Washingtonians may no longer have to head to Nevada or the handful of other states that allow legalized sports betting if a recently proposed bill becomes law.
On Feb. 8, House Bill 1975 – authorizing sports wagering subject to the terms of tribal-state gaming compacts – was introduced in the Washington State Legislature.
The bill, in part, reads:
It has long been the policy of this state to prohibit all forms and means of gambling except where carefully and specifically authorized and regulated. The legislature intends to further this policy by authorizing sports wagering on a very limited basis by restricting it to tribal casinos in the state of Washington. Tribes have more than twenty years’ experience with, and a proven track record of, successfully operating and regulating gaming facilities in accordance with tribal gaming compacts. Tribal casinos can operate sports wagering pursuant to these tribal gaming compacts, offering the benefits of the same highly regulated environment to sports wagering.
The bill would allow betting on both college and professional sports at tribal casinos in Washington State. Online betting would also be legalized at the same locations.
House Bill 1975 is now scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Commerce & Gaming at 9:00 a.m. on Feb. 14.
More information on the proposed bill can be found here.
