Washington Gambling
FAQ / Q&A -- History -- Regulation -- Land Based Casinos -- Fun Facts
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Washington State Online Casinos
We advise any readers from Washington to be extremely careful when they pick offshore casinos to play at. The Evergreen State has never prosecuted anybody for playing card games, slots or bingo at online casino websites, though.
To get the most fun, and stay 'legal', you would be better off playing at a social casino, like Vegas World. You get the thrill of competing against other players, whilst complying with State law.
Washington gambling regulation
Online gambling is neither legal nor illegal in Washington. If you think you heard this before, you’re not wrong - many states have an apparent lack of legislation relating to online casinos.
While some think this is only the case in the South, it’s actually quite a common occurrence. Many states simply don’t have enough manpower or resources to enforce strict gambling laws. And due to such a situation, no bills are getting passed and there is little to no regulation.
There is also the issue of lawmakers having too much on their hands, which is not so surprising in states as big as Washington. With so many things to care about, it’s difficult to constantly inform oneself about all the latest developments in the gambling industry. We often criticize lawmakers, but it’s easy to forget that they’re people, too.
In Washington, gambling is as prominent as the majestic natural beauties that the Evergreen State is known for. According to the Washington State Gambling Commission (WSGC), there are 29 total casinos, operated by 22 federally recognized tribes. Even though the wilderness takes up most of the territory, Class III gambling venues are spread out pretty evenly, which gives players enough opportunities, regardless of the direction they’re headed in.
Despite the Evergreen State having a reputation as a gambling-friendly state, everyone was flabbergasted when sports betting became legal in early 2020. Gov. Jay Inslee signed off bills that would allow existing tribal casinos to provide retail and online sports betting services.
Six total tribes have entered negotiations for the sports betting compacts. There hasn’t been any news regarding the developments, but we’ll keep you updated as soon as something changes.
As for online casinos in Washington, there aren’t any. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t play at offshore sites. Even though the law prohibits ‘any form of gambling not licensed or regulated by the state’, this sort of language is not very specific, which means you can’t really get in trouble for playing casino games online.
We wanted to be extra sure and we checked court records - no person has ever been arrested or prosecuted for illegal gambling just for playing at an online casino. It seems that the law is mainly designed to discourage people from setting up clandestine gambling operations.
To ensure that you will have a safe and entertaining experience, you just need to pick a site that’s licensed by a reputable regulatory body. International licenses are a big plus, especially for offshore casinos that target many countries at once. Check if they have encryption. If they do, you’re pretty much good to go.
While some states have already regulated gaming sites and others are working toward legalization, Washington is in the middle of a unique situation. Most states allow online gambling to exist, for now, in a legal grey area. The Evergreen State has separated itself from them and actually prescribed legal penalties for anyone caught playing at an internet gaming site.
The state is firm in their tendency to protect its land-based interests, as tribal casinos contribute massive revenues. It is assumed that that is the main reason why online gambling in Washington is considered a class C felony – a violation that carries up to 5 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. The hope lies in several politicians which have been battling the legal system in order to legalize internet gaming, or at least reduce the stiff penalties.
Gambling history in Washington
Slot machines were introduced in 1937 in private and not-for-profit clubs, but their legality was disputed in 1952. Soon, bingo and raffles were allowed, as well as certain forms of lottery draws. In 1973, the Washington Gambling Commission was established. This regulatory body was designed to oversee authorized social gaming activities, charities bingo, raffles, and casinos.
It’s surprising that a first tribal casino in Evergreen State opened in 1976. It was run by the Puyallup Tribe, and they were soon ordered to close by the federal government. State lottery was established in 1982 and more tribes opened their bingo halls several years before the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed. Now, Washington has a large number of tribal casinos that are run by over 20 different, federally-recognized tribes.
Land based casinos
Ever since 1992, Washington boasts a regulated casino scene, with over 60 brick and mortar gambling establishments. Most of them are located on Native American land. The range starts with small card clubs that barely offer a dozen gaming tables and spans to massive resorts with several dozens of table games on offer. There are casinos in Potlach, and also in Chewela. The Seattle-Tacoma area is also one of the hotspots, as well as the eastern part of Washington, near Spokane.
Some of the biggest establishments include Angel of the Winds Casino in Arlington, Casino Snoqualmie in Snoqualmie, Emerald Queen Casino in Fife and Legends Casino in Toppenish. The Angel of the Winds Casino is equipped with over 1,100 slot machines, table games and keno. It offers a decent choice of dining options, hotel accommodation and live entertainment. Legends Casino counts on more than 1,500 of the hottest slots, as well as blackjack, craps, roulette, Spanish 21, Pai Gow and poker tables. The Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel boasts over 2,060 of the newest gaming machines, including jackpots. The state’s largest poker room is located at Mucklesshoot Casino and contains over 30 tables. If you prefer the atmosphere of smaller, more intimate venues, you can try out Club Hollywood Casino in Shoreline, New Phoenix Casino in La Center or Roxy’s Casino in Seattle. These, and plenty of others, only offer gaming tables.
At which age can you play at Washington online casinos?
21. This is the same age limit imposed for playing at one of Washington’s brick and mortar casinos, as well as sports betting. We always advise people to abide by the highest limit existing in the state. That way, you will absolutely be sure that there is no potential for trouble.
There have been cases with minors playing casino games at 18/19, thinking that they could just because you can play the lottery at that age. Stay safe and be careful.
What games are available?
The whole world of offshore casinos is in the palm of your hand. Since the choice you have is basically infinite, you just need to conduct a bit of research and you’ll easily be able to find whatever fits your criteria and/or preferences.
Do casino sites in Washington offer live dealer games?
Yes, they do. Because Washington is such a big state, you have to get into your car and drive to the nearest casino if you want to experience the atmosphere. When it comes to live casino titles, all you have to do is sit back, hold your phone, and enjoy the wondrous bonuses, animations, and everything else that live dealer games are known and loved for.
How can you make deposits at Washington online casinos?
The most used deposit method are credit/debit cards, with eWallets and cryptocurrencies quickly becoming superior alternatives. People still use cards, even though they’re easy to steal and manipulate, just because connecting them to your casino account is no rocket science.
You input the numbers, and that’s it. eChecks and wire transfers can be found sometimes, but they’re slowly dying out. Keep in mind that few sites offer everything. You’re going to have to make compromises if you’re looking for a very particular set of payment options.
Can you receive your withdrawals right away?
This depends on the payment platform you’re using. Here’s how different methods stack up against one another:
● eWallets: instant
● Cards: 3-5 days
● eCheck: 4-6 days
● Cryptos: up to one hour, depending on the specific currency
● Wire transfers: 5-7 days
Fun facts about Washington
- Can you imagine any street corner in America without a Starbucks? Well, it certainly feels like there’s one on every street. The first ever Starbucks store opened in 1971 in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. It started out as a local establishment and it operated like one until the 1980s. It was then purchased by the coffee company Il Giornale, owned by Howard Shultz. He is still the CEO of the now massive company which opened its first stores outside Washington in 1987 in Chicago and Vancouver.
- Washington is lined by the Ring of Fire, and five of the ten volcanoes classify as major volcanoes that constitute the Cascade Range. These volcanoes include Mount Baker, Mount Rainer, Glacier Peak, Mount Adams, and Mount St. Helens. The tallest one is Mount Rainer reaching 14,410 feet. It was named after Peter Rainier, a British soldier who fought against the Americans in the Revolutionary War. This is an active volcano that last erupted in 1894. The deadliest volcano eruption in the recorded United States' history happened in 1980 when 57 people lost their lives in a Mount Saint Helens eruption.
- Washington is the number one producer of apples, pears, red raspberries, sweet cherries, and spearmint oil in front of all other US states. Apple is also the state fruit.
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