Washington State Online Gambling: an Expert Guide
Washington residents can play online casino games legally and safely for real money. Residents have no fear of fines or prosecution, though they must find trustworthy gaming sites. Washington lawmakers haven’t regulated online gambling yet — and probably won’t for years to come. Washington online gambling laws don’t call for punishment of individual players, so read our honest reviews of online casinos to play for real money with confidence.
Washington state has a lot of regulated land-based casinos, which we discuss in this article. This guide to WA online gambling discusses online casino sites, sportsbooks, and cardrooms. We provide the key laws the Washington State Gaming Commission efforces. Keep reading and you’ll see a Washington online gambling FAQ and a history of gaming laws in the state. Most importantly, we provide reviews of the best online casinos for Washington residents.
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Washington State Gaming Laws
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 2011 legal challenge to that law saw the law upheld. The consequences of these actions are that Washington state residents can gamble online at any gambling website that is not based in the state, but conforms to the states gambling laws and it is legal.
Betting Online in Washington
Residents of the state of Washington have the ability to sign up and bet for real money at offshore online gaming sites. On this site, we review a list of online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker rooms that accept Washington residents.
These offshore gambling sites are licensed and regulated in foreign countries, but follow the quirky laws of Washington state. Some may not allow players until they are 21, though the legal gambling age of 18 in Washington.
Washington State Gambling Commission
The Washington State Gambling Commission licenses and regulates all forms of gambling in the state, except lottery betting. The Gambling Commission has authority to set the rules and policies of gaming, such as the Esports industry. Online gambling fits under the same guidelines. The Washington State Gambling Commission works with 35 tribal casinos throughout the state, while many casino cruise ships are based in Washington ports. The Ilani Casino Resort, located only 25 miles from Portland, Oregon, is the latest Native American casino to open in Washington state.
The Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut signed a deal in 2015 to manage the Ilani Casino Resort.
Washington Online Casinos
The online casinos we bring to Washington residents are friendly to Washington gamblers and accept them at their sites. No resident of Washington State needs to worry that they are breaking the law when they join these sites because they are located offshore out of U.S. jurisdiction. No US individual player has been prosecuted for gaming online, even in regions where it is illegal.
The online casino 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 Sports Betting
Most forms of sports betting are illegal in Washington state, despite a May 2018 US Supreme Court decision stating that individual states can set their own sportsbook laws. The only form of sports betting that is legal in Washington state “sports pools” and that is only in land-based establishments not online.
The 1961 Federal Wire Act makes it illegal to transmit sports bets across state lines. Washington could legalize single-state sports bets, but has not chosen to do so. Despite the laws, many residents of Washington play on offshore online sportsbooks. The online sportsbooks offer Washington residents live in-play betting, sports scores and schedules, mobile apps, and much more.
Washington Online Poker Sites
Because Washington is so unfriendly to online gambling, poker especially, there are not many poker websites willing to accept Washington residents. However, many unregulated online card rooms accept Washington residents and let them play for real money. These exist as offshore gaming sites, so be careful when signing up at a poker room.
If you’re willing to take the risk, Washingtonians can play at a variety of poker games, poker tournaments, and high stakes cash games. Click the links for these sites to read the review.
Online Bingo Halls
We provide Washington residents with online bingo sites that are as safe as the other gambling websites we bring to this page. Washington residents will enjoy the bingo tournaments and big jackpot payouts to winners. Our 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.
Washington State Lottery
The Washington Lottery Commission oversees the state lottery, along with the multi-state lottery associations, in the state. Washington joined the Mega Millions multi-state lottery in 2002 and the Powerball association in 2010. 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.
Washington Charitable Gambling
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.
The Washington State Gambling Commission has taken the lead on the US loot box issue — and in 2016 forced Valve to police third-party skin-gambling sites.
Timeline of Washington Online Gambling Laws
October 5, 2016 | WSGC Orders Valve to Stop Skin-Gambling
The Washington State Gambling Commission ordered Valve, the software design company that owns the Steam gaming website, to stop skin betting on Steam games. Valve sent cease-and-desist letters to 22 third-party skin-gambling sites to comply with WA gaming law. Two weeks later, Valve complained that the WSGC forced it to handle the regulators’ job of policing such activity.
July 23, 2018 | Muckleshoot Casino Launches Online Gambling App
Muckleshoot Casino, a land-based gaming venues in Auburn, Washington, launched a mobile gaming app for smartphones with a workaround to WA gaming laws. The app allows players to purchase games, then redeem winnings at Muckleshoot Casino. Playport Gaming Systems desgined the app, which supports Class II games of chance like Bingo.
Latest News
The state of Washington has draconian online gambling laws, but regulators’ attempts to squelch online casinos have failed. Muckleshoot Casino’s mobile bingo app remains unchallenged in 2019, which could open the door for more Android and iOS gaming apps. Online social gaming sites like Big Fish Games are under siege in Washington’s court system, as several lawsuits have been filed. Free-to-play gaming sites like Huuuge Games, Doubledown Interactive, and Playtika also have been targeted by lawsuits.
Meanwhile, the MSGC focuses mainly on video game loot boxes used by Steam owner, Valve. Games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) and Star Wars: Battlefront are controversial and Washington regulators take the lead nationally on the issue. The Quinault Nation, a Native American tribe that operates Quinault Beach Resort & Casino in Ocean Shores, sued Valve over the betting that takes place on third-party skin-gambling sites. The many lawsuits remain up in the air.
Washington State Online Gambling FAQS
Sources
WSGC Online Gambling Policies
Washington State Gambling Laws
Muckleshoot Casino’s Bingo Gaming App
Why Washington Still Bans Online Gambling?
Social Gaming Sites Hit with Illegal Gambling Lawsuits
WSGC Orders Valve to Police Skin-Gambling
Tribal Casinos Sue Valve Claiming Its Illegal Online Gambling