Is Sports Betting Legal In Washington
The state of Washington is home to the popular Seattle Seahawks, perpetual rainy weather and one of the largest temperate rainforests located in the United States. Residents of the Evergreen State love their Seahawks, and are avid sports fans in general. We do not find it surprising in the least that legal USA online sportsbook gambling is rather popular in this state.
- Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Washington
- Why Is Sports Betting Illegal In Washington
- Is Sports Betting Legal In Washington
The legal landscape of gambling is pretty clear in Washington until you look at online sports betting. US-based online sports wagering is restricted through US gambling laws, but what about licensed offshore sportsbooks? What do Washington state laws have to say on the matter? Are there any legitimately licensed online sportsbooks that Washington residents can legally access and place bets at?
These questions and more will be answered here through direct, no-nonsense explanations provided by a seasoned team of industry professionals who have a combined range of experience that spans decades. This page not only addresses the legal status of online sports betting in Washington but also provides information about those best online sportsbooks that allow US residents, including those located in Washington, to place bets online through their websites.
Washington Sports Betting And Gambling Laws After passing ESHB 2638, this made sports betting legal in Washington. Tribal gaming facilities is where sports betting can be done so online sports betting still could cause some issues for residents here.
It is our sincere desire that after reading through this guide, you will be able to make an informed decision concerning sports betting entertainment and how it relates to your specific set of circumstances. It isn’t our job to be for or against this type of betting action, we simply present the facts as we see them so that you can make your own decisions.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Washington
Best Sports Betting Site
Open To Washington Players
As home to the Seattle Seahawks, the state of Washington definitely has bragging rights when it comes to sports prowess. There is a healthy interest in sports betting in this region, and BetOnline Sportsbook is one of the premium destinations that accepts bettors from Washington. Football betting lines are readily available with competitive odds and paylines. They are legitimately licensed and regulated, offer a wide selection of betting lines, odds and paylines, and provide one of the larger sportsbook welcome bonuses in the business but it is their 25% lifetime bonus that really sets their promotions apart from the crowd. They have spent decades earning a stellar reputation for treating their customers like gold.
While sports betting is now legal in Washington state, there are still plenty of restrictions. First off, the bill only calls for sports betting at the state’s tribal casinos. Sports betting will only be allowed to take place on tribal casino property, there will be no legal state-wide mobile betting in Washington, at least not at this time. This sports betting site is a fantastic legal wagering option, and features all of the lines that a bettor in Washington will be looking for such as Mariners lines, betting on the UW Huskies, the Seattle Seahawks and many more teams situated close to / within the state. Washington State became the first state to legalize sports betting in 2020 when Governor Jay Inslee signed ESHB 2638 into law Wednesday afternoon. The new law allows for sports wagering at tribal casinos only, and on professional and college teams, though betting on Washington State teams is banned. The bill does not have a mobile component. Sports betting in Washington became legal on March 26, 2020, despite heavy opposition by the state’s cardrooms. Governor Jay Inslee signed off a bill that allow for tribal casinos to offer regulated sports betting inside their casinos. There is still much work to be done, however.
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Why Is Sports Betting Illegal In Washington
Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Washington? - The Impact of state and federal laws
There are two primary US sports betting laws that govern this type of entertainment in the United States. These federal laws intersect with state laws to create a relevant legal landscape of the gambling market in each state. This is how it works in every US state, including Washington.
The two federal regulations that apply to sports betting are the Federal Wire Act and the UIGEA. These two laws combine to effectively prohibit US-based online sports betting in most states, including Washington. US-based online gambling is not the only option on the table though.
To be clear, there are no US federal laws that prohibit Washington residents from enjoying online sports betting as long as they are placing bets at legitimately licensed and regulated online sportsbooks that are located and operated outside of the United States. Neither of these federal laws has any bearing on offshore sports wagering. This means that sports fans in the US can enjoy online sportsbook gambling at legally sanctioned offshore destinations without violating any US federal laws.
Washington is somewhat unique when it comes to online gambling because it is one of the few states in the US that has bothered to address online gambling in their statutes. Washington has a law on the books that prohibits any type of online gambling within its borders. The resources required to monitor Internet activity for an entire state or enforce this law would be more than considerable, and the state has neither the interest nor the resources to do so. It is extremely unlikely that anyone who participates in online gambling from licensed offshore destinations would ever find himself or herself faced with any legal problems.
However, while it has not yet happened and probably never will, we cannot tell you with 100% surety that it is entirely impossible that anybody would ever be charged with a crime for gambling online in Washington. Technically, it is illegal, realistically the state simply doesn’t seem to care about it as long as there are no illegal online gambling operations springing up within state borders. Should you attempt to participate in unregulated and unlicensed gambling entertainment, it is very likely that law enforcement will have something to say about it.
Are There Any Casinos in Washington?
There's no real sense in listing every Washington casino here. There are literally over a hundred of them that you can find within the state. We'll go through and name off a couple of popular and newer casinos that they have, but if you want the entire list you're going to have to check out another resource elsewhere. It would take another 4,000 words to properly touch on every one of Washington's casinos, and nobody wants to spend their entire day here reading about casinos. So suffice to say that Washington does embrace gambling and that you can find some great casinos within the state.
Some of the sports bars and casinos in Washington include RC's Restaurant Casino Sportsbar, which is a blend of slots, table games, poker and sports. The Slo Pitch Sports Grill and Casino, Jokers Casino and Sports Bar, the Oak Bowl Sports Lounge and Card Room, and more. You also have some very big casinos in the state, such as the Mill Bay Casino in Manson, or the Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn. No matter where you go in the state, you definitely have some live gambling options.
History of the Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks franchise joined the NFL in 1976 and have played their home games at CenturyLink Field since 2002. The Seahawks have won 10 division titles and have appeared in three Super Bowls, winning their first and only in Super Bowl XLVIII during the 2013 season.
Is Sports Betting Legal In Washington
Seahawks fans are often referred to as the “12th Man” when the team is playing in Seattle due to the home field advantage the team has because the crowd noise “acts as a twelfth Seahawks player on the field.” In fact, the noise generated by the crowd set a Guinness World Record for the loudest crowd at a sporting event during a 2013 Monday Night Football game against the Saints registering at 137.6 dB.
Betting on the 2019 Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks finished with a record of 10-6, good enough to finish 2ned in the NFC West. Their season came to a close when they lost a close game in the playoffs to the Dallas Cowboys in the Wildcard round. Last year they averaged 353.3 offensive yards per game and 26.8 points per game. Russell Wilson is still considered one of the best young quarterbacks in the game and each year he proves why he is on the field. Betting on the Seahawks to win Super Bowl 54 would be a smart bet giving their current odds.
Odds to Win the Super Bowl LIV:+3300
College Football Teams in Washington
The state of Washington is home to two college football programs, the Washington Huskies, who began playing in 1889 and are located in Seattle, WA and the Washington State Cougars, who began playing in 1893 and are located in Pullman, WA. Both compete in the Pac-12 Conference, and the two in-state rivals first met in 1900, playing 110 times since then. The rivalry is known as the “Apple Cup” because of Washington being a major producer of apples. Today, the game is played as the last game of the season for both teams and the Apple Cup Trophy is presented to the winner by the state’s current governor after the end of the game.
Betting on the 2019 Washington Huskies
Last year the Huskies finished 10-4 and 1st in the PAC-12 North. This year they are projected to start the season ranked #9 in the country. With only three close losses in the regular season, the Huskies won their division and was selected to play Ohio State in the 2019 Rose Bowl. They narrowly lost that battle 23-28 but fans would agree that last year was a good season for the Huskies.
Odds To Win The NCAAF National Title:+2500
Betting on the 2019 Washington State Cougars
Washington State had a really good year last year finishing 11-2 and second in the PAC-12 North. The Cougars only two losses last year was to USC by a field goal and to Washington by less than 10 points. They went on to win the Alamo Bowl against Iowa State 28-26. This year their schedule looks about the same as last but with no USC. Expect the Cougars to have a great 2019 season.
Odds To Win The NCAAF National Title: +TBA
Yes. The governor signed a bill into law March 25, 2020, making Washington the 21st state to legalize sports betting. The bill legalizes sports betting in tribal casinos, though mobile wagering is only allowed inside those casinos.
There are 29 Native American casinos in Washington that can begin taking wagers, but a launch date has yet to be specified. Before that happens, tribes have to negotiate amendments to their gaming compacts with the state so sports betting can be added to their authorized activities. The hope for residents is that sports betting is launched ahead of the 2020 football season, but due to the Coronavirus pandemic, projecting a start date is a little more difficult.
Included in the bill are restrictions that prohibit betting on games involving in-state collegiate teams and minor league sports.
Oddly, Daily Fantasy Sports have yet to be legalized in Washington, though that's likely to change following the passing of the sports betting bill. As it stands, DFS sites are barred from entering the state because state laws determine that fantasy sports are a game of chance, in turn making them gambling. Since fantasy sports have yet to be permitted by the state as a method of gambling, they are considered illegal.
Otherwise, Washington allows horse betting and has racetracks as well as online options.