On July 28, the Washington State Gambling Commission unanimously approved new licensing rules that will allow the state’s gaming tribes to begin taking sports bets on August 30, just in time for the NFL season.
The rules allow for in-person betting at brick and mortar casinos. The only mobile sports betting allowed will be within tribal casino premises.
Washington has 29 federally recognized tribes. Sixteen have applied for sports betting licenses and their amended gaming compacts have been approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. They are: 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.
Gambling Commission Chairman Bud Sizemore commented in a statement, “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.” He added, “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.”
The tribes and the commission have been working furiously to be ready for the NFL season that begins September 9.
The state legislature approved of sports betting for the tribes exclusively on March 2020. To expedite matters the commission began accepting pre-licensing applications several months ago.
Among those who have already applied for the licensing packages are Betfred, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Rush Street Interactive. They have already partnered with a gaming tribe.
Washington Indian Gaming Association Executive Director Rebecca George said in a press release, “We applaud the effort and work that the Gambling Commission and its staff have put into keeping this process moving forward in a timely and responsible way, and we are pleased that it appears that interested adults in Washington State will soon be able to place wagers on sporting events in a safe and responsible way.”
