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Washington lawmakers are considering changes to state sports betting rules that would loosen restrictions at tribal sportsbooks while keeping the statewide ban on mobile wagering intact.
During a Friday committee hearing, legislators discussed a bill that would allow betting on in state college teams and expand mobile sportsbook options at tribal casinos. The discussion marked the first public review of the proposal. No vote was taken, and lawmakers did not set a timeline for next steps.
Good to Know
The legislation would lift Washington ban on wagering on in state college teams. At the same time, it would block individual player prop bets on college athletes playing for Washington based schools.
Player prop bets would still be allowed for opponents facing Washington schools, such as teams playing against the University of Washington or Gonzaga.
The bill would also allow tribal casinos to accept mobile wagers from any licensed sportsbook operating in the state, rather than limiting each tribe to a single sportsbook partner.
Washington remains one of the most restrictive legal sports betting markets in the country. Betting is allowed only in person at tribal casinos, with no statewide mobile wagering.
Rep. Sharlett Mena, a co sponsor of the bill, said the proposal aims to address competition from offshore sportsbooks and prediction market sports event contracts already available to Washington residents.
“I think this is an initial step to try to catch up with the market, and there may be more down the line,” Mena said.
She also argued that bans on college wagering have not eliminated betting activity.
“We currently offer for professional Washington teams but not for college Washington teams, and in the absence of a legal option it hasn’t stopped sports betting,” Mena said. “It’s simply pushed it into the shadows where college sports wagering already happens through offshore and illegal markets. This bill would bring this activity into our regulatory structure.”
Tribal leaders testified in favor of the bill during the hearing. Supporters said expanded betting menus and added mobile options could increase revenue at tribal casinos without allowing mobile wagering statewide.
Washington is one of five states that allow sports betting only on tribal lands while banning statewide wagering. The others include Wisconsin, New Mexico, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
If approved as written, the legislation would make Washington the first state with a statewide mobile betting ban to allow multiple mobile sportsbook operators to accept wagers on tribal lands.