Washington State Sports Betting

The State of Washington, not to be confused with Washington DC has had a favorable view of gambling since the 1970s, in comparison to other states. As the second most populous state in America, it’s home to 29 federally recognized Native American tribes, which have all entered into tribal-state compacts to offer gambling activities in Washington. When it comes to casino gambling, Washington’s tribal gambling scene is one of the largest in the US, but where does the State of Washington stand when it comes to sports betting? Let’s find out.

Is it legal to bet on sports in Washington State?

Yes, sports betting is legal in the state of Washington but has yet to go live. In March 2020, Governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, signed a piece of legislation into law that would permit sports wagering at tribal gambling venues throughout the state. With Inslee’s signing of the bill, the state of Washington became the first US state to permit sports wagering in 2020.

Under HB 2638, residents and visitors can now legally participate in in-person sports wagering, and on-premises mobile betting to take place at land-based tribal casinos. A launch date has not been set for sports betting in Washington.

Until sports betting goes live, residents can, however, place pari-mutuel wagers on horse racing events at various locations around the state, as well as online at licensed horse racing sites, such as TwinSpires and TVG.

Where will I be able to bet on sports in Washington State?

According to the sports betting legislation, sports wagering will only be permitted at land-based tribal venues in the state. Washington is currently home to 21 tribes that operate 29 casinos, 21 card room operators which operate 44 card rooms and two racetracks, creating plenty of opportunities for sports betting in the state. These venues will also be able to offer on-premises mobile betting.

Commercial casinos operators will not be allowed to offer sports wagering.

Which sports will I be able to bet on?

Once sports betting goes live in the state, bettors will be able to place bets on any professional sport or athletic event including the Olympic Games and collegiate events. However, betting on minor league sports will be prohibited.

What else can I bet on in Washington State?

Online casino gambling and online poker are illegal in Washington, but there are still several other gambling activities available to residents. Washington residents can play the state lottery, as well as inter-state lottery draws, including Mega Millions and the PowerBall, charitable bingo and raffle games. Thanks to Washington tribal casinos, residents can also play a variety of different casino games, including: 

•    Poker
•    Slots
•    Blackjack
•    Roulette
•    Craps
•    Baccarat

These are the 20 tribal casinos that operate in Washington:

Are offshore gambling sites legal in Washington State?

No, just as online gambling is outlawed in Washington, so are offshore gambling sites. The Washington Gambling Commission specifically states that gambling at offshore sites is illegal on its FAQ page.

Offshore gambling sites aren’t licensed to operate in Washington, which means they aren’t subject to the state’s gambling laws. Aside from the legal aspect, gambling at these sites aren’t monitored to ensure player safety and the protection of player information.

You can spot offshore gambling sites by looking at the website’s domain name. Domains ending in .EU or .AG don’t hold a license to operate in Washington and should be avoided.

Will it be safe to bet on sports in Washington State?

The Washington Gambling Commission currently places a strong emphasis on player protection and safety when gambling and sports betting will be no different. Bettors should also take steps to gamble responsibly, never betting more than they can afford to lose. 

The National Council on Problem Gambling has a number of educational resources to help identify problem gambling and a helpline where you can speak to a trained counsellor, should you have any concerns that you may have a problematic relationship with gambling. Washington residents can also reach out to the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling, a non-profit organization that offers educational resources on problem gambling and a helpline that connects callers with gambling treatment programs available in the state.

You can contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline via:

Call: 1-800-522-4700

Text: 1-800-522-4700

Live chat

You can contact the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling via:

Helpline: 1-800-547-6133

Call: 1-360-352-6133

Online form

Who regulates gambling in Washington State?

Gambling in Washington is overseen by the Washington Gambling Commission. Horse racing, however, is overseen by the Washington Horse Racing Commission, which is also responsible for pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing.

How old do I have to be to gamble in Washington State?

The legal age to play the Washington lottery and bet on horses is 18. The legal age to enter a casino varies between 18-21 due to the sale of alcohol at casinos.

The journey to legal and regulated sports betting in Washington State

1889 – After years of gambling in Washington, gambling was made illegal in the state.

1909 – Horse racing was made illegal.

1933 – Horse racing was legalized again, along with pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing.

1937 – Lawmakers in the state approved slot machines for charity organizations.

1951 – Washington State’s Supreme Court banned slot machines for non-profit and charitable organizations in the state.

1963 – In a voter referendum, voters in Washington rejected the proposal to give different jurisdictions the right to offer charitable gambling.

1971 – The grand jury in King County issued indictments against 50 police officers and public officials for accepting gambling bribes. A former King County prosecutor was amongst those charged for this crime.

This same year, state lawmakers approved bingo and raffles.

1972 – Washington voters approved Senate Joint Resolution 5, also known as the Washington Supermajority Requirement for Lotteries Amendment. This measure repealed the prohibition against gambling in Washington

1973 – The Washington Gambling Commission was formed to regulate charitable gambling in the state. The same year, the legislature approved several different forms of gambling including bingo games, raffles, pull-tab games and Vegas-style fundraising nights.

1974 – Lawmakers approved card rooms in the state.

1980 – Several politicians were indicted by the grand jury for conspiring to take bribes in exchange for promoting gambling legislation. The politicians that faced indictment were House Speaker John Bagnariol, Senate Majority Leader Gordon Walgren and Olympia lobbyist Pat Gallagher.

1982 – Facing a budget crisis, the state legislature voted to authorize a state lottery.

1988 – Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulation Act (IGRA), establishing rules and regulations for tribal gaming operations. This gave federally recognized tribes the ability to enter into tribal-state compacts for gambling.

1992 – Congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), prohibiting sports betting across US states. Four states were made exempt from the law: Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana. These states had legal sports betting regulations in place.

Washington state signed its first tribal-state compact with the Tulalip Tribe of Indians who would go onto open the state’s very first tribal casinos the same year.

1997 – Lawmakers authorize non-tribal house-banked card rooms.

1999 – Tribes began to operate electronic slot machines in their casinos.

2001 –  Net gambling receipts across the state exceeded $1bn. Tribal casinos generated $422m of this.

2002 – The non-tribal gambling interests in the state lobbied the legislature for the right to offer the same electronic slot machines as the tribes. The same year, Washington joined nine other states in the first-ever multi-state lottery game: the Big Game.

2006 – The state explicitly prohibited internet gambling.

2014 – Legal gambling operations in Washington state generated $2.8bn. Tribal casinos generated more than $2.2bn,  while the lottery generated $233m.

2018 – On 14 May, the Supreme Court reached a decision in the legal battle between New Jersey and the US sports leagues. In a 7 – 2 vote, it was agreed that one of the clauses in PASPA violated the Tenth Amendment, as it commandeered power from states to regulate their own gambling industries. This paved the way for all US states to decide whether or not to legalize sports betting. In the weeks after the repeal of PASPA, a number of US betting sites launched across the country.

2019 – In January, lawmakers introduced two bills that would legalize sports betting in Washington state.

2020 – In March, The Governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, signed HB 2638 into law permitting sports wagering at tribal gambling venues throughout the state.

For updates on the Washington sports betting scene, Compare.bet has got you covered.