The state of Washington is known as being one of the more liberal states in the country, so it only follows that they have taken a fairly lax stance with regard to casino gambling. No matter what part of the state you find yourself in, the fact of the matter is that there are seemingly endless casino options. Whether we are talking about poker rooms, casinos at racetracks, or Tribal casinos, there is plenty of variety to be had.
The following few sections are aimed at giving you a better idea of what the brick and mortar casino landscape looks like in Washington. Things are still evolving all the time, so while the casino industry is thriving now, there are plenty of folks who think that things are only going to get better.
Online Gambling in Washington
Washington online gambling laws are poorly written and as a result, people caught playing on offshore sites might face extremely severe punishment. Participating in an unlicensed live game of chance with real money involved isn’t considered a serious offense and is more than likely to be punished with a slap on the wrist. Meanwhile, taking part in an online game violates Section 9 of the Washington Statutes, which prohibits the exchange of gambling-related information over the internet. The purpose of this regulation was to discourage illegal iGaming operators, but in the end, individual players that try to pursue their hobby online might end up facing felony charges.
As a result, you should avoid playing on offshore sites while you remain within the borders of Washington until new iGaming regulations are introduced. You should never try playing real money games out of Washington, but there’s nothing to stop you from signing up with one of the iGaming sites in order to enjoy your favorite games whenever you’re out of state. If you’re a poker fan, you should focus exclusively on high traffic networks, as niche sites tend to feel empty and tend to have lackluster tournaments with disappointing prize pools.
If you’re looking for a casino, the best way to get the most bang for your buck is to focus on bonuses and game selection instead. Finally, if you’re an avid sports bettor, you should choose a few high-profile sites that suit you in terms of software and compare the prices, event coverage and live in-play betting options they offer.
Washington Casinos
7 Cedars Casino
Angel of the Winds Casino
Buzz Inn Casino and Steakhouse
Casino Snoqualmie
Chewelah Casino
Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort
Clearwater Poker Room
Club Hollywood Casino
Coulee Dam Casino
Coyote Bob’s Casino
Crazy Moose Casino-Mountlake
Crazy Moose Casino-Pasco
Elwha River Casino
Emerald Downs Race Track
Emerald Queen Casino
Golden Nugget Casino
Joker’s Casino
Lancer Casino
Legends Casino at Yakima Nation
Little Creek Casino and Resort
Lucky Dog Casino
Lucky Eagle Casino
Lucky Dragonz Casino
Mill Bay Casino
Mr. Z’s Casino
Muckleshoot Indian Casino
New Phoenix Casino
Nisqually Red Wind Casino
Nob Hill Casino
Nooksack Northwood Casino
Nooksack River Casino
Northern Quest Casino
Okanogan Casino and Bingo
Quinault Beach Resort and Casino
Red Dragon Casino
Roxy’s Casino
Royal Casino
Shoalwater Bay Casino
Silver Dollar Casino-Mill Creek
Silver Dollar Casino-Renton
Silver Dollar Casino-SeaTac
Silver Reed Casino
Skagit Valley Casino
Swinomish Northern Lights Casino
The Point Casino
Tulalip Resort Casino at Quil Ceda
Tulalip Resort Casino
Two Rivers Casino
Wild Goose Casino
Wizards Casino
Gambling in Washington State
Washington has a well-developed land-based gambling industry. The local landscape is littered with both tribal and commercial casinos and dedicated card rooms, and if that wasn’t enough the state has a large racetrack in Emerald Downs and allows pari-mutuel betting. Other than that, Washington has charity gambling events and a state-controlled lottery, but unfortunately, the local iGaming regulations are simply horrible and make it impossible for the local internet gambling enthusiasts to pursue their hobby without committing a serious offense.
Native American/Tribal Casinos
A large number of the casinos and gambling establishments in the state of Washington fall under the category of Native American casinos. This is the case in many other states as well. Basically, the passing of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 paved the way for Native American tribes to operate casinos on their own land so long as the state in which their land was situated agreed. This was never much of an issue in Washington, seen in the large number of Native American casinos situated there.
Card Rooms
Though there are no full-scale commercial casinos other than those owned and operated by Native Americans, there are card rooms. Card rooms are able to exist because they offer the many different variants of poker. The basic sentiment behind card rooms being legal is that poker is a game of skill, not luck. So while blackjack may be left out in the cold, the many card rooms across the state can facilitate the playing of cash games and tournaments at most any time of year.
Riverboat Casinos
Though they are referred to, technically, as riverboat casinos, those that exist in Washington are based and operated on the ocean. Basically, these boats travel out to international waters where there are no restrictions on gambling. Once far enough away from shore, the boats become full-service casinos that are able to offer slot games, table games, and everything in between.
Washington Casino History
When the state of Washington was officially sanctioned, there were very strong anti-gambling sentiments that abounded. While the Puritanical views of the time didn’t necessarily single out gambling, they aimed at doing away with all vices, and this included gambling. For a long while, there were virtually no casino-style gambling options available for anyone in the state.
In 1933, the tide began to slowly shift as state lawmakers moved to legalize and regulate pari-mutuel gambling at horse tracks. For a few decades, this was the only style of gambling available. Then, in the 1970s Washington went the same direction as many other states and moved to allow for charitable gambling. In essence, charitable gambling mandated that no one, other than charitable organizations, be able to benefit from the proceeds from something like a bingo night.
It wasn’t until 1992 when the state reached a deal with Native tribes and allowed them to begin building casinos. In 1997, the scope of gambling was expanded a bit more as card rooms were legalized on the basis of poker games being games of skill rather than luck-based. Since the mid-1990s the casino industry has grown significantly, but the scope of gambling remains the same. There are still no commercial casinos owned off of Native lands.
Washington Online Gambling FAQ
How Do I Get Started?
Getting started is harder for Washington residents, as some sites simply refuse to accept players from the Evergreen State. If you get past that hurdle, everything else should be easy – simply open a new account, make a deposit and verify your account by submitting a scan of a photo ID to prove your identity.
How Do I Get My Money if I Win?
Getting your money back is even easier than making a deposit – all you need to do is open the cashier menu and place a new payout request. Payout requests usually take up to 48 hours to process, so if you asked for a bank wire transfer you’re pretty much guaranteed to receive your money within 2 weeks.
What is the minimum age to gamble online in Washington?
The minimum age to play on most offshore sites is 18.
How do I open an account?
Some sites will refuse to take new players from Washington, so you might want to open a new account from out of state. You’ll have to fill out a short registration form and submit to a basic identity check.
Where can I open my account from?
Most Washington-friendly sites allow you to sign up from anywhere in the United States.
From where can I access Washington online gambling sites?
Gambling online while you’re in Washington is a terrible idea, but most Washington-friendly sites accept connections from anywhere in the US.
Where can I familiarize myself with the official regulations over gambling in Washington?
Washington gambling regulations are listed in Section 9 of Washington Statutes.
How do I deposit to my online gambling account?
Most sites actually require you to use a standard credit card payment and support both Visa and MasterCard.
How do I withdraw my winnings?
You should be able to choose between a wire transfer and a check by courier.
Is my money safe?
Yes, at least with the sites listed here. Other sites might be dangerous to use, so you should be very careful about sending your money to an iGaming site that you aren’t familiar with.
What body regulates gambling in Washington?
Gambling in Washington is regulated by Washington State Gambling Commission and Washington State Lottery.