The state of Washington allows licensed casinos solely on Native American reservations and also permits horse racing and other amusement games used to raise money for charities.

Best Betting Sites for Washington

Gaming Laws in Washington

The Revised Code of Washington Chapter 9.46 defined illegal gambling in a 1973 Act as “staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under the person's control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that the person or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.” However, illegal gambling does not include fishing derbies as defined by that chapter or parimutuel betting and handicapping contests as authorized by chapter 67.16.

Tribal Casinos

In the state of Washington, 21 tribes operate 27 casinos under Class III gaming compacts. Class III casino games and wagering allowed under the compact include blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat (mini, midi, and full size), Pai Gow poker, Sic-Bo, Big 6, Chuck-a-Luck, poker (Class III), keno, off-track betting, and electronic tribal lottery terminals.

Sports Betting in Washington

Sports betting in the state of Washington is limited by RCW Chapter 9.46.0335 to “pools” that are divided into 100 squares for a specific sports event like the Super Bowl with each square sold up to $1 apiece for a max value of $100. The pool must be closed prior to the start of the sports event when a prospective score is assigned randomly to each individual square.  

Online Sportsbooks

Even though there are no sportsbooks available at physical locations or online in the state of Washington, bettors still have the opportunity to choose from many offshore options. Offshore sports betting sites are widely considered to be a much safer option than local bookmakers. In addition to having the convenience of placing bets right from a personal computer or mobile device and a variety of options, online bettors can trust reputable and well-reviewed offshore books to always offer lines and pay out, which may not always be the case for local bookies.

Poker and Casino in Washington

Poker and other casino games of any kind are not allowed in the state of Washington outside of those located on tribal properties.

Online Poker

Because poker rooms are banned in the state of Washington outside of tribal casinos, online games appeal to interested players who must choose to pursue offshore poker websites in order to participate.

Other Gaming Options in Washington

Licensed horse racing and parimutuel wagering is allowed in the state of Washington in addition to bingo, raffles, amusement games for charity, fishing derbies, golfing and bowling sweepstakes, turkey shoots, social card games and promotional contests.

Washington Lottery

The Washington Lottery was created in 1982 to generate revenues for state programs such as public education and stadium construction through the sale of products, including scratch tickets and draw games like Mega Millions and Powerball. New scratch games are introduced as often as monthly with more than 30 offered to Washington residents on an annual basis.

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