Sports Betting Will Come To WA Casinos Later This Summer

PUYALLUP, WA — Sports betting will be coming to Washington later this summer.

The Washington State Gambling Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to approve new state sports wagering licensing rules. The rules will allow approved and licensed Tribal Casinos to begin offering sports betting starting Aug. 30 of this year.

“This ushers in a new era for regulated sports wagering in Washington State and Washington citizens will be able to access Tribal sportsbooks of the highest integrity in the near future," said Washington State Gambling Commission Chair Bud Sizemore in a written statement. "My hope is that the completion of these licensing rules will allow us to work more closely with our Tribal and national regulatory partners and local sports teams and leagues to better address the sports wagering black market so that we can continue to protect the public by keeping gambling legal and honest."

Sixteen of Washington's 29 federally recognized tribes have already applied for sports wagering licensing and been approved by the U.S. Department of Interior: the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Kalispel Tribe of Indians, Lummi Nation, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, Spokane Tribe, Squaxin Island Tribe, Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, Suquamish Tribe, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Tulalip Tribe of Washington, and Skokomish Indian Tribe.

Previously, sports betting was illegal in Washington except in very specific circumstances. That began to change in March 2020, when Gov. Jay Inslee signed bipartisan legislation setting the framework for sports betting at Tribal Casinos, the News Tribune reported.

The gambling commission and local tribes have been working overtime to get sports betting up and running before the NFL season begins. Native American tribes who benefit from the change told the Associated Press the extra income will help pay for much-needed social services.

“The effects of poverty, neglect and disease are not easily overcome,” said Jaison Elkins, chairman of the Muckleshoot Tribe. “We use every dollar from gaming.”