Is Sports Betting Legal In Washington
Washington, D.C. Joined a number of jurisdictions with a new sports betting law on the books in December 2018. The District of Columbia Council approved legislation allowing its lottery to administer legal sports betting within the boundaries of the federal jurisdiction. DC sports betting still has not launched as of March 2020. The short answer is no, sports betting is not legal in Washington State. The good news is that with changes in sports betting laws sweeping across the US, that may change.
Washington sports betting was the first to legalize in 2020, though the outcome wasn’t what some wanted to see.
The state’s legislature legalized sports betting in Washington at tribal casinos only. Mobile betting will only be allowed while on tribal land.
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Where can I bet on sports in Washington?
Is Sports Betting Legal In Washington
Sports betting in Washington will be allowed only at tribal casinos once it launches. Just because a tribe can offer WA sports betting does not necessarily mean it will choose to do so.
There are 30 tribal casinos in the state of Washington operated by 24 tribes:
| Casino | Operator | Offers sports betting? |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Tribes Resort Casino in Omak | Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation | No |
| Angel of the Winds Casino in Arlington | Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians | No |
| Chewelah Casino in Chewelah | Spokane Tribe of Indians | No |
| Clearwater Casino and Resort in Suquamish | Suquamish Tribe | No |
| Coulee Dam Casino in Coulee Dam | Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation | No |
| Elwha River Casino in Port Angeles | Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe | No |
| Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma | Puyallup Tribe | No |
| Emerald Queen Casino at Fife in Fife | Puyallup Tribe | No |
| Ilani Casino in Ridgefield | Cowlitz Indian Tribe | No |
| Legends Casino in Toppenish | Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation | No |
| Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton | Squaxin Island Tribe | No |
| Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester | Confederated Tribes of the Chehlis Reservation | No |
| Mill Bay Casino in Manson | Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation | No |
| Muckleshoot Indian Casino in Auburn | Muckleshoot Tribe | No |
| Nooksack Northwood Casino in Lynden | Nooksack Indian Tribe | No |
| Northern Lights Casino in Anacortes | Swinomish Indian Tribal Community | No |
| Northern Quest Casino in Airway Heights | Kalispel Tribe of Indians | No |
| Okanogan Bingo-Casino in Okanogan | Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation | No |
| Point-No-Point Casino in Kingston | Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe | No |
| Quil Ceda Creek Casino in Tulalip | Tulalip Tribes | No |
| Quinault Beach Resort and Casino in Ocean Shores | Quinault Indian Nation | No |
| Red Wind Casino in Olympia | Nisqually Indian Tribe | No |
| Seven Cedars Casino in Sequim | Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe | No |
| Shoalwater Bay Casino in Tokeland | Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe | No |
| Silver Reef Casino in Ferndale | Lummi Nation | No |
| Skagit Valley Casino Resort in Bow | Upper Skagit Indian Tribe | No |
| Snoqualmie Casino in Snoqualmie | Snoqualmie Indian Tribe | No |
| The Lucky Dog Casino in Skokomish | Skokomish Indian Tribe | No |
| Tulalip Resort Casino in Tulalip | Tulalip Tribes | No |
| Two Rivers Casino in Davenport | Spokane Tribe of Indians | No |
It’s important to note that this may not be the path forward for Washington sports betting after all. Eric Persson, CEO of Maverick Gaming, which owns 19 of the state’s card rooms, said he would sue over the bill’s emergency clause.
Why Is Sports Betting Illegal In Washington
When will online Washington sports betting launch?
Online Washington sports betting is technically allowed but only on tribal land.
The legislature ultimately preferred a slower approach to WA sports betting than some bills that would have legalized sports betting at cardrooms with open mobile betting.
Whether any tribes launch an app for Washington sports betting while on tribal land is up in the air. For instance, casinos in Mississippi have had the option to launch a mobile sports betting app geofenced to the casino since sports betting started in August 2018, but none have.