Washington residents can play online casino games safely at a number of world-regulated casinos licensed in Malta, Antigua, and more. While Washington lawmakers haven’t regulated online gambling yet — and may not for years to come – residents are able to register and play at these fully licensed casinos. Washington online gambling laws and enforcement thereof focus on the sites themselves rather than individual players, so read our honest reviews to find a casino at which you can play with confidence.
This guide to Washington online gambling discusses online casino sites, sportsbooks, and cardrooms, as well as the several land-based casinos in the state. We provide the key laws the Washington State Gaming Commission enforces, a Washington online gambling FAQ and a history of gaming laws in the state. Most importantly, we provide reviews of the best online casinos available to players in Washington.
The state of Washington has one gambling age for every type of gambling in the state and that is 18. For land-based gambling, players can wager in casinos, poker rooms, and bingo, lottery venues, and horse race tracks while 18 or older. Some casinos and other venues may restrict admittance to those over 21 so that they can legally serve alcohol.
While Washington State has yet to regulate state-licensed online casinos, there are a number of reputable world-regulated online casinos that accept players from Washington.
We recommend to Washington online casino gamblers they play for real money at Bovada. Bovada features a $3,000 welcome bonus and a $3,750 Bitcoin bonus for new depositors. Online slot gamblers can play excellent progressive slots like A Night With Cleo, Gold Rush Gus, and 777 Deluxe. Table game aficionados have access to several versions of baccarat, blackjack, and roulette. Those who prefer table poker can try Tri Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, or Caribbean Stud. The live dealer casino at Bovada has European Roulette, American Roulette, Live Baccarat, Super 6, Live Blackjack, and Early Payout Blackjack.”
Washington’s unfriendly to online poker providers, making it difficult for residents to find a decent state-regulated poker website. However, there are several internationally-regulated sites – such as Bovada Poker and Ignition Poker – that accept players from Washington.
Ignition Poker is our recommendation for Washington poker players looking for a reliable online cardroom with a big community of players. Ignition has $1.5 million weekly in guaranteed prize money, $2500 weekly freerolls, and $150K guaranteed poker tournaments. The poker room features a full schedule of turbo tournaments, sit-and-go events, monster stack poker tournaments, and jackpot sit-and-go’s. It also features a welcome bonus of 150% up to $1,500 with the Casino + Poker package.
There are no legalized and regulated online sportsbooks in Washington, but there are a number of internationally-licensed sportsbooks that accept players from Washington state.
As hard as they tried, Washington lawmakers were unable to outlaw online gambling completely. Washington’s laws are more concentrated toward operators of illegal online gambling websites than users. It is a Class C felony to operate an illegal gambling site in the state of Washington. Don’t do it. Technically, it is illegal to sign up at offshore online casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks. Many Washington residents do it and none have been prosecuted for playing for real money online. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen in the future, but you’re safe playing online for now.
Washington sports bettors should consider Bovada as their choice among online sportsbooks. Bovada features a $250 welcome bonus for bettors who make their first deposit. Bovada also includes a live betting page for live in-play betting during the game, along with early payouts for bettors who are winning early in the contest. Sports bettors receive a whole world full of betting markets, but many US-focused wagers on NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, NCAA, UFC, and boxing.”
It’s often said that unregulated gambling sectors exist in a legal gray area, but that’s not the case in Washington. Most other states do not refer to online gambling in their laws, but Washington does. In the Washington gambling laws the state prevents all unregulated gambling activities, which also means online gambling.
In 2006, the state of Washington created a law that criminalized online gambling. A 2010 legal challenge saw the law upheld.
The Washington State Gambling Commission takes a particularly strong stand against illegal gambling. A 2006 law gave the WSGC the authority to prosecute all kinds of gaming offenses, including unlicensed online gambling. In 2010, residents challenged the law in court, but a judge upheld the 2006 law. The result is the WSGC has unique theoretical authority among state regulators in the United States. Washington residents continue to be accepted at internationally-regulated online casinos & poker sites.
Instead, the WSGC used its authority to regulate the growing Esports industry. Valve, owner of the Steam gaming site, is based in Seattle. It has been in the WSGC’s crosshairs since 2016, when it was ordered to stop skin-gambling from third-party sites. Valve continues to be at the center of the ongoing debate over skins, loot boxes, and other video game-related gaming issues.
The Washington State Gambling Commission claims authority over online gaming due to a 2006 law, and does restrict gambling at unregulated casinos.
However, there are many internationally-regulated casinos that are friendly to Washington gamblers and accept them at their sites.
The online casinos we review have multiple slots, blackjack, baccarat, video poker, roulette, and many other table games. Each has bonuses and promotions these sites supply you with.
Washington passed a new law allowing all tribal casinos to operate legal sports books on their properties.
Tribal casinos feature retail sportsbooks where residents can bet on their Seahawks or Mariners.
The casinos are allowed to have mobile betting, but geofenced to only operate while on casino property. All other sports gambling, except for 100 “Square” pools, is illegal in Washington.
Despite the laws, many Washington State sports betting players enjoy internationally-regulated online sportsbooks. The online sportsbooks offer Washington residents live in-play betting, sports scores and schedules, mobile apps, and much more.
Residents hoping to play online poker in Washington State are in luck.
Though the Washington State Gambling Commission stands against online poker, there are many internationally-licensed online card rooms that accept Washington residents and let them play poker for real money.
Yes. Washington residents can play at online bingo sites that are as safe as the other gambling websites reviewed on this page.
Washington residents will enjoy the bingo tournaments and big jackpot payouts to winners.
Offshore bingo sites offer a ton of different bingo cards, playing styles, and tantalizing bonuses for Washington residents who are always accepted at these sites. Choose a site and start collecting jackpots.
Yes. The Washington Lottery Commission oversees the state lottery and partners with multi-state lottery associations.
Washington joined the Mega Millions multi-state lottery in 2002 and the Powerball association in 2009. Since then, Washington’s lottery had multiple drawings a week in the hundreds of thousands, millions, and tens of millions of dollars.
It is legal to buy lottery tickets and scratch offs in Washington. Thousands of vendors dot the state in convenience store, gas stations, and other lotto vendor areas.
Yes. Washington allows charitable gambling organizations to hold raffles for fundraising purposes.
The list of charitable organizations include athletic, civic, educational, agricultural, fraternal, patriotic, political, and social organizations. Also, agricultural fairs, religious societies, churches, and grange organizations also can host raffles for fundraising.
To do so, the organization must receive a license from the state. PTA and ASB organizations usually qualify. Lobby groups, including those with a 501c rating from the IRS, do not qualify. The maximum price per ticket is $100, while no free tickets can be printed. Raffle tickets must be sold by the organization’s members. Those members can’t be paid to sell tickets, unless they are an employee.
Tickets can’t be mailed. They can’t be sold over the phone or Internet. They must be paid in full using cash, check, or credit card. IOUs don’t qualify. A person must be 18 years or older to play in a charity raffle. The minimum age to oversee such a raffle also is 18.
Though it legalized retail sportsbooks at tribal casinos in 2020, Washington State remains openly hostile to online gambling. The Washington State Gambling Commission (WSGC) can theoretically charge online players with a Class C felony. Despite having some of the most draconian gaming laws in the country, some Washington State legislators continue to push for gambling reform.
This section will contain the latest news and updates on legislation that will hopefully lead to Washington State becoming a truly gambling-friendly state.
On January 14, 2021, two bipartisan sponsors introduced Senate Bill 5212 to authorize sports wagering at card rooms and racetracks.
The bill would expand retail sportsbooks in Washington State from solely tribal casinos. There are 30 licensed and operating poker rooms in Washington State, per the WSGC. If SB 5212 passes, each would be allowed to purchase a sportsbook license for a $100,000 application fee and a to be determined annual payment.
SB 5212 would levy a 10% tax on sportsbook receipts. Betting would have a minimum age of 18, and no bets could be taken on Washington college teams.
Another part of the proposed law to expand Washington State sports betting also helps daily fantasy players.
SB 5212 would explicitly make DFS games, along with square pools, legal in Washington.
On February 4, 2021, a coalition of federally recognized Native American tribes in Washington State approved a resolution opposing SB 5212.
Currently, tribal casinos have a monopoly on regulated sports betting in Washington. A commercial operator of numerous card rooms is actively lobbying to break the tribal control on sportsbooks.
Native American tribes typical have strong support in the Washington State legislature. Their opposition may prove fatal to SB 5212.
Despite tribal opposition, the WSGC is preparing to license additional sportsbook operators. On February 25, 2021, regulators launched a website detailing how potential sportsbooks could begin applying for a license.
By running pre-clearance investigations, the WSGC will significantly speed up the implementation of any additional sports betting offerings in Washington State.
On February 4, 2021, SB 5212 received a public hearing in the Washington State Senate’s Committee on Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs.
Since then, there has been no official movement on the bill. Crucially, no companion bill has been filed in the state’s House of Representatives.
The 2021 state legislative session ends on April 25. Check back to see if sports betting receives any more support before that cut-off date.
While Washington State sports betting continues to draw legislative attention, other games are ignored.
Reforming online poker in Washington State has no current momentum. Neither does allowing regulated online casinos. While other states advance further towards gambling liberalization, Washington State remains far behind.
