, like some other states with legal sports betting, wagers on local collegiate events located in the state of Washington will not be permitted. A number of other states with legal sports betting have also restricted betting on collegiate events and collegiate teams located in their respective state.
The lack of legal mobile sports betting in Washington will have some benefit to neighboring state Oregon. Oregon, which is located on the southern border of Washington, has legal mobile sports betting. For Washington residents located in the southern part of the state, it may be more convenient for them to travel across state lines into Oregon to place bets from their mobile devices as opposed to traveling to tribal casinos within Washington to place bets. Some of those in Washington who are already traveling to Oregon to bet may also be less inclined to make the switch to betting in person in their home state.
Any way you look at it, Washington will certainly be losing a percentage of revenue to Oregon and possibly Idaho in the future if Idaho does, in fact, legalize mobile sports betting before Washington does.
As for the tribal sportsbooks in Washington, they are expected to range anywhere from full-fledged sportsbooks and lounges at some casinos to simple betting kiosks at others.
Assuming everything goes smoothly in Washington, residents could be betting on sports sometime this year. A realistic goal at this time would be by the start of the upcoming NFL season. Assuming there will be no delays from the Coronavirus issue, the NFL season will be starting September 10th. While it is possible, it is unlikely that Washington residents will be legally betting on sports in their home state anytime sooner than that. If anything, it is more likely that legal sports betting won’t launch in Washington until early 2021.
Issue With Legal Sports Betting and Washington Tribes
There are currently 29 federally-recognized tribal casinos in the state of Washington. Like we have seen in other states, such as California, the tribes in Washington believed they had the exclusive rights to offer sports betting. Other gambling facilities in the state of Washington did not believe that was the case. Another belief that we have seen in other states with the same issue.
A major part of the reason that Washington tribes are the only ones that are able to offer legal sports betting is due to their heavy lobbying for this particular bill. Had they not have been given the exclusive rights to legal sports betting, they would have used their political clout to shoot down any bill that wouldn’t have given them that legal sports betting monopoly. In the past, Washington tribes have been very outspoken against gambling expansions in the state.
Of course, non-tribal gaming establishments in Washington are not happy with this exact sports betting bill passing. Racetracks, mini-casinos and card rooms were all hoping that sports betting would have been open to all legal gambling establishments in the state. They do not believe that tribes deserve to have a monopoly on sports betting in the state. One particular opponent of the bill, who believes the same, has already threatened legal action.
Maverick Gaming, who have recently purchased 19 of Washington’s 44 non-tribal card rooms, has been one of the biggest advocates of this bill passing. CEO of the Nevada-based Maverick Gaming, Erik Persson, argued earlier in the year at a public hearing that Washington would lose up to $50 million in tax revenue by not allowing sports betting to go beyond tribal casinos. Persson also believed that the only reason the emergency clause was added to the bill was that lawmakers knew that Washington residents would never approve the bill as it was proposed. He has even contacted Governor Inslee directly asking for him to veto the final version of the bill.
Persson has vowed to spend up to $30 million on litigation, campaigning and anything else to block the bill from becoming law. He also believes that this tax-free monopoly to tribal casinos will endanger the jobs of nearly 2,200 employees at Maverick Gaming. So while Washington did pass a bill to make sports betting legal, there are still some hurdles in the way. Persson and other non-tribal gaming establishments in Washington will continue to try and get sports betting expanded in the state, which could lead to even more issues down the road.
FAQ
Is sports betting legal in Washington?
When will legal sports betting begin in Washington?
What are the sports betting laws in Washington?
Is mobile sports betting legal in Washington?
Are daily fantasy sports contests legal in Washington?
Is FanDuel Sportsbook coming to Washington?
Is DraftKings Sportsbook coming to Washington?
How many legal sportsbooks are there in Washington?
Do I have to be from Washington to bet in Washington?
Will I have to pay taxes on my sports betting winnings?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sports betting legal in Washington?Yes. Governor Inslee signed HB 2638 into law back on March 25th, 2020. Under the bill, sports betting is legal at tribal casinos located in the state of Washington. Once sportsbooks begin to open at these tribal casinos you will be free to bet legally in Washington.
When will legal sports betting begin in Washington?There is currently no timeline as to when legal sports betting will officially launch in Washington. The state and the tribes still have to negotiate their current compacts. A best-case scenario would be that sportsbooks launch in Washington before the start of the 2020 NFL season on September 10th.
What are the sports betting laws in Washington?Bettors in Washington can make wagers on professional and collegiate sporting events. However, like a number of other states in the country, Washington residents will not be able to bet on local collegiate teams. The minimum gambling age is 18 or 21 if the establishment sells alcohol.
Is mobile sports betting legal in Washington?No. The current sports betting law does not allow for mobile sports betting in Washington. Sports betting is only permitted on tribal lands that have a licensed sportsbook. It is possible that state-wide mobile sports betting could become legal in Washington in the future.
Are daily fantasy sports contests legal in Washington?No. Washington is one of the most strict states in the country when it comes to daily fantasy sports. Arrests have been made in the past in Washington over daily fantasy sports. The state of Washington classifies DFS as a game of “chance”, therefore making it illegal.
Is FanDuel Sportsbook coming to Washington?It’s unknown is FanDuel Sportsbook will attempt to enter the Washington market. There is no legal online sports betting or daily fantasy sports in the state. Therefore, if FanDuel were to enter Washington it would have to be as a partner of a tribal casino to operate their retail sportsbook.
Is DraftKings Sportsbook coming to Washington?Just like FanDuel, it’s currently unknown if DraftKings Sportsbook will attempt to enter the Washington market. With the lack of DFS and online sports betting, if DraftKings were to enter Washington it would have to be as a partner of a tribal casino to operate their retail sportsbook.
How many legal sportsbooks are there in Washington?There are currently no legal sportsbooks available in Washington. While sports betting is legal, no sportsbooks have been established yet. Sportsbooks won’t open in the state until after compacts between the state and tribes are negotiated. Once that happens, Washington could see as many as 29 sportsbooks throughout the state.
Do I have to be from Washington to bet in Washington?No. You don’t have to be a resident of Washington in order to place a legal bet at a Washington sportsbook. As long as you are of legal age and are not breaking any other restrictions, you can place a legal sports bet in Washington regardless of where you live.
Will I have to pay taxes on my sports betting winnings?Yes. As with any other state, Washington residents will be required to pay taxes on their winnings. Sports betting falls under gambling when it comes to taxes and you must pay taxes on gambling winnings to a certain extent. You can find more info at IRS.gov.
Free Betting News & Bonus OffersFind Out When You Can Legally Bet in Your StateIntroduction to Washington Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Washington slot machine casino gambling consists of 31 tribal casinos with a unique type of electronic player terminal based on scratch tickets controlled by a state-wide Tribal Lottery System (TLS).
All state-tribal compacts set a minimum theoretical payout limit. However, no return statistics are publicly available.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
Keep Reading … Or Watch Instead!
Or … Listen Instead!
Subscribe to my Professor Slots podcast at Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Amazon Audible | Gaana | Stitcher | Pandora | iHeart Radio | Tune-In | SoundCloud | RadioPublic | Deezer | RSS and everywhere else you find your podcasts!
Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Washington*
The minimum legal gambling age in Washington depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 18/21 depending upon the casino
- Poker Rooms: 18
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
Washington’s player terminals at tribal casinos are based on the lottery’s scratch ticket games in electronic form. This unique form of slot machines makes Washington slot machines unique in the U.S. All other U.S.-based lottery terminals are based on draw lotteries, not from lotteries other game: scratch tickets.
Twenty-nine tribes originally negotiated tribal-state compacts to offer gambling at tribal casinos. However, the state and these tribes could not agree whether Vegas-style slot machines should be legal in Washington.
Scratch-based gaming machines resulted from early negotiations of these gaming compacts. This impasse resolution led to creating a secondary lottery system for player terminals at tribal casinos. The state lottery was a model for the TLS.
Draw-based terminals create tickets at the time of the bet using random number generators (RNGs). However, scratch-based terminals know in advance the result of each wager. Put another way, the outcome of each bet is pre-determined and do not require an RNG.
Another technical difference between lottery draw tickets and scratch tickets is how many of them can exist. For example, there are as many draw tickets as players are willing to buy. However, lotteries create only a limited number of scratch tickets but, hopefully, enough for a busy night at a Washington tribal casino.
All negotiated tribal-state compacts also have other legal restrictions for their scratch-based terminal-style slot machines. These limits have been expanding over time as part of this state’s dynamic gaming industry. The requirements are:
- Allows replaying of credits won
- No handles
- No mechanical spinning wheels
- A minimum payout return (see below)
- $5 maximum wager on 85% on VLTs
- $20 maximum wager on 15% of VLTs
- Cap of 2,500 VLT machines per tribe
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Washington
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in the state of Washington if it is 25 years old or older.
Gaming Control Board in Washington
The gaming control board is the Washington State Gambling Commission offering licensing, regulation, and enforcement of certain aspects of the gaming industry in Washington. Their regulatory responsibilities primarily include testing and approving new electronic gaming machines.
Further, each tribe with a casino in Washington has a tribal gaming agency (TGA). Agents of a TGA are the primary regulators at tribal casinos. At all times, at least one TGA agent must be on duty at a tribal casino.
Casinos in Washington
Online Casino Gambling In Washington State Treasurer
There are 31 American Indian tribal casinos and multiple cruise ships based in the state of Washington.
The largest casino in Washington is Muckleshoot Casino with 3,125 electronic gaming terminals.
The second-largest casino is Ilani Casino Resort with 2,500 electronic gaming terminals.
Commercial Casinos in Washington
Online Gambling In Washington State
The state of Washington has no commercial casinos with slot machines.
Tribal Casinos in Washington
The state of Washington has 31 tribal casinos:
- Angel of the Winds Casino Resort in Arlington, 50 miles north of Seattle
- BJ’s Bingo & Gaming in Fife near Tacoma
- Chewelah Casino in Chewelah, 50 miles north of Spokane
- Coulee Dam Casino in Coulee Dam, 40 miles north of Seattle, owned by 12 Tribes Colville Casinos
- Elwha River Casino in Port Angeles, 70 miles northwest of Seattle
- Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel (EQC) in Fife near Tacoma
- Emerald Queen Casino (EQC) I-5 in Tacoma
- Ilani Casino Resort in Ridgefield, 25 miles north of Portland near the border to Oregon
- Kalispel Casino in Cusick, 53 miles north of Spokane
- Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton, 23 miles north of Olympia
- Lucky Dog Casino in Skokomish, 23 miles north of Olympia
- Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel in Rochester, 26 miles south of Olympia
- Mill Bay Casino in Manson, 200 miles northeast of Seattle on the north shore of Lake Chelan, owned by 12 Tribes Colville Casinos
- Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn, 20 miles south of Seattle
- Nooksack Northwood Casino in Lynden, 14 miles north of Bellingham
- Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Airway Heights, 10 miles west of Spokane
- The Point Casino in Kingston, 18 miles west of Seattle via Bainbridge Ferry
- Quil Ceda Creek Nightclub & Casino in Quil Ceda Village, 30 miles north of Seattle
- Quinault Beach Resort and Casino in Ocean Shores, 90 miles west of Tacoma
- Red Wind Casino in Olympia
- 7 Cedars Casino in Sequim, 70 miles northwest of Seattle by ferry
- Shoalwater Bay Casino in Tokeland, 75 miles southwest of Olympia
- Silver Reef Casino Resort in Ferndale, 17 miles north of Bellingham
- Skagit Valley Casino Resort in Bow, 75 miles north of Seattle
- Snoqualmie Casino in Snoqualmie, 30 miles east of Seattle
- Spokane Tribe Casino in Airway Heights, 9 miles west of Spokane
- Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort in Suquamish, 15 miles west of Seattle via Bainbridge Ferry
- Swinomish Casino & Lodge in Anacortes, 70 miles north of Seattle
- Tulalip Casino in Quil Ceda Village, 30 miles north of Seattle
- 12 Tribes Casino in Omak, 165 miles northeast of Seattle, owned by 12 Tribes Colville Casinos
- Yakama Legends Casino in Toppenish, 20 miles south of Yakama
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Washington slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Washington is:
- North: The Canadian Province of British Columbia
- East: Idaho Slots
- South: Oregon Slots
- West: The Pacific Ocean
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Washington.
Our Washington Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Washington? If so, join our Washington slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Washington. Join us!
Payout Returns in Washington
The TLS directly controls the results of Washington’s unique terminal-style slot machines. TLS’ central computer system provides the outcome of each bet made on each terminal at the time of the wager. This off-site control extends to any bonus rounds.
All tribal-state compacts in Washington established a minimum theoretical payout of 75% for slot machines. Further, no return statistics for slots are available to the public.
Summary of Washington Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Washington slot machine casino gambling consists of 31 tribal casinos with electronic scratch ticket video player terminal slot machines. The state-run Tribal Lottery System (TLS) controls the results of all bets offsite from the tribal casinos.
Tribal-state compacts have set a minimum theoretical payout of 75% for their unique terminal-style electronic slot machines. No return statistics are available to the public.
Annual Progress in Washington Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Over the last year, Tulalip Resort Casino with its 2,400 gaming machines has dropped from second largest casino to third largest, replaced by Ilani Casino Resort with its 2,500 gaming machines.
Further, two tribal casinos have opened within the last year, including Kalispel Casino in Cusick located 53 miles north of Spokane and Spokane Tribe Casino located in Airway Heights a few miles west of Spokane.
Related Articles from Professor Slots
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
Washington State Online Gambling Law
- Previous: Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling
- Next: West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Gambling In Washington State
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC