Washington Sports Betting Guide

Washington Legal Sports Betting Overview

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Washington Sports Betting Summary

Governor Jay Inslee signed HB 2638 to allow tribal casinos in Washington to provide sports betting in March 2020, making Washington the 21st state to legalize sports betting in the US. Yet, this came as a surprise, as the Evergreen State had previously been anti-gambling. For example, after the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) prevented betting on games of chance, the Washington Legislature declared Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) games of chance and banned them. Only Montana, Nevada, and Idaho have similar DFS rules.

There are 15 retail sportsbooks at casinos in Washington, the first of which was launched by Snoqualmie Casino in September 2021. All 30 tribal casinos in the state also have the option to open a retail sportsbook.

Online sports betting is legal, but you can only use a betting app on the grounds of that app’s partnered casino. As of July 2022, only one sportsbook app has been launched – that of Snoqualmie Casino, in partnership with IGT, in December 2021. Legislation like SB 5212 to expand online betting in Washington is currently being discussed.

Check out our complete guide to sports betting in Washington for the latest legislative developments and details on how and where to place legal bets.

Washington Online Sportsbook Summary

Online and retail sports betting is legal in Washington, but you can only wager at tribal casinos. There are 15 retail sportsbooks in the state, but there is currently only one online sportsbook, run by Snoqualmie Casino in partnership with IGT. To use an online sportsbook, you must be on the grounds of the betting site’s partnered casino and enable your geolocation services.

The Senate is reviewing a bill to allow online sports betting at cardrooms. In addition, a lawsuit has been motioned against the federal government to try and expand the sports betting laws to include more than tribal casinos. You can also travel from Washington to the neighboring state of Oregon and place wagers anywhere using the DraftKings app.

How Does Washington Compare to Other States?

• Market Coverage

As many of the sportsbooks in Washington are supported by major US operators, including BetMGM and Caesars, the most popular markets are covered. This includes major league sports, but many sportsbooks will also offer wagers on niche sports like MMA and NASCAR. Washington follows many states in the US like New Jersey and allows college sports betting, but not on teams from in the state. Wagering on eSports is also prohibited.

• Competitive Odds & Prices

Many of Washington's retail sportsbooks are partnered with the biggest operators in the US, like FanDuel and Caesars. These sportsbooks are available nationwide and provide the same betting odds in every state. BetMGM is available in WA and partnered with the NFL to provide generous betting lines on football games weekly. Local sportsbook brands also offer competitive prices on most sports but may not compete in terms of promotions like odds boosts, which larger bookmakers provide.

• Gambling Revenue

Washington sportsbooks do not pay tax to the state on gross gaming revenue. As tribal authorities handle everything, revenues do not have to be declared publicly. Therefore, the official revenues brought in by Washington sportsbooks are unavailable. However, Colorado sportsbooks, operating in a state with a similar population and sports betting law to Washington, generated $280 million in pre-tax revenue. Washington sportsbooks are likely making comparable amounts.

• Betting Taxes

Washington does not have any income tax, but you still need to declare your gambling winnings to the IRS. You should keep a record of all your betting to avoid confusion when filing your taxes. You must include winnings over $600 on a W-2G form. Sportsbooks can hold up to 25% of your winnings for tax purposes.

All sportsbooks must pay an excise tax of 0.25% of the sports betting handle in line with the Internal Revenue Code. The Revenue Code also requires operators to pay $50 for every employee involved in accepting wagers.

How to Place a Bet in Washington

You can visit a retail sportsbook at a number of tribal casinos and, at one of these locations, bet using the Snoqualmie Casino Sports app. While the staff at your chosen location will help you place your first bet, here are our step-by-step guides to help you get started:

Retail

1. Research your chosen sport and consider the bets you want to place before visiting one of the state’s retail sportsbooks. The wagering process will be more straightforward if you know what bets you plan to make before you visit.

2. Visit one of the tribal casinos that offer a retail sportsbook.

3. To start betting at a retail sportsbook, go to a betting window or use a betting kiosk to place your wagers.

4. At retail locations and on the app, you can choose from various professional sports and place bets like moneylines, parlays, and totals. Be sure to check your selection before placing the wager. Once you place your bet, you won’t be able to claim your money back, so be sure you’re betting on the right market.

5. At retail sportsbooks, once you’ve placed your bet, you will receive a ticket. You’ll use this ticket to claim your payouts if you win, so keep hold of this. Head over to the ticket window and collect your winnings if your bet is successful.

Online

1. If you are visiting Snoqualmie Casino, you can use their sportsbook app on their property. If you have an Apple device, you can download the Snoqualmie Casino Sports app from the Apple App Store. Android users can download the Snoqualmie Casino Sports APK file directly from the website.

2. To activate the Snoqualmie Casino Sports app, you must visit the Snoqualmie Casino box office. Once there, you must provide valid photo identification and a Crescent Club membership card. You must then fill out a W-9 form, complete with your Social Security number or Tax Identification number. Finally, you must read and accept the app's terms and conditions.

3. The Snoqualmie Casino Sports app will require you to deposit at its sportsbook window using cash.

4. At retail locations and on the app, you can choose from various professional sports and place bets like moneylines, parlays, and totals. Be sure to check your selection before placing the wager. Once you place your bet, you won’t be able to claim your money back, so be sure you’re betting on the right market.

5. When using the Snoqualmie Casino Sports app, enter a stake and press bet when ready. If you win, money will be added to your account virtually.

6. When you’re ready to withdraw from the Snoqualmie Casino Sports app, select ‘Withdraw from Sportsbook’ on the ‘My Profile’ section. Then enter the amount you want to withdraw and press the 'Withdraw' button. You will receive an email/SMS that contains an authorization code.

7. Bring this code to the Snoqualmie Casino Sportsbook or the casino cage cashier in Snoqualmie Casino. The casino will then pay you out in cash and deduct the funds from your online account.

Who is Not Eligible to Bet in WA?

You must be 18 or older to place legal bets in Washington. However, if alcohol is available on the premises, the minimum age rises to 21. You must bring a valid photo ID to place bets at a retail sportsbook. In addition, any individual listed below is also prohibited from sports betting:

• Players, coaches, employees, or members of any professional or college sports team.

• Officials, referees, or umpires of professional or college sports leagues.

• Any individual with authority to influence players.

• Any individual employed by a regulatory body that creates sports rules (e.g., MLB, NCAA).

• Any individual who has an ownership stake in a sports team.

• Any individual with access to non-public information about a sports team (e.g., player medical records).

• Individuals that have voluntarily excluded themselves from gambling activities.

• Any individual prohibited from betting at a state or federal level (e.g., due to criminal history).

Latest Washington Sports Betting Updates

Timeline for Sports Betting in Washington

• February 2022: Retail sportsbooks operated by Caesars and FanDuel open in Washington state. Caesars opens at Muckleshoot Casino, Spokane Tribe Casino, and Chewelah Casino. FanDuel opens at Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort.

• January 2022: DraftKings announce a partnership with Tulalip Resort Casino and Quilceda Creek Casino to launch two retail sportsbooks.

• December 20, 2021: Snoqualmie Casino launches its sportsbook app, which you can use on the casino’s grounds. This is the only Washington online sports betting app to launch to date.

• December 20, 2021: BetMGM sportsbook at Emerald Queen Casino opens, the largest retail sportsbook in the state.

• September 9, 2021: Snoqualmie Casino opens the first Washington sportsbook. Legendary Seattle Supersonics player Shawn Kemp places the first legal bet in the Evergreen State.

• March 26, 2020: Gov. Inslee signs HB 2638 to legalize sports betting at tribal casinos. An emergency clause in the bill means it comes into immediate effect.

• May 14, 2018: The US Supreme Court strikes down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA). This gives each state individual power to legalize sports betting.

Washington Sports Betting Background

Washington launched pari-mutuel horse racing betting in 1933 but didn’t alter its sports betting laws until very recently. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 prohibited betting on games of chance, but this excluded Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS). However, the Washington Legislature declared DFS as games of chance and banned them in the state. This was reinforced by a 2016 bill sponsored by Representative Christopher Hurst.

Two bills were debated in the House and the Senate when sports betting was legalized. HB 2638 was a successful bill that only allowed sportsbooks to open at tribal casinos. However, another bill in the Senate suggested legalizing sportsbooks at tribal casinos and card rooms. This bill lost support, and HB 2638 passed.

Future of Washington Sports Betting

All 30 of Washington's tribal casinos could launch retail sportsbooks, so there is scope for even greater sports betting coverage in the state.

Meanwhile, the Washington Legislature added an emergency clause to HB 2638, so the bill became law immediately after Gov. Inslee signed it. However, Maverick Gaming CEO Eric Persson suggested this was to avoid a referendum to change the state’s gambling laws. After receiving advice from Washington Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge, Persson is suing the federal government for the right to offer sports betting. A ruling in Persson’s favor could see Washington betting laws change to allow card rooms to offer sports betting and online sportsbooks.

The Washington Senate is also currently debating SB 5212, which would allow wagering at cardrooms, including betting with apps.

Washington Sports Betting Locations

Sports betting is only permitted at the state’s tribal casinos. 24 tribes currently operate 30 tribal casinos, and all of these locations have the potential to offer a retail sportsbook. Online sports betting isn’t legal outside of tribal land, but you can use a betting app in Snoqualmie Casino to place wagers.

Snoqualmie Casino

• Address: 37500 S.E. North Bend Way, Snoqualmie, WA 98065

• Website: https://www.snocasino.com/

• Phone Number: (425) 888-1234

• Operator: Snoqualmie

Snoqualmie Casino was the first casino in Washington to offer a retail sportsbook. Alongside the 10,700 square foot sportsbook at the 172,000 square foot property, there are more than 1,500 slots, over 50 table games, and five restaurants. With point spreads, parlays, moneylines, and more, the casino offers betting on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college football and basketball, soccer, MMA, and boxing. You can use multiple betting windows and 12 betting kiosks for wagering. As of July 2022, Snoqualmie Casino is the only casino in Washington that offers mobile app betting on the casino’s grounds. You must allow the Snoqualmie Casino Sports app to access your geolocation services to place wagers on it.

Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel

• Address: 2920 E. R Street, Tacoma, WA 98404

• Website: https://www.emeraldqueen.com/

• Phone Number: (253) 594-7777

• Operator: BetMGM

On December 20, 2021, BetMGM opened Washington’s largest sportsbook. Housed inside the Emerald Queen Casino and Hotel in Tacoma, bettors can find over 70 leather reclining armchairs focused on the largest LED wall in the country – measured at 500 square feet. There are also more than a dozen 86’’ TVs around the sportsbook.

The sportsbooks offer a variety of bets, with betting on NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, soccer, MMA, tennis, golf, boxing, and auto-racing. Bets are also available on a variety of college sports leagues, excluding Washington State-sponsored sports events.

Any bets contribute points towards the BetMGM Rewards program, which you can redeem for real-life prizes like hotel stays. BetMGM plans to open a second retail sportsbook in 2022 at Emerald Queen Casino in Fife. In addition, BetMGM will launch a mobile app you can only use on the casinos’ grounds, following its model from Mississippi with the Gold Strike Casino Resort and Beau Rivage Resort and Casino.

Muckleshoot Casino

• Address: 2402 Auburn Way S., Auburn, WA 98002

• Website: https://www.muckleshootcasino.com/

• Phone Number: (800) 804-4944

• Operator: Caesars

Caesars opened its sportsbook in Muckleshoot Casino on February 10, 2022. The sportsbook offers Washington sports bettors four betting windows and nine self-service kiosks. You can place bets across multiple markets like NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, MMA, soccer, college football, and college basketball. 20 big-screen TVs show all the action you could want alongside a live sports ticker with the latest scores. The centerpiece of the sportsbook is the 12-foot by 24-foot video wall. Enjoy the extensive menu, including beer cheese fondue and other bar favorites, or order customizable mini donuts.

Washington Land-Based Casinos

Washington Lottery Locations

Washington’s Lottery was created in 1982 when Gov. John Spellman signed HB 1251. You can buy lottery tickets at 3,500 lottery retail locations, but there is no relationship between the Washington State Gambling Commission and the Washington Lottery. As such, sports betting is not available at lottery locations.

Off-Track and Stadium Betting Locations

Sportsbooks are only allowed at tribal casinos, so there are no stadiums with retail sportsbooks in Washington. The Washington Horse Racing Commission was established in 1933 to oversee horse racing and the newly legalized pari-mutuel betting market. Each county in Washington is allowed an off-track betting (OTB) facility. You can also place pari-mutuel wagers at the state’s two racetracks; the Emerald Downs in Auburn and the Sun Downs in Kennewick.

Teams to Bet on in Washington

• Pro Sports

Seattle Seahawks: Roared on by the ferocious ‘12th Man’ fans, the Seahawks were one of the top NFL franchises in the 2010s. The team made the playoffs eight out of ten times during the decade and won the Super Bowl in 2013, led by their Legion of Boom defense. The Seahawks play home games at Lumen Field.

Seattle Mariners: The Mariners joined the MLB American League West in 1977 as an expansion franchise and play home games at T-Mobile Park. Aside from the American League Division Series-winning side of 1995 and the regular season record-setting 2001 team, success has been fleeting for the M’s. The Mariners remain the only MLB team to have never played in a World Series.

Seattle Kraken: The Kraken is an expansion franchise and joined the NHL Pacific Division Western Conference in 2021. The team plays games at the Climate Pledge Arena. As expected for an expansion franchise, the first season was a struggle, with the team posting a 27-49-6 record.

Washington residents haven’t had an in-state NBA team to follow since the relocation of the Seattle Supersonics to Oklahoma in 2008. Many basketball fans in Washington choose to follow the nearest NBA team, the Portland Trail Blazers. Based in Oregon, the Trail Blazers won the NBA championship once in 1977. In recent years, Portland have made multiple postseason appearances led by standout guard Damian Lillard.

• College Sports

Eastern Washington Eagles: Eastern Washington University’s Eagles play football, basketball, and women’s soccer in the Big Sky Conference. The Eagles are probably best known for being the only football team in the country to play on a red field.

Gonzaga Bulldogs: While several sports are played at Gonzaga University, the Bulldogs are synonymous with college basketball. Perennial powerhouses for the past 20 years, the Bulldogs finished runners-up in the NCAA Division I Tournament in 2017 and 2021. The women’s basketball team has also achieved success, reaching multiple Sweet Sixteen stages in the past decade.

Seattle Redhawks: The Redhawks represent Seattle University in the Western Athletic Conference. The Redhawks have 20 varsity teams and are championed by their mascot Rudy the Redhawk.

Washington Huskies: The Huskies compete in the Pac-12 Conference, representing the University of Washington. The Huskies have won two National Championships in football and one NCAA Championship for softball. The Huskies football team plays home games at the Husky Stadium, the largest stadium in the Pacific Northwest, housing 72,500 fans.

Washington State Cougars: Another Pac-12 team, the Cougars represent Washington State University. The Cougars have 16 varsity teams and enjoy a fierce rivalry with the Washington Huskies, the Oregon Ducks of the University of Oregon, and the University of Idaho’s Idaho Vandals.

• Women’s Sports

Seattle Storm: The Storm is one of the most successful franchises in WNBA history. The team has won the WNBA championship four times, never losing a Finals Series. Over the past two decades, the Storm has been led by Sue Bird. Bird is one of the greatest WNBA players in history and has played her entire 20-year career for the Storm.

OL Reign: OL Reign, previously Seattle Reign, plays in the National Women’s Soccer League. The team rebranded to OL Reign in 2020 after being purchased by the OL Groupe - owners of the French soccer team Olympique Lyonnais. The Reign was a founder member of the NWSL and has won the NWSL Shield twice.

Washington Responsible Gambling Resources

• Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling – Offers live chat, SMS, and telephone support for anyone struggling with problem gambling. The Council also provides programs and services for problem gamblers across Washington. (800) 547-6133

• Washington State Health Care Authority – Plans, implements, and provides oversight for the Washington State Problem Gambling Program. Its website provides simple ways to identify problem gambling. (800) 547-6133

• Gamblers Anonymous – Organizes meetings and virtual meetings for problem gamblers across Washington. It also directs people to state hotlines and has its own recovery program. (855) 222-5542

Washington introduced a state-wide self-exclusion program on May 1, 2022. You can submit a form and ban yourself from the premises of participating tribal casinos. Additionally, the Washington State Legislature approved a Problem Gambling Task Force in 2019 to provide recommendations on assisting problem gamblers. These measures are being implemented by the Washington State Health Care Authority and include reimbursement for Certified Gambling Counselors’ treatment.

Who Oversees Sports Betting in Washington?

According to the regulations set out by HB 2638, only tribal casinos are allowed to operate sportsbooks. Tribal casinos operate under tribal authorities, and there are 24 different tribes in Washington. These tribal authorities oversee the sportsbooks in the state. However, many authorities cooperate with the Washington State Gambling Commission. The commission is the state’s gambling regulatory body and implements measures to ensure betting is safe. The commission is also responsible for the state’s self-exclusion program, which includes selected sportsbooks.