Beautiful Washington in the Pacific Northwest has a lot going for it, and since September 9th 2021 this set of attractions includes the ability to legally bet on sports.
With an estimated population of more than 7.656million (2020 data), the potential for a strong betting handle in the state is absolutely there. The current planned rollout though – with only tribal land – means it is likely to under-achieve substantially.
Washington has plenty of elite sporting action in-state, with Russell Wilson and the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks leading the way.
Seattle also has MLB presence through the Mariners, and an NBA franchise in the Supersonics. Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders also draw big crowds.
In college sports the University of Washington Huskies play at a high level, notably in football, operating out of the PAC-12 conference.
Is sports betting legal in Washington?
Sports betting is now legal in the state of Washington – the only problem at the moment is that betting is restricted to tribal lands only, which means you have to travel to oine of the tribal casinos to place a bet.
And with tribal leaders showing massive resistance against the legalization of online betting, the dream of being able to bet through an app on your smartphone anywhere in the state seems a long way off, and it might never happen.
Washington betting legislation permits the following types of operators:
- Tribal casinos
Restrictions also apply to betting on all collegiate team sports and athletics.
Legal sports betting near Washington
While we are still waiting for wider sports betting legalization to roll out properly in the state of Washington, there are opportunities to bet legally if you cross state lines.
States which are legal generally do not require you to bet a resident there, you just need to be in the state when you wager.
Right now, here are the best places nearby where Washingtonians can bet:
Oregon: If you’re ready to take on around a six-hour drive into Oregon, then you can bet legally on sports. In-person and mobile options are available. Mobile is through the lottery-run Scoreboard app. The legal age to bet is 21.
Nevada: Not exactly next door, but the country’s best sports betting experience in Las Vegas is only a two-hour flight from Seattle. Non-stop options are plentiful and cost-effective. Once in Vegas, you can bet either at the sportsbooks on The Strip, or via mobile app. Legal age is 21.
Are offshore sportsbooks legal in Washington?
Offshore sportsbooks look tempting and offer some great sign-up offers, but they are not legal in the United States.
These sportsbooks operate with no license under any U.S. jurisdiction, which means you have no consumer protection if you sign up with them.
Our firm advice is to stick with legal options in the U.S. – as we’ve told you there are existing options out there, and Washington should add to those options pretty soon.