1. Online Gambling In Washington State
2. Online Gambling Legal In Washington State

A gambler places sports bets at Bally’s casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Washington is poised to become the 15th state to allow betting on sports, but the practice would be restricted to the. He points to Tennessee, a state without any casinos, deciding to legalize online sports betting. The absence of sports gambling in California, Texas and Florida, the nation’s most populous.

Problem Gambling Task Force (PGTF) In 2019, the Washington State Legislature awarded proviso funding to the Washington State Gambling Commission (WSGC) to facilitate a joint legislative Problem Gambling Task Force (PGTF) to review existing outreach, prevention and treatment resources for problem gambling and disordered gambling, and to determine if these services need to be increased in order. Any online gambling company that sells virtual chips is deemed to be running an illegal gambling concern according to the Washington State statutes. This was clarified in a March 2018 ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Amid a widespread shutdown of athletic events, Washington state has become the 21st state to legalize betting on sports. Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday signed legislation to authorize sports wagers in tribal casinos only.

It will be months before sports fans can bet money on games though, because first the tribes have to negotiate regulatory agreements with the state. And of course, sports leagues have to start up again.

Absent COVID-19, the bill signing ceremony in the Washington governor's office might have been a major celebration for the sponsors and Indian gaming tribes. But Inslee sat at his table alone as he legalized sports betting with a stroke of his pen.

'This will give people an opportunity to participate in a new gaming activity that is safe and well-regulated by the tribes,' the Democratic governor said before moving on to a stack of other bills.

The signing ceremony was shoehorned in between many meetings and phone calls about the state's coronavirus pandemic response.

Nationally, the sports gaming industry is in upheaval and bleeding money because of the near-total suspension of collegiate and professional sports. The contests that bettors would normally wager on are cancelled due to restrictions on public gatherings to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

'We're excited that it got over the finish line and the governor signed it today, but we've got bigger problems right now than sports betting,' said Rebecca Kaldor, executive director of the Washington Indian Gaming Association in an interview Wednesday.

Kaldor noted that all of the casinos in the region are temporarily closed in order to limit person-to-person transmission of the contagion. She said casinos provide the main source of revenue to tribal governments for a wide range of social service, education and economic development programs.

'As we recover from this crisis, the addition of this amenity will help tribal governments fund the essential services their members will need to get back up on their feet,' Kaldor said.

Washington state lawmakers chose a more limited approach than other states that have legalized sports betting. There will be no broadly available internet or mobile betting options, unlike in neighboring Oregon where the state lottery earns profits through a smartphone sports betting app.

The decision to restrict sports wagers solely to the premises of tribal casinos was approved by wide margins in the Washington state House of Representatives and Senate. But the final votes came down to the wire on the final days of the 2020 session, in part because of heavy lobbying by entities with a stake in the outcome.

The state's 29 federally-recognized tribes argued that Washingtonians prefer to limit any expansion of gambling and so therefore the tribes should be the exclusive, trusted partner to provide sports betting in their casinos. Tribal leaders made regular appearances to testify in front of legislative committees about the good works they accomplish with gaming profits. Left unmentioned was their long track record of donating to the campaigns of the Democratic majority in Olympia.

Meanwhile, non-tribal card rooms -- also known as “mini-casinos” -- and horse racing interests pressed lawmakers for a broader legalization that would allow sports betting off reservations too, including at privately-run neighborhood card rooms and at horse tracks.

Maverick Gaming, which recently acquired 19 non-tribal card rooms in Washington, mounted an expensive lobbying push including a statewide advertising campaign and testimony from newly-unionized employees. In mid-March, Maverick Gaming CEO Erik Persson wrote directly to Inslee to ask the governor to veto the finalized legislation, which Persson said was unnecessarily divisive by creating 'a tax-free monopoly for tribal casinos.'

'There is a win for all licensed gaming establishments that helps both Tribal and non-Tribal communities and the Legislature decided not to pursue it, giving up millions of dollars in tax revenue that could support local and state priorities,' Persson wrote in his letter to Inslee.

Washington's major universities sent lobbyists onto the field of action too, to ask that bettors be prohibited from wagering on games involving local teams such as the UW Huskies and WSU Cougars. Lawmakers agreed to disallow betting on in-state collegiate teams and minor league games.

Washington state's sports wagering authorization allows betting on a wide range of sporting events including other college sports, professional sports, overseas leagues and Olympic and World Cup competitions. It also allows betting on increasingly popular video game tournaments, commonly called esports.

The sports betting legislation that Inslee signed Wednesday included an eyebrow-raising clause that declared the issue constituted an 'emergency.' Critics of the bill argued the inclusion of the emergency clause was a devious ploy to forestall a referendum petition drive, which would have paused implementation of the law until voters statewide could have their say at the November general election. Inslee could have vetoed the emergency clause -- as he has done before on other bills -- but he chose not to this time.

Kaldor said negotiations could begin immediately between interested tribes and the Washington State Gambling Commission to amend the state-tribal gaming agreements, known officially as 'compacts.' She guessed that athletic competition across the nation would be well underway again by the time all the regulatory details and casino floor improvements were worked out. It could be autumn before the first bettors get to lay their wagers.

'I think how tribes will operate their sportsbooks will differ from property to property,' Kaldor said. 'I think we'll see a range of everything from a full- blown sports lounge to individual kiosks.'

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for states beyond Nevada to have sports betting. It is now a state-by-state choice for policymakers to make. The Oregon Lottery dove in last year with its online sports betting app and two coastal Oregon tribes added sportsbooks to their casino offerings.

Oregon avoided having much of a debate about the pros and cons of sports betting in the wake of the 2018 Supreme Court decision because of a legacy of the state lottery. From 1989 to 2007, the Oregon Lottery offered a game called 'Sports Action' that let adults bet on NFL football games. This past year, the lottery and tribal governments in Oregon said they didn't need to go to the legislature for permission to reintroduce and expand sports gambling because the authorization already existed from a vote way back in 1989.

View the discussion thread.

Exploring the legalities of online gambling in Washington state was of key importance to us, as Washington's government has made it a point to criminalize some aspects of the game. If you are going to gamble online, you are actually breaking the law. We are here to explain to you what is safe, what is not, and what will get you slapped with a second degree felony. We do not want our readers to have to be punished under the law, so you will definitely want to follow our advice if you are going to even think about gambling online.

NFL Betting In Washington

Basketball is one of the best sports out here that fans love but NFL season coming back to the world will take all the shine that the NBA season has had. The fact of how the last NFL season ended already has bettors on their pins and needles ready for the NFL to be back to where they can watch and bet on their favorite teams and favorite games. These games they have week in and week out will have a very important matchup that will tell it all as we will see which bettor has done their research and have the most luck on their side throughout the season. Online sportsbooks will have all the games and different betting options available to all players as they will look forward to a profitable season.

Online Gambling Age For Washington Residents

If you are going to gamble in Washington, there is one thing you will definitely be happy to know - you can begin legally gambling as early as 18. If you decide to begin playing in a live or online gambling site, you will find that access can be earned as early as 18.

Washington Online Gambling Laws

Sadly, Washington State is not very friendly to online gambling. Unfortunately, there are actually written laws pertaining to online gambling in the state of Washington. According to RCW 9.46.240, he or she who 'knowingly transmits or receives gambling information by telephone, telegraph, radio, semaphore, the Internet, a telecommunications transmission system, or similar means, or knowingly installs or maintains equipment for the transmission or receipt of gambling information shall be guilty of a class C felony…”

This effectively means that you will be committing a Class C Felony for gambling online. Some other class C felonies? Possession of child pornography and arson. So by gambling online, you are actually committing a crime with the same penalties that are associated with burning down a building or watching illicit activities involving children. Of course, there is a key difference with online gambling: The state doesn’t enforce these laws (because, as you can see, it obviously has more serious matters to handle).

Gambling Sites That Accept Washington Residents

If you live in the state of Washington, you will find that players are able to access a number of gambling sites regardless of how the law feels about it. There are sportsbooks, poker rooms, casinos and more that will accept you regardless of where you live. We do not condone breaking the law, so we cannot recommend you actually follow our advice. We have made this information available simply in order for players to not risk being ripped off solely by joining up with the wrong gambling site.

Bovada: Has Online Casino Play For Washington Players

With some sports in their offseason preparing for next season, there are still ways bettors can make a lot of money on Bovada. You still have the online casino which produces a lot of winners as well. Even though these sporting events had different options, so does the online casino on Bovada. Having the chance to have a live dealer is one and they also have different slot games that bettors can capitalize on. All fun but also beneficial. This makes having a Bovada account worth it because there are so many ways where you can bet and earn money. There is nothing wrong with earning another paycheck and Bovada gives its users all kinds of ways to do that. Go To Bovada!

50% - $250 BONUS!

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SportsBetting: The Best Place For Betting On The Pac-12

One gambling site that we can tell you is worth using is SportsBetting. This site has not yet pulled out of Washington state, deciding that it is safe and legal for WA residents to use. And boy do they use it! Over 100,000 Washington gamblers call SportsBetting home, with new members signing up all the time. SportsBetting gamblers can join from Washington, and nobody has ever been legally penalized for doing so in over two decades of action. New WA members who sign up now can receive SportsBetting’s 50% welcome match bonus worth up to $1000.

If you do decide to join SportsBetting, deposits can be made with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, wire transfers, money orders, cashier’s checks, and prepaid cards. Even better, of course, is the fact that SportsBetting now also accepts Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, DASH, Ethereum, and Litecoin banking options. Indeed, bettors who use cryptocurrency to make deposits at SportsBetting can get $4500 in early-bird bonuses to put towards their bankrolls.

Overall, SportsBetting has given their players access to one of the most enjoyable gambling experiences on the Internet, and we can tell you that this service one of the most impressive gambling sites online, despite the laws that are in place. Go To Sportsbetting.ag

50% - $1,000

ALL STATES

Online Casinos That Accept Washington Residents

If you do decide to ignore WA’s nonsensical and unenforceable laws and begin playing online gambling games, you will find that there are many options available. These begin with casinos. If you decide to partake in these casinos, you will be able to play a fairly wide number of table games, slots, poker variants, and more – often, you’ll have more options than actual live casinos!

Online Sports Betting Sites That Accept Washington Residents

The state of Washington has, as we have stated, made it a crime for you to gamble online. While you can theoretically be arrested for online gambling, you will find that the easiest way to bet on sports is by simply visiting one of the online gambling options we have listed. Of course, we do not officially recommend this. Wink wink, nudge nudge...

The best sportsbooks we don’t recommend using (ha!) are online betting sites like Bovada, BetOnline, SportsBetting, 5Dimes, BetDSI, and BookMaker. These are the top Internet sportsbooks in the world, and they all take Washington residents as customers. Joining is fast, secure, and free, and payouts are 100% guaranteed. You definitely should never use these sites for all your comprehensive WA sports betting needs. However, if you choose to go ahead and sign up with these books, we certainly won’t tell.

Online Poker Sites That Accept Washington Residents

Even though many of the largest Internet poker rooms have pulled out from the Washington Market, you will find that you do still have options. For Washington residents, we can tell you that there are still several poker rooms that enable you to participate without too many problems. The sportsbooks listed above tend to offer the best live-deal poker experiences, and you can play against real competitors. However, other sites that are more casino-oriented (like Lucky Red, Aladdin’s Gold, and the like), offer lots of kinds of themed video poker. Between these options, you are sure to find the right kind of card game for you.

Online Bingo Sites That Accept Washington Players

Most people don’t think of the Internet when they think of playing bingo, but you can easily do so by way of the online poker rooms and sportsbooks we have put forth. We want our readers to have access to safe online gambling options, and these bingo halls are the best in the business. 5Dimes probably has the best bingo options of any major all-in-one gambling site, but for dedicated bingo action, nobody beats Downtown Bingo for their sheer selection and promotional offers.

Is Online Gambling Legal In Washington?

We have had many ask us if online gambling is legal in Washington, and we have bad news - it is not. Of course, the state doesn’t appear to have ever bothered to enforce this restriction, and there is no record of any WA resident ever being arrested or even fined for betting over the Internet. While it is not likely that you will be the first, it remains a remote possibility. You’re more likely to be struck by lightning, but it’s good to understand your risks. That’s what gambling is all about, after all.

Washington is one of the few states in the US that has actually drafted and passed legislation that prohibits Internet gambling. The law, which can be found in RCW 9.46 of the state’s statutes, states that anyone who facilitates gambling over the Internet is in violation of the law. Reading this, and taking into account the authority that the state of Washington has, we have come to the opinion that this law restricts any actions that online gambling sites located in the state of Washington might take. In other words, this type of law restricts sportsbook and casino operators, not gamblers themselves.

This law does not, of course, have the jurisdiction to forbid operators of online, offshore gambling sites from facilitating gambling. While this law is in effect, however, we urge caution. But we don’t believe that it prohibits the use of an online gambling site that is located in another country, simply because it doesn’t have the authority to do so. There has never been a case of a Washington resident being charged with, let alone arrested for, online gambling when using an overseas, online gambling site.

Is It Safe To Gamble Online In Washington?

This is the million dollar question...and the answer is yes. (Now where’s my million dollars!?) While Washington puffs its chest and sounds really big and bad with its laws about online gambling, it’s all bluster and reality doesn’t back it up. The simple fact remains that the state has no way to stop you and no real way to catch you, either.

Instead, Washington is really strict re any person or business that attempts to offer online gambling within their state. The sites we have listed on this page get around this because they are not even based in the US. And, while they aren't regulated, Washington residents can know that they are safe when gambling with these sites because all have great reputations for paying players on time as well as friendly gambling deposit options for those living in Washington.

One day, Washington may actually institute laws legalizing online gambling and sports betting, as – in the case of the latter – the elimination of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) by the US Supreme Court allows the state to regulate its own sports betting industry as it sees fit. Whether sports betting and online gaming are available first at commercial locales or are simply rolled out at existing tribal casinos, there is not yet any indication of which way the WA state congress wishes to go in the near- to mid-term future.

Are Online Casinos Legal In Washington?

So if you want to know if online casinos are legal in Washington, you will not find that they technically are not. The laws of the land have made it so you are not supposed to gamble online, which means you are not going to be able to participate in these online casinos. While we wish this would change (and while it almost certainly will going forward), you are simply not going to be able to participate in the fun from a formally legal perspective. Of course, since WA doesn’t actually bother to enforce this archaic law, you can do as thou wilt without fear of legal recourse.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Washington?

As with online casinos, there is no legal online sports betting in Washington on a purely technical basis. We are sad that this is true, but you cannot legally participate in sports betting over the Internet. This has even caused some online sportsbooks to cease accepting residents from the state of Washington. Of course, all the top books – with the best legal teams who understand the industry’s laws better than anyone – still accept WA residents, and that alone should tell you that signing up at and using these sites is basically a risk-free proposition.

Is Online Poker Legal In Washington?

Online poker rooms were the first gambling outlets to stop serving players in Washington. Some of the world's largest online poker rooms pulled out of the Washington market after challenging the state's law banning online gambling under the pretext that online poker is a game of skill rather than a game of chance. Nevertheless, you can still access robust Internet poker rooms safely in WA, simply by going to the above recommended sites.

Can I bet On Horse Racing In Washington?

Yes, you can bet on horse racing in Washington. There are a number of horse racing tracks throughout the state that have been licensed to accept pari-mutuel wagers on both races taking place at their locations and on simulcast wagering. Simulcast wagering is betting on horse races that are taking place out of the state and being broadcast to your track. Horse racing betting can be done at land-based tracks and at online racebooks, so long as those racebooks are not US-based books. Fortunately, all the top sportsbooks listed here also offer robust national and international Thoroughbred racebooks for fans of the ponies.

Best Funding Methods For Washington Online Gambling Sites

There are a number of ways to fund your online account. Some are extremely fast, while others are more focused on having high deposit limits. No matter which method you use, they’ll all achieve the same goal – money in your account so you can start betting. Below are the top three funding methods available for Washington bettors.

• Bitcoin
• Credit Cards
• Money Order

Mobile Washington Gambling Apps

One of the best perks of using online, offshore gambling sites is their mobile betting features. These allow you to access your favorite sites from your iPhone, iPad, Android, Amazon Fire, or Windows Mobile device, all without having to download anything and without cutting out any of the great features you have come to expect through the standard desktop experience. Mobile Washington gambling can be done through any of the sites recommended on this page, so be sure to check them out.

Washington Gambling FAQ’s

Is It Legal To Bet On Horse Racing Online In The US?

The simple answer is yes, it is legal to bet on horse racing betting online in the US. While certain states, like Washington, have passed laws which prohibit how local racebooks may operate, they do not have the jurisdiction to prevent the usage of online horse racing betting sites that are based in other countries. These sites are regulated by their own authorities, like a gaming commission, and are also licensed by the proper authorities.

Do The Racebooks Above Offer Horse Racing Futures, Props, and Matchups?

All of the racebooks we recommend offer large selections of horse racing futures, props, and even matchups. You’ll be able to find all of them before you even sign up for an account, giving you a chance to see the odds before you sign up with the book. On top of all that, you’ll also have access to their daily free picks and their expert team of writers, who publish articles throughout the horse racing season and leading up to big events. Everything you need for successful horse racing betting can be found at the racebooks above.

Does My Payout Come Back Using The Same Deposit Method I Made?

It doesn’t have to, and in the case of credit card deposits, it literally can’t. When requesting a payout, unless the book has specifically stated that the method of deposit will have to match the method of withdrawal (which only applies when certain bonuses are in effect), it does not have to be the same. Most sites will allow you to choose how you withdraw winnings from your account. Each gambling site is different, though, so be sure to read the fine print before committing to a certain method. That said, our favorite withdrawal method is to simply use Bitcoin, as you can receive your funds the same day, withdrawal limits are high, and there are no added fees.

Online Gambling In Washington State

Will I go to jail for online gambling in Washington?

Online Gambling Legal In Washington State

Asking if you will go to jail for online gambling is a tough question. While we have never heard of an arrest, we can tell you that it is a technical possibility. Kind of like getting hit by a meteor is a technical possibility (albeit that’s actually happened to a few people in the past). The law is very clear - if you gamble online, you could potentially be arrested. The penalties are hardly befitting of the 'crime,' so you may not want to take the risk, but the risk itself is laughably tiny, and you probably break more laws every day before breakfast without even thinking about it.