Online Gambling in Washington – An Overview

Let’s preface what you’re about to read by saying that even though Washington is strict when it comes to online gambling, it is very possible to do it safely. 

The fact of the matter, though, is just that: Washington is strict. There are many states that have taken a hostile approach to Internet gambling, but few of them can hold a candle to the way Washington has chosen to handle the issue. If you’ve read some of our other state reviews, you know that it is common for us to say that while a state is not friendly to online casinos, they don’t have laws criminalizing individuals for playing at such sites.

Weirdly enough, that’s exactly the case here. In 2006, Washington took the unprecedented step of making playing poker online a Class C felony – the kind of crime that could be punishable by up to five years in jail or a $10,000 fine. 

And when it comes to other forms of online gambling in Washington, the issue is clear: nothing is legal unless the state says it is. And it has not made any progress when it comes to Washington online casinos, sportsbooks, fantasy sports or any other form of real money gambling on the internet.

So, here’s the big question: should you be worried about this, and should it affect your decision to play online at a Washington online casino? The short answer is no. There hasn’t been much enforcement of the statute. There have been the few odd attempts to go after operators – one man was famously prosecuted for owning a fantasy NASCAR site. But players are safe, which is why thousands of people play at WA online casinos every single day – including the casinos that we’ve recommended for you on this page.

 On the other hand, the state has not shown signs of budging just yet. In 2010, the Poker Players Alliance banded together to challenge the harsh law on online poker but didn’t stand a chance against the lawmakers. It’s a stark reminder of how strongly the state stands against Internet gaming. There have been other efforts to eliminate these penalties, or at least make them less severe. But so far, these proposals haven’t made it through the legislature.

But the bottom line is that some online casinos in Washington are still open to our residents. These are mostly powered by Topgame software and include Spartan Slots and Black Diamond Casino. And while we can’t claim that it is completely legal to do so, there are definitely players who take part in the games. While the state may frown upon it, there are several reputable sites that offer real money play in Washington.

Social Casino Gambling – A Step in the Right Direction?

The lines become a lot blurrier when online gamblers don’t play for real money. You can play free slots and other casino games for example, especially on sites like VegasSlotsOnline where you don’t even have to make an account to play.

But Washington might be making some rare waves by officializing the legal status of social casinos. Since late 2019, a group of lawmakers have been pushing to change gambling legislature to include the following clause:

"For purposes of this section, 'illegal gambling games' does not include online games of chance when played solely for entertainment purposes with virtual items if such virtual items may be used only for gameplay and may not be, per the terms of service of the game, transferred, exchanged, or redeemed for money or property."

In other words, this would legitimize social casinos that have in-site purchases such as virtual credits. As long as these purchases are made with the intent of entertainment, and as long as you can’t cash out any money, social casinos would be able to operate risk-free in Washington. And although this is all unrelated to real money online gambling, we’re hoping that this could set the scene for Washington online casinos and other forms of internet gambling.

Offline Gambling Options in Washington

Though the Washington State Constitution, drafted in 1889, prohibited all forms of gambling, that stance wouldn’t last forever. The first domino to fall was – as in many states – horse racing. Parimutuel wagering became legal in 1933, and racing continues to this day, with Emerald Downs (near Mount Rainier) offering the highest level of races in Washington.

In the decades to follow, illegal gambling certainly took place, but there was no push for legalization of even charitable gaming enterprises until the 1970s. In 1971, bingos and raffles were finally authorized, but our courts found that this move was unconstitutional. It wouldn’t be until voters approved a new method for gambling expansion – one that required either a 60% supermajority in the legislature or a yes vote in a straight referendum – that a Gambling Commission could finally be established, allowing for both classic fundraising games and “casino night” events for charitable purposes.

In 1974, the first card rooms begun to appear in the state. Initially, each location was limited to a maximum of five tables, and only non-banked games were allowed, such as poker and player-banked versions of some other options. Over the years, these rooms gained the right to host more tables, and in 1997, they were approved for house-banked games like blackjack and Spanish 21.

Over the years, however, the card rooms have repeatedly pressed for more options. In particular, they want to offer electronic gaming: slot machines, or at least some facsimile of them. With the increasing popularity of Native American casinos here – more on that later – the card rooms say that they need electronic games to compete.

So far, however, the dozens of card rooms remaining have been unsuccessful in their efforts. In 2004, for instance, voters shot down such a proposal by a wide margin, with over 61% of the population siding against the establishments.

On the other side of the equation are the many Indian casinos operating here. Following the 1988 passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, several tribes began pursuing resorts on their lands. By 1992, the government had signed its first compact with the Tulalip Tribe. Today, there are nearly 30 Native American facilities here, operated by more than 20 different tribes. Since 1999, the Indian resorts have also been able to offer slot machines, a move that has given them a distinct advantage over the card rooms in the state.

Finally, Washington has also approved a lottery that is similar to most of the operations seen around the country. Founded in 1982 during a budget crisis, the lottery has since switched its revenues from the state’s general fund to educational initiatives. Now, the agency runs its own games while also allowing Washingtonians to play in multistate jackpots like Powerball and Mega Millions.

Conclusion

Washington is like a lot of other states in the USA – it hasn’t legalized online casinos, with some strange and specific gambling laws too. After all, this is a state where you can only own a slot machine if it is at least 25 years old.  On the other hand, there are a number of offline options here for placing bets, with some avenues like the lottery making millions for the state every year. In that respect we can say that Washington is a pro gambling state – at least as far as they can make money off it.

We’re not holding our breath for Washington to start up its own network of internet casinos. Despite all this, you can easily find an online casino in Washington that will accept you. You can play there and gamble knowing that you’ll be safe and secure there. That is, if you join the best gambling sites for Washington players. 

We’ve done our homework to find legitimate online casinos with a great selection of games. These sites even have welcome bonuses! Don’t sign up with subpar sites – scroll back up and check out our top online casinos in Washington available to you right now.