States / Washington
Washington
- Sports wagering in Washington is limited to tribal casinos, and 23 of the state's 29 federally recognized tribes operate 29 casinos.
- Online casino and poker are felonies, while commercial card rooms, charitable bingo, the lottery and horse racing are licensed.
- The state won an August 2026 order requiring Kalshi to stop most event-contract wagering for Washington residents.
More detail
- Sports betting. Washington limits sports wagering to tribal casinos under 2020 compact amendments. The definition includes esports under HB 2638. The minimum age for sports wagering is 18. That differs from the general 21+ tribal-casino-floor age.
- Tribal gaming. Twenty-three of Washington's 29 federally recognized, Class III-compacted tribes operate 29 casinos.
- Online casinos. Online casino and poker are felonies under the state's internet-gambling statute (RCW 9.46.240).
- Other licensed gambling. Commercial card rooms, charitable bingo and pull-tabs, the state lottery, and pari-mutuel and advance-deposit horse racing are licensed and operating.
- Prediction markets. The biggest 2025-2026 development is the Attorney General's King County Superior Court suit against Kalshi over sports, political and entertainment event contracts. It produced a July 2026 preliminary injunction and an Aug. 13, 2026 final order requiring Kalshi to cease most such wagers to Washington residents. The geofencing deadlines are Aug. 19 and Sept. 2, 2026. Washington sits in the Ninth Circuit, which ruled against Kalshi on similar CFTC-preemption grounds in a Nevada case (KalshiEX v. Assad, Aug. 28, 2026).
- Tribal exclusivity challenge. A federal challenge to tribal sports-betting exclusivity (Maverick Gaming) ended when the Supreme Court denied certiorari in October 2025.
Reviewed Oct 11, 2026 · 26 sources
Legal status
LiveLegal, not launchedLimitedContestedProhibitedNot authorizedRepealedNA
| Vertical | Status | Launched | Model | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports (online) | Limited | Dec 9, 2021 | Monopoly Tribal | Mobile wagering permitted only via geofencing to tribal casino property (not statewide online); no commercial/non-tribal online sportsbook authorized. A tribal operator challenge to this exclusivity (Maverick Gaming) was dismissed; cert. denied by SCOTUS Oct. 6, 2025. RCW 9.46.0282; 2020 Wash. Laws ch. 170 (HB 2638) [1],[2] |
| Sports (retail) | Limited | Dec 9, 2021 | Monopoly Tribal | Retail sportsbooks limited to tribal casinos under compact amendments; Snoqualmie Casino (Snoqualmie Tribe) was first to launch, Dec. 2021. RCW 9.46.0282; 2020 Wash. Laws ch. 170 (HB 2638); Tribal-State Class III compact amendments (2020-2021) [1],[3] |
| Online casino | Prohibited | Transmitting or receiving gambling information by telephone/internet is a felony under RCW 9.46.240 with narrow exceptions (lawful pari-mutuel, lottery); no online casino authorized for tribal or commercial operators. RCW 9.46.240 [4] | ||
| Online poker | Prohibited | Same internet-gambling felony statute applies; no compacts authorize online poker. RCW 9.46.240 [4] | ||
| Commercial casinos | Not authorized | Non-tribal commercial casinos are not authorized; Class III gaming (slots, banked table games) is exclusive to compacted tribes. Wash. Const. art. II, § 24 [5] | ||
| Tribal casinos | Live | Legalized 1991 | Monopoly Tribal | Confirmed via the Commission's own "Tribal Casino Locations" page (fetched directly): all 29 federally recognized Washington tribes have Class III gaming compacts, and 23 tribes operate 29 casinos under compact. Class III games include sports wagering, electronic tribal lottery terminals, and table games; corrects this file's prior unreconciled "22 tribes / 28 vs. 29 casinos" figures. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq.); Tribal-State Class III compacts [6] |
| Lottery | Live | 1982 | Monopoly State | Created by voter initiative in 1982. Initiative 728 (2000) redirected a portion of lottery/gambling revenue toward education. RCW 67.70 [7] |
| iLottery | Not authorized | Washington's Lottery does not sell tickets online or through its mobile app; tickets, scratch cards, and keno may be purchased only from licensed retail locations or self-serve vending machines in-state. A 2005-07 budget proviso had separately barred use of lottery appropriations for internet-delivered games.[8] | ||
| Daily fantasy | Prohibited | Washington applies a strict "material degree of chance" test with no fantasy-sports carve-out; the Gambling Commission takes the position that pay-to-play fantasy sports contests are illegal gambling, and DraftKings/FanDuel exclude Washington customers from paid contests. RCW 9.46.0225 [9] | ||
| VGTs / VLTs | Not authorized | Washington does not authorize video gaming terminals/VLTs in bars, taverns, or truck stops outside tribal casinos; the closest analog — paper punch boards and pull-tabs — is licensed separately under the charitable and card-room categories, not as electronic VGTs.[5] | ||
| Historical horse racing | Not authorized | Resolved on follow-up research (2026-10-11), previously `unknown`. Fetched the current RCW 67.16 (Horse Racing) chapter table of contents directly: it lists all 36 current and historical section titles, including RCW 67.16.260 ("Advance deposit wagering") and RCW 67.16.200 ("Parimutuel wagering at satellite locations -- Simulcasts"), but no section anywhere authorizing, defining, or regulating historical horse race (HHR) machines or terminals. RCW 9.46.010's declaration of policy authorizes only bingo, raffles, amusement games and specified no-consideration lotteries beyond the separately-chaptered pari-mutuel and tribal frameworks, so an unlisted wagering device such as an HHR machine is not authorized. A reputable industry tracker (Vixio) on HHR regulation nationwide, fetched directly, identifies Kansas (2022) as the most recent of 8 states to have "established HHR as a form of pari-mutuel wagering" and does not mention Washington anywhere. No HHR bill, WHRC rule, or Emerald Downs HHR program was found. RCW 67.16; RCW 9.46.010 [10],[11],[12] | ||
| Sweepstakes casinos | Contested | Secondary reporting indicates the Gambling Commission treats dual-currency sweepstakes casinos as illegal gambling, but the Commission's own FAQ page could not be independently fetched (404) to confirm the exact current position; treat as secondary source only pending direct verification.[13] | ||
| Prediction markets | Contested | WSGC guidance stated CFTC-regulated sports/event contracts are not authorized gambling activity in Washington. The WA Attorney General (Nick Brown) sued Kalshi in King County Superior Court in March 2026; a preliminary injunction issued July 2026 barred Kalshi from offering sports, political, and entertainment event contracts to Washington residents (threatened fines around $120,000/day) and required geofencing. A final order (Aug. 13, 2026) implementing that injunction requires Kalshi to cease offering wagers on sports, elections, politics, entertainment, culture, and tech/science to Washington residents, with an IP/residency-based geofence due Aug. 19, 2026 and a multi-source geofencing solution due Sept. 2, 2026; Kalshi sought a stay from the WA Court of Appeals. The Washington Indian Gaming Association supported the state's action; Kalshi has pursued counter-litigation against state regulators nationally, including arguments grounded in CFTC exclusive jurisdiction. Washington sits in the Ninth Circuit, which ruled against Kalshi on Aug. 28, 2026 in KalshiEX v. Assad (Nevada) on CFTC-preemption grounds; that ruling is consistent with (and supports) Washington's own state-court position, though Washington's case has proceeded independently on state-law (Gambling Act/Consumer Protection Act) grounds rather than relying on the Ninth Circuit ruling itself.[14],[15] | ||
| Skill games | Limited | Competitive | Washington licenses certain "Class 12" amusement/skill games at non-tribal establishments under Commission rule, applying the material-degree-of-chance test (RCW 9.46.0225) to distinguish legal skill games from unlicensed slot-like devices. The Commission banned cash and gift-card payouts after some operators began paying out winnings like slot machines; legislative and regulatory debate over tighter restrictions or repeal has recurred periodically, including into 2025-2026, without a definitive statutory change confirmed as of this writing. RCW 9.46.0225; RCW 9.46.0241 [16] | |
| Card rooms | Live | Competitive | Commercial card rooms (house-banked and non-house-banked) licensed by WSGC; count has declined for years (88 in 2007 vs. roughly 42 house-banked and 101 non-house-banked card rooms reported for FY2023). Local gambling taxes on card rooms/social card games are capped by state law (RCW 9.46.110) at 20% of gross revenue from those games; actual local rates vary and are often set well below the cap (one municipal example: 10% of annual gross receipts over $10,000). Commercial (for-profit, non-charitable) punchboards/pull-tabs operated by card rooms and other licensed businesses are separately capped under RCW 9.46.110 at 5% of gross receipts, or, at local option, 10% of gross receipts minus cash/merchandise prizes. RCW 9.46.0282; RCW 9.46.0356 [17],[18] | |
| Lottery couriers | Prohibited | Third-party lottery courier services are not available for Washington Lottery games. When courier Mido Lotto attempted to enter Washington in 2021, the Gambling Commission issued a cease-and-desist letter alleging it facilitated illegal gambling; a court dismissed Mido Lotto's resulting 2024 lawsuit. No other courier app has since attempted to offer Washington Lottery tickets online.[8] | ||
| Pick'em fantasy | Prohibited | Player-vs-house pick'em products (e.g. DraftKings Pick6, FanDuel equivalents) are likewise unavailable to Washington residents under the same chance-based gambling definition. RCW 9.46.0225 [9] | ||
| Pari-mutuel | Live | Competitive | Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing traces to 1872 (Seattle Race Course); the Horse Racing Commission was established in 1933. Emerald Downs (Auburn), successor to Longacres, is the state's main remaining live track. RCW 67.16 [19] | |
| Advance deposit wagering | Live | Competitive | Advance deposit wagering for Washington residents may only be conducted by ADW providers licensed by the Horse Racing Commission under WAC 260-49; providers must contract with a licensed racing association and post a bond. RCW 67.16; WAC 260-49 [20] | |
| Charitable gaming | Live | Bingo, raffles, and charitable/nonprofit punch boards and pull-tabs are licensed by WSGC. Local jurisdictions may levy gambling taxes under RCW 9.46.110, which caps rates by activity: bingo and raffles at 5% of gross receipts minus prizes; punchboards/pull-tabs run by bona fide charitable/nonprofit operators at 10% of gross receipts minus cash/merchandise prizes; amusement games at 2% of gross receipts minus prizes (collections additionally capped at enforcement cost). A Whatcom County ordinance illustrates actual local rates: 5% of net receipts for commercial punchboard/pull-tab operators, reduced to 2% for bona fide charitable/nonprofit operators. RCW 9.46 (various sections) [21],[18] | ||
| Esports betting | Limited | Legalized Mar 25, 2020 | Monopoly Tribal | Corrected after fetching and parsing the bill text directly: HB 2638's "sports wagering" definition (new RCW 9.46 section, Sec. 11) explicitly lists "[a]n electronic sports or esports competition or event" alongside professional/collegiate/Olympic events, and separately defines "electronic or esports event" as a live, publicly watched tournament where players/teams can win a prize based on performance. An earlier pass had incorrectly inferred esports was excluded without having read the bill text; esports wagering is therefore authorized on the same tribal-casino/geofenced-mobile basis as other sports wagering, not a separate unauthorized category. 2020 Wash. Laws ch. 170 (HB 2638), Sec. 11 [1] |
| Social casino | Live | Applying the dataset's established national convention that pure free-to-play social casino apps (no cash-value prize redemption) are operational absent a state-specific restriction, since nothing of value is staked; no Washington statute or regulator statement restricts this narrower category (WSGC guidance and enforcement target real-money/cash-value platforms specifically).[4] |
Sports betting in Washington: status, tax rate, sportsbooks and bills →
Tax rates
| Vertical | Channel | Rate | Base | Tier | Promos deductible | Since | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card rooms | retail | Not a state tax; Washington's gambling taxes are local-option. RCW 9.46.110 caps what a city/county/town may impose: card rooms/social card games up to 20% of gross revenue; commercial (for-profit) punchboards/pull-tabs up to 5% of gross receipts, or at local option up to 10% of gross receipts minus cash/merchandise prizes. Actual local rates vary by jurisdiction and are often set below the statutory cap. | OTHER | 2020 | RCW 9.46.110[18] | ||
| Charitable gaming | retail | Not a state tax; local-option under RCW 9.46.110. Bingo and raffles capped at 5% of gross receipts minus prizes; charitable/nonprofit punchboards and pull-tabs capped at 10% of gross receipts minus cash/merchandise prizes; amusement games capped at 2% of gross receipts minus prizes (collections also capped at enforcement cost). A Whatcom County ordinance illustrates actual local rates: 5% of net receipts for commercial punchboard/pull-tab operators, 2% for bona fide charitable/nonprofit operators. | OTHER | 2020 | RCW 9.46.110[18],[21] | ||
| Skill games | retail | Not a state tax; local-option under RCW 9.46.110(3)(b). 'Amusement games' (RCW 9.46.0201: skill-dominant, merchandise-prize-only games -- the statutory category covering licensed Class 12 skill/amusement devices) may be taxed by a city/county/town only up to the actual cost of enforcement, capped in no event above 2% of gross receipts less the amount awarded as prizes. | OTHER | No | 2020 | RCW 9.46.110(3)(b); RCW 9.46.0201[18],[22] | |
| Sports (online) | online | Same tribal-compact structure as sports_retail above; mobile sports wagering is likewise confined to tribal lands/apps under the same 2020-2021 compact amendments, with no separate state revenue-share tax mechanism identified. | OTHER | No | Dec 9, 2021 | RCW 9.46.0282; 2020 Wash. Laws ch. 170 (HB 2638); tribal-state compact amendments[1],[3] | |
| Sports (retail) | retail | No Washington state tax applies. Retail sports wagering is confined to tribal casinos under Class III gaming compact amendments (2020-2021) negotiated pursuant to 2020 Wash. Laws ch. 170 (HB 2638); these compacts have no conventional state revenue-share/tax mechanism comparable to a commercial-operator GGR tax -- unlike many states, Washington's tribal-state fiscal relationship runs the other direction (state B&O/sales-tax and other negotiated considerations), not a sports-wagering-specific state cut of tribal sportsbook revenue. | OTHER | No | Dec 9, 2021 | RCW 9.46.0282; 2020 Wash. Laws ch. 170 (HB 2638); tribal-state compact amendments[1],[3] |
Rules and requirements
Casinos
Lottery
Minimum age
- Minimum age to gamble in a commercial casino
- 21[6]
- Minimum age for charitable bingo/raffles
- 18[21]
- Minimum age for pari-mutuel wagering
- 18General wagering age at WA racetracks; not independently re-verified for this file beyond prior industry reporting.[19]
- Minimum age to place a sports wager
- 18Corrected after fetching WSGC's own "Sports Wagering Requirements and Rules" page directly: it lists "[a]nyone under 18 years of age" as a prohibited sports wagering participant. An earlier pass had assumed the general 21+ tribal-casino gaming-floor age applied to sportsbooks specifically, without a direct source; the regulator's own page sets 18 for sports wagering itself.[3]
Online poker
- Member of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA)
- NoNo authorized online poker exists in Washington, so MSIGA membership is not applicable.[4]
Prediction markets
- Summary of the state's action against sports event contracts (C&D
- AG lawsuit against Kalshi filed March 2026 in King County Superior Court; preliminary injunction granted July 2026 barring sports/political/entertainment event contracts to WA residents, with geofencing required and daily fines threatened; final order (Aug. 13, 2026) requires Kalshi to cease sports/elections/politics/entertainment/culture/tech-science wagers to WA residents, with geofencing deadlines of Aug. 19 and Sept. 2, 2026.[14],[15]
Skill games
- Summary of skill-game legal status/litigation
- Licensed 'Class 12' amusement games permitted at non-tribal establishments under the material-degree-of-chance test; cash/gift-card payouts banned; periodic legislative proposals to restrict further have not produced a definitive change as of 2026.[16]
Sports betting rules
- Wagering on college sports allowed at all
- YesConfirmed via WSGC's own rules page (fetched directly): wagers on out-of-state collegiate events are allowed, but wagers on Washington collegiate institutions' own events/teams, and on any collegiate event taking place in Washington, are prohibited.[3]
- Esports wagering allowed
- YesConfirmed via HB 2638's statutory "sports wagering" definition itself (fetched and parsed directly), which explicitly lists "[a]n electronic sports or esports competition or event."[1]
- New online accounts must be created in person
- YesBecause mobile play requires presence on tribal casino property, functionally accounts must be used on-site.[1]
- Statutory cap on number of online sportsbook licenses/skins (omit if uncapped)
- 0No commercial/non-tribal online sportsbook license category exists; all sports wagering is under tribal compacts.[1]
- Online sports wagering available statewide (not tethered to premises)
- NoMobile wagering is geofenced to tribal casino premises only, not available statewide.[1]
Sweepstakes
- Statute or regulator action specifically bans dual-currency online sweepstakes casinos
- NoCommission position reported only via secondary sources; no directly verified regulation or statute found explicitly naming dual-currency sweepstakes casinos.[13]
Tax revenue
- Where gaming tax revenue goes (education fund
- Lottery and gambling-related revenue partly directed to education funding under Initiative 728 (2000); general fund and local gambling-tax revenue otherwise support local government services.[7]
Enforcement
Actions against unlicensed operators
| Date | Against | Action | Amount | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 2026 | Kalshi | Lawsuit Prediction markets | Washington's Attorney General sued Kalshi in King County Superior Court, alleging its prediction-market "event contracts" on sports, elections and other events are unlicensed illegal gambling in violation of the state Gambling Act and Consumer Protection Act; in July 2026 the court granted a preliminary injunction, finding the state likely to succeed on its claims that Kalshi's operations are illegal gambling.[14],[24] | |
| Sep 19, 2025 | Bovada.lv | Cease and desist Sports (online) | The Washington State Gambling Commission issued its second cease-and-desist notice to Bovada.lv, an offshore, Curacao-registered online sportsbook, for continuing to accept wagers from Washington residents without a license after an earlier demand to stop.[25] |
Tribal gaming
- Compact notices in the Federal Register
- 164 · first notice Feb 24, 1995, latest Sep 29, 2026
Tribal gaming revenue in the NIGC Portland Region
NIGC Portland RegionFederal fiscal years
$2.0B$4.0B$6.0BFY2019FY2021FY2023FY2025$4.9B
The National Indian Gaming Commission reports revenue only by region. This region also includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon.[26]
Compact notices
| Published | Tribe | Notice | Federal Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 29, 2026 | Squaxin Island Tribe | Amendment took effect without action | 91 FR 61434 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | Upper Skagit Indian Tribe | Amendment took effect without action | 91 FR 35537 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe | Amendment approved | 91 FR 19199 |
| Feb 6, 2026 | Lummi Nation | Amendment took effect without action | 91 FR 5508 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Puyallup Tribe of Indians | Amendment took effect without action | 91 FR 3213 |
| Nov 26, 2025 | Nooksack Indian Tribe | Amendment took effect without action | 90 FR 54365 |
| Sep 12, 2025 | Snoqualmie Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 90 FR 44216 |
| Jan 15, 2025 | Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians of Washington | Amendment approved | 90 FR 3908 |
| Sep 5, 2024 | Snoqualmie Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 89 FR 72418 |
| Aug 27, 2024 | Cowlitz Indian Tribe | Amendment took effect without action | 89 FR 68638 |
| Aug 22, 2024 | Swinomish Indian Tribal Community | Amendment took effect without action | 89 FR 67959 |
| Apr 23, 2024 | Suquamish Indian Tribe of the Port Madison Reservation | Amendment approved | 89 FR 30389 |
| Feb 14, 2024 | Kalispel Indian Community of the Kalispel Reservation | Amendment approved | 89 FR 11311 |
| Feb 14, 2024 | Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation | Amendment approved | 89 FR 11312 |
| Feb 6, 2024 | Tulalip Tribes of Washington | Amendment approved | 89 FR 8238 |
| Nov 1, 2023 | Spokane Tribe of Indians | Amendment approved | 88 FR 75016 |
| Sep 27, 2023 | Suquamish Tribe | Amendment approved | 88 FR 66499 |
| Sep 27, 2023 | Nisqually Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 88 FR 66500 |
| Sep 27, 2023 | Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe | Amendment approved | 88 FR 66500 |
| Sep 27, 2023 | Cowlitz Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 88 FR 66499 |
| Jun 14, 2023 | Kalispel Indian Community of the Kalispel Reservation | Amendment approved | 88 FR 38889 |
| Nov 25, 2022 | Yakama Nation (Nation | Amendment approved | 87 FR 72505 |
| Aug 9, 2022 | Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation | Amendment approved | 87 FR 48494 |
| Jul 5, 2022 | Nisqually Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 87 FR 39866 |
| Jun 14, 2022 | Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 87 FR 35992 |
| Dec 28, 2021 | Port Gamble S'Klallam | Amendment approved | 86 FR 73800 |
| Dec 28, 2021 | Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe | Amendment approved | 86 FR 73800 |
| Dec 27, 2021 | Muckleshoot Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 86 FR 73313 |
| Dec 27, 2021 | Lummi Nation (Nation | Amendment approved | 86 FR 73313 |
| Oct 22, 2021 | Swinomish Indian Tribal Community | Amendment approved | 86 FR 58685 |
| Sep 15, 2021 | Muckleshoot Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 86 FR 51370 |
| Sep 15, 2021 | Kalispel Tribe of Indians | Amendment approved | 86 FR 51374 |
| Sep 15, 2021 | Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (Colville Tribe | Amendment approved | 86 FR 51373 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | Tulalip Tribes of Washington | Amendment approved | 86 FR 49054 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | Suquamish Tribe | Amendment approved | 86 FR 49049 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians | Amendment approved | 86 FR 49051 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | Squaxin Island Tribe | Amendment approved | 86 FR 49051 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | Spokane Tribe | Amendment approved | 86 FR 49046 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | Snoqualmie Indian Tribe | Amendment approved · effective Nov 1, 2021 | 86 FR 49049 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | Puyallup Tribe of Indians | Amendment approved | 86 FR 49053 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | Lummi Nation | Amendment approved | 86 FR 49052 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | Cowlitz Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 86 FR 49049 |
| Jul 13, 2021 | Snoqualmie Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 86 FR 36770 |
| Jan 12, 2021 | Cowlitz Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 86 FR 2448 |
| Dec 11, 2020 | Skokomish Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 85 FR 80139 |
| Apr 16, 2019 | Nooksack Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 84 FR 15634 |
| Apr 16, 2019 | Muckleshoot Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 84 FR 15630 |
| Jan 2, 2019 | Nooksack Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 84 FR 2 |
| Jan 17, 2018 | Puyallup Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 83 FR 2462 |
| Oct 20, 2017 | Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe | Amendment approved | 82 FR 48846 |
| Jul 27, 2017 | Squaxin Island Tribe | Amendment approved | 82 FR 34974 |
| Jul 18, 2016 | Skokomish Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 81 FR 46700 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Yakama Nation | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Upper Skagit Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Tulalip Tribes of Washington | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Swinomish Indian Tribal Community | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Suquamish Indian Tribe of the Fort Madison Reservation | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians of Washington | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Squaxin Island Tribe of the Squaxin Island Reservation | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Spokane Tribe of the Spokane Reservation | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Snoqualmie Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Skokomish Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Sauk Suiattle Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Samish Indian Nation | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Quinault Indian Nation | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Quileute Tribe of the Quileute Reservation | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Nisqually Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Makah Indian Tribe of the Makah Reservation | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Lower Elwha Tribal Community | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Kalispel Indian Community of the Kalispel Reservation | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Hoh Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Cowlitz Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation | Amendment approved | 80 FR 31918 |
| Aug 7, 2014 | Cowlitz Indian Tribe | Compact approved | 79 FR 46275 |
| Jul 23, 2014 | Swinomish Indian Tribal Community | Amendment approved | 79 FR 42808 |
| Apr 8, 2014 | Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation | Amendment approved | 79 FR 19353 |
| Oct 8, 2009 | Tulalip Tribe of Washington | Amendment approved | 74 FR 51874 |
| Oct 24, 2008 | Spokane Tribe | Amendment approved | 73 FR 63503 |
| Oct 22, 2008 | Snoqualmie Tribe | Amendment approved | 73 FR 63007 |
| Dec 10, 2007 | Tulalip Tribe | Compact approved | 72 FR 69706 |
| May 31, 2007 | Yakama Nation | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Upper Skagit Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Tulalip Tribes | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Swinomish Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Suquamish Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Stillaguamish Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Squaxin Island Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Snoqualmie Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Skokomish Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Shoalwater Bay Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Samish Indian Nation | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Quinault Indian Nation | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Quileute Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Puyallyup Tribe of Indians | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Nooksack Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Nisqually Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Muckleshoot Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Makah Nation | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Lummi Indian Nation | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Kalispel Tribe of Indians | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Hoh Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| May 31, 2007 | Chehalis Confederated Tribes | Amendment approved | 72 FR 30392 |
| Apr 30, 2007 | Spokane Tribe | Compact approved | 72 FR 21284 |
| Sep 12, 2006 | Lummi Nation | Amendment approved | 71 FR 53706 |
| Dec 15, 2005 | Nooksack Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 70 FR 74331 |
| Dec 29, 2004 | Puyallup Tribe of Indians | Amendment approved | 69 FR 78045 |
| Oct 14, 2004 | Puyallup Tribe of Indians | Amendment approved | 69 FR 61036 |
| Jun 23, 2004 | Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe | Amendment approved | 69 FR 35059 |
| Apr 8, 2003 | Tulapid Tribes of Washington | Amendment approved | 68 FR 17072 |
| Jan 8, 2003 | Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation | Compact approved | 68 FR 1068 |
| Dec 9, 2002 | Quinault Indian Nation | Amendment approved | 67 FR 72967 |
| Nov 8, 2002 | Shoalwater Indian Tribe | Compact approved | 67 FR 68152 |
| Aug 9, 2002 | Tulalip Tribes of Washington | Amendment approved | 67 FR 51868 |
| Jul 12, 2002 | Puyallup Tribe of Indians | Amendment approved | 67 FR 46368 |
| Apr 15, 2002 | Snoqualmie Indian Tribe | Compact approved | 67 FR 18237 |
| Feb 19, 2002 | Muckleshoot Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 67 FR 7393 |
| Mar 21, 2001 | Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians | Compact approved | 66 FR 15882 |
| Feb 27, 2001 | Lummi Indian Nation | Amendment approved | 66 FR 12542 |
| Jan 17, 2001 | Hoh Indian Tribe | Compact approved | 66 FR 4038 |
| Sep 22, 2000 | Sauk Suiattle Indian Tribe | Compact approved | 65 FR 57368 |
| Jul 28, 2000 | Makah Indian Tribe | Compact approved | 65 FR 46492 |
| Jun 21, 2000 | Samish Indian Nation | Compact approved | 65 FR 38570 |
| Oct 1, 1999 | Elwha S'Klallam Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 64 FR 53404 |
| Aug 13, 1999 | Nisqually Tribe | Amendment approved | 64 FR 44234 |
| Jun 3, 1999 | Kalispel Tribe of Indians | Amendment approved | 64 FR 29874 |
| May 14, 1999 | Skokomish Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 64 FR 26435 |
| May 14, 1999 | Quinault Indian Nation | Amendment approved | 64 FR 26435 |
| May 14, 1999 | Quileute Tribe | Amendment approved | 64 FR 26435 |
| Jan 28, 1999 | Yakama Indian Nation | Amendment approved | 64 FR 4461 |
| Jan 28, 1999 | Upper Skagit Tribe | Amendment approved | 64 FR 4460 |
| Jan 28, 1999 | Tulalip Tribes of Washington | Amendment approved | 64 FR 4460 |
| Jan 28, 1999 | Swinomish Indian Tribal Community | Amendment approved | 64 FR 4460 |
| Jan 28, 1999 | Suquamish Tribe | Amendment approved | 64 FR 4460 |
| Jan 28, 1999 | Squaxin Island Tribe | Amendment approved | 64 FR 4460 |
| Jan 28, 1999 | Puyallup Tribe of Indians | Amendment approved | 64 FR 4459 |
| Jan 28, 1999 | Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe | Amendment approved | 64 FR 4459 |
| Jan 28, 1999 | Nooksack Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 64 FR 4459 |
| Jan 28, 1999 | Muckleshoot Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 64 FR 4459 |
| Jan 28, 1999 | Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe | Amendment approved | 64 FR 4459 |
| Jan 28, 1999 | Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation | Amendment approved | 64 FR 4458 |
| Mar 30, 1998 | Nisqually Indian Tribe | Compact approved | 63 FR 15211 |
| Oct 15, 1996 | Quinault Indian Nation | Compact approved | 61 FR 53751 |
| Aug 2, 1996 | Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation | Compact approved | 61 FR 40429 |
| Jul 23, 1996 | Puyallup Tribe of Indians | Compact approved | 61 FR 38213 |
| Dec 18, 1995 | Lummi Nation | Compact approved | 60 FR 65064 |
| Oct 6, 1995 | Quileute Tribe | Amendment approved | 60 FR 52409 |
| Sep 6, 1995 | Skokomish Indian Tribe | Compact approved | 60 FR 46490 |
| Apr 20, 1995 | Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation | Amendment approved | 60 FR 19822 |
| Apr 12, 1995 | Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe | Compact approved | 60 FR 186704 |
| Apr 12, 1995 | Nooksack Indian Tribe | Amendment approved | 60 FR 186704 |
| Mar 31, 1995 | Tulalip Tribes of Washington | Amendment approved | 60 FR 16764 |
| Mar 31, 1995 | Swinomish Indian Tribal Community | Amendment approved | 60 FR 16764 |
| Mar 31, 1995 | Suquamish Tribe | Compact approved | 60 FR 16764 |
| Feb 24, 1995 | Quileute Tribe | Compact approved | 60 FR 10470 |
The Interior Department publishes a notice when a compact or amendment is approved or takes effect. Older compacts published before 1994 are not included.
Economy
- Adults 21 and over
- 6.0M (2024; 7.9M residents)
- Gambling taxes collected
- $40.7M in FY2025 · 0.1% of all state taxes
- Gambling jobs
- 22.2K in 2025 · $60,817 average annual payUndercount: the Bureau of Labor Statistics withholds some figures to protect individual employers.
Gambling taxes collectedState fiscal years
$20.0M$40.0M$60.0MFY2013FY2016FY2019FY2022FY2025$40.7M
Census Bureau tax collections on amusements and pari-mutuel wagering. Most states book casino, sports betting and video gaming taxes here; amusement taxes can also include admissions taxes unrelated to gambling.
Gambling jobsAnnual average
10.0K20.0K30.0K20152017201920212023202522.2K
Casinos, casino hotels, card rooms, bingo halls, off-track betting and slot-route operators, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Racetracks are not included. Jobs at tribal casinos are counted as government jobs.
Gambling jobs by industry, 2025
| Industry | Ownership | Employers | Jobs | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gambling industries | tribal and other government-owned | 28 | 17.8K | $62,309 |
| Gambling industries | privately owned | 52 | 4,382 | $54,746 |
| Casino hotels | tribal and other government-owned | withheld | ||
| Casino hotels | privately owned | withheld |
Taxes by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Amusement taxes | Pari-mutuel taxes | Share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $39.6M | $1.1M | 0.10% |
| FY2024 | $38.6M | $1.1M | 0.11% |
| FY2023 | $31.9M | $1.1M | 0.09% |
| FY2022 | $25.0M | $1.3M | 0.07% |
| FY2021 | $14.1M | $883K | 0.05% |
| FY2020 | $18.6M | $1.0M | 0.07% |
| FY2019 | $17.4M | $1.6M | 0.07% |
| FY2018 | $18.3M | $1.7M | 0.08% |
| FY2017 | $17.6M | $1.8M | 0.08% |
| FY2016 | $6.6M | $1.8M | 0.04% |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, States (NST-EST2025-ALLDATA); U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections (STC): Historical Dataset; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages, NAICS 7132 (Gambling industries)
Timeline
- Aug 28, 2026 · Court Ruling · Prediction marketsNinth Circuit rules against Kalshi on CFTC-preemption grounds in KalshiEX v. Assad (Nevada), consistent with Washington's state-court position[15]
- Aug 13, 2026 · Court Ruling · Prediction marketsKing County Superior Court issues final order requiring Kalshi to cease offering wagers on sports, elections, politics, entertainment, culture, and tech/science to Washington residents, with geofencing deadlines of Aug. 19 and Sept. 2, 2026[15]
- Jul 2026 · Court Ruling · Prediction marketsCourt grants preliminary injunction barring Kalshi from offering sports/political/entertainment event contracts to Washington residents, with geofencing ordered and daily fines threatened[14]
- Mar 2026 · Enforcement Action · Prediction marketsWashington Attorney General sues Kalshi in King County Superior Court over sports and political event contracts offered to state residents[14]
- Oct 6, 2025 · Court Ruling · Sports (online)U.S. Supreme Court denies certiorari in RunItOneTime (fka Maverick Gaming) v. United States, leaving tribal exclusivity intact[2]No. 24-1161
- Dec 2024 · Court Ruling · Sports (online)Ninth Circuit affirms dismissal of Maverick Gaming's challenge to tribal sports-betting exclusivity[2]
- 2023 · Court Ruling · Sports (online)Western District of Washington dismisses Maverick Gaming's suit on Rule 19 required-party grounds (Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe)[2]
- 2022 · Court Ruling · Sports (online)Maverick Gaming sues the United States and Washington tribes challenging tribal sports-betting exclusivity[2]
- Dec 9, 2021 · Launched · Sports (retail)Snoqualmie Casino becomes first Washington tribal casino to launch sports wagering[3]
- Mar 25, 2020 · Legalized · Sports (retail)Governor signs HB 2638 authorizing tribal sports wagering compact amendments[1]2020 Wash. Laws ch. 170 (HB 2638)
- 2016 · Restricted · Skill gamesGambling Commission restricts cash/gift-card payouts on Class 12 skill-game amusement devices amid slot-machine-lookalike concerns[16]
- 2009 · Expanded · LotteryWashington's Lottery joins Powerball[7]
- 2002 · Expanded · LotteryWashington's Lottery joins Mega Millions[7]
- 2000 · Tax Change · LotteryInitiative 728 passed, redirecting a share of lottery/gambling-related revenue toward education[7]
- 1991 · Compact Signed · Tribal casinosFirst Washington tribal-state Class III gaming compacts take effect under IGRA[6]
- 1982 · Legalized · LotteryVoter initiative creates Washington's Lottery[7]
- 1972 · Other · Charitable gamingConstitutional amendment (Article II, Section 24) allows the legislature to authorize certain gambling activities[5]
- 1952 · Court Ruling · Commercial casinosWashington Supreme Court finds law permitting club slot machines unconstitutional under the state lottery ban (case name not independently confirmed; via secondary source)[23]
- 1933 · Legalized · Pari-mutuelWashington Horse Racing Commission established, reauthorizing pari-mutuel wagering[19]
Regulators
- Washington State Gambling Commission — Sports (retail), Sports (online), Card rooms, Charitable gaming, Skill games, Daily fantasy, Pick'em fantasy, Sweepstakes casinos, Prediction markets, VGTs / VLTs, Tribal casinos
- Washington Horse Racing Commission — Pari-mutuel, Advance deposit wagering, Historical horse racing
- Washington's Lottery — Lottery, iLottery, Lottery couriers
- Washington Office of the Attorney General — Prediction markets, Sweepstakes casinos, Skill games
Sources
- 2020 Wash. Laws ch. 170 (HB 2638) — Tribal gaming compacts; sports wagering · Washington State Legislature · bill · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“"sports wagering" means the business of accepting wagers on any of the following sporting events, athletic events, or competitions ... (iv) An electronic sports or esports competition or event”
- Maverick Gaming v. United States of America · Wikipedia (secondary summary of litigation history) · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- Sports Wagering Requirements and Rules · Washington State Gambling Commission · regulator page · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“Prohibited sports wagering participants ... Anyone under 18 years of age ... Washington law has never allowed: Bracket pools, Office sports pools, Fantasy sports.”
- RCW 9.46.240 — Transmission of gambling information — Penalty — Exceptions · Washington State Legislature · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“Whoever knowingly transmits or receives gambling information by telephone, telegraph, radio, semaphore, the internet”
- Washington State Constitution, Article II, Section 24 (Lotteries and Divorce) · Washington State Legislature · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- Tribal Casino Locations · Washington State Gambling Commission · regulator page · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“There are 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington State and all 29 of those have Class III gaming compacts. 23 tribes operate 29 casinos under compact.”
- Washington's Lottery — homepage · Washington's Lottery · regulator page · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“Powerball, Mega Millions, Lotto, Hit 5, Match 4, Pick 3, Cash Pop, Daily Keno, Scratch”
- Washington Lottery — online sales and courier-service status · Legal Sports Report / secondary industry reporting · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- No Game-Changer for Fantasy Sports in Washington · Perkins Coie LLP · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- Chapter 67.16 RCW — Horse Racing (section table of contents) · Washington State Legislature · statute · retrieved Oct 11, 2026
“67.16.260: "Advance deposit wagering."”
- RCW 9.46.010 — Declaration of public policy · Washington State Legislature · statute · retrieved Oct 11, 2026
“The public policy of the state of Washington on gambling is to keep the criminal element out of gambling”
- Regulatory Review: Historical Horseracing in the US · Vixio · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“eight states have established HHR as a form of pari-mutuel wagering since 1999”
- Washington State Gambling Commission — FAQs (sweepstakes casino position) · Washington State Gambling Commission · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- Washington sues online betting platform Kalshi for illegal gambling · Washington State Office of the Attorney General · press · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“Attorney General Nick Brown filed a lawsuit today against Kalshi, a company that violates state law by operating and advertising an online platform where users can bet on sports, elections, and other events.”
- Judge orders Kalshi cease numerous Washington operations · Washington State Office of the Attorney General · press · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“A King County Superior Court judge issued a final order requiring KalshiEX (Kalshi) to cease many of its Washington operations... The order requires Kalshi to stop offering, accepting, or facilitating wagers on sports, elections, politics, entertainment, culture, tech and science, or mentions in Washington.”
- Washington gambling regulators crack down on skill games · Global Gaming Business (GGB News) · press · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- Washington State Gambling Commission — card room licensing statistics · Washington State Gambling Commission · regulator report · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- RCW 9.46.110 — Taxation of gambling activities authorized — Limitations · Washington State Legislature (mirrored codification) · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“taxation of social card games may not exceed twenty percent of the gross revenue from such games”
- Washington Horse Racing Commission — history · Washington Horse Racing Commission · regulator page · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- WAC 260-49 — Advance Deposit Wagering · Washington Horse Racing Commission · regulation · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“260-49-030 Advance deposit wagering service provider license for a class 1 racing association. 260-49-040 Advance deposit wagering service provider license for nonclass 1 racing associations.”
- Whatcom County gambling tax ordinance (punch boards, pull-tabs, bingo, raffles) · Whatcom County, WA (via eCode360) · government other · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“the tax upon the conducting of punch boards and pull tabs shall be five percent of the net receipts”
- RCW 9.46.0201 — Amusement game · Washington State Legislature · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“The outcome depends in a material degree upon the skill of the contestant”
- Gambling in Washington (state) — background and history · Wikipedia (secondary) · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- Judge finds Kalshi's online gambling likely violates state law · Washington State Office of the Attorney General · press · retrieved Oct 11, 2026
“Kalshi's provision, marketing, and advertising of illegal gambling activities”
- WSGC Issues Second Cease and Desist Notice to Bovada.lv · Washington State Gambling Commission · regulator page · retrieved Oct 11, 2026
“an unlicensed and therefore illegal sportsbook operating in Washington”
- NIGC FY 2025 Gross Gaming Revenue Report · National Indian Gaming Commission · regulator report · retrieved Oct 11, 2026
“FY 2025’s GGR of $46.2 billion marks the highest ever GGR for the Indian gaming industry.”