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 has a lot of regulated land-based casinos, which we discuss in this article. This guide to Washington online gambling discusses online casino sites, sportsbooks, and cardrooms. We provide the key laws the Washington State Gaming Commission enforces. 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.
Yes. There are no legalized and regulated online sportsbooks in Washington, but authorities do not block bettors from joining an offshore online sportsbook. A number of European countries have started blocking domains of illegal offshore operators, but Washington has taken no such steps. Therefore, there are no laws in Washington that prevent residents from joining these sites so you will not face legal consequences.
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.”
Offshore casinos operate in Washington for those who play at these sites, but a 2006 Washington law bans online gambling. The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) sued Washington to strike down this law, but lost the lawsuit in 2010.
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 players, making it difficult for residents to find a decent online poker website. Sites like Bovada Poker and Ignition Poker accept American players. These offshore card sites are famous and quite active. We give full reviews of Bovada and Ignition above. Though the law bans online poker, Washington residents who play online poker at our offshore poker sites are not at risk of prosecution.
There are no federal or state laws that ban Washington residents from playing online poker, so you do not have to worry these offshore poker websites are legal.
Ignition Poker is our recommendation for Washington poker players wanting 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.
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.
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.
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 consequences of these actions are that Washington residents likely will not be prosecuted for online gambling, though it is still illegal.
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 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 play at offshore online casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks. Law enforcement has never prosecuted a single resident.
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.
Online casinos are friendly to Washington gamblers and accept them at their sites.
No resident of Washington needs to worry that they are breaking the law when they join these sites because they are located offshore out of U.S. jurisdiction.
The Washington State Gambling Commission claims authority over online gaming due to a 2006 law, but it does not have the resources or the will to punish residents for gaming in their own home. No US individual player has been prosecuted for gaming online, even in regions where it is illegal.
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.
The casinos will be 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
