A bill introduced in the Washington House, HB 1992 would authorize sports wagers at tribal casinos, horse racetracks and OTBs, with most of the funds generated earmarked to benefit racing by increasing race purses.
It is competing with a previously filed bill that would limit sports betting to tribal casinos. HB 1992 specifically excludes fishing derbies from participation.
Fishing derbies are a big deal in this Pacific Northwest state, but horseracing is even bigger, and the Washington Horse Racing Commission is monitoring the legislation’s progress since millions of dollars could potentially become available to the industry, specifically a purse fund, a breeders award account and a problem gaming fund.
The bill further benefits the horseracing industry by limiting the satellite locations that can participate to one per county and not within 60 miles of a racetrack.
The bill does allow mobile sports betting, but specifies it is limited to the “customer placing the wager is physically present on the premises of the gaming facility of the Indian tribe or tribal entity.”
