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There have been calls for the expansion of Washington sports betting for years now. By expansion, we mean opening up betting beyond just tribal lands, and letting commercial mobile betting apps work anywhere and everywhere in the state.
With the start of a new year, and legislative session, there was some hope 2025 would bring this expansion. But has it almost two months into the new year? Well, no.
But… there has been expansion elsewhere in the state of Washington. Maybe not the kind of expansion most bettors want, but it’s worth throwing out an update anyway. Keep reading to see what’s going on.
BetRivers Opens New Sportsbook In Washington
One giant misconception about legal sports betting in Washington is all the big names — DraftKings or FanDuel — aren’t in the market since only Native American casinos can offer gambling. However, this just isn’t true. Most of the big players are alive and well inside the state via partnerships with those casinos.
Obviously, operating a sportsbook is a unique skill — not just setting lines, but having a system to take bets. Not to mention the tech needed to support this and a mobile app for on-the-go gambling. That’s why many native casinos prefer to outsource the whole operation to an established sportsbook.
Welp, the Swinomish Casino & Lodge did just that. This establishment is located all the way north in Anacortes — right next to the Pacific Ocean. Now, BetRivers will be in charge of its sportsbook operation. The two launched the partnership in January of this year.
“As we sought a partner for this exciting new venture, Rush Street Interactive’s proven success in operating market-leading retail sportsbooks across the U.S. made them an obvious choice,” said Stephany Tuttle, the Director of Gaming of Swinomish. “RSI’s unmatched operational expertise working with land-based casinos and comprehensive approach stood out, offering us a tried-and-true road map for success.”
What BetRivers Brings To The Table
Before BetRivers, the Washington casino was in business with Mindred and Unibet Sportsbook. No offense to them, but they are almost non-players in the United States market. Jumping over to BetRivers, which is owned by Rush Street Interactive, is a big step-up.
We’d stop short of saying BetRivers has the success of, say, BetMGM or FanDuel. However, they are a mid-sized player in the industry. The launch of the BetRivers Sportsbook at Swinomish Casino now marks the 16th state where the company does sports betting in — that’s a decent-sized footprint.
For locals, the new-look sportsbook will be located right next to the Swinomish Sports Bar & Grill. The property features a 30-foot video wall. Maybe that’s small potatoes compared to something you’d find in Las Vegas, but it gets the job done in Washington where there’s less of a fevor around gambling.
More than just a TV, the book is equipped with multiple user-friendly kiosks, where bettors can bet on their own accord. Guests can also opt for a more personal experience by placing wagers directly with sportsbook workers at the counter. For added convenience, online bet building is available — patrons can craft bets in advance and easily complete them by scanning QR codes at the kiosks.
BetRivers takes in bets on all of the major sports — the MLB (the new season starts soon), NFL, NHL, PGA, MLS, WNBA, NCAA, Horse Racing, NASCAR, and MMA. Of course, this includes the local teams like the Seahawks, Mariners, and Kraken.
“Our expertise in training and supporting land-based casino teams ensures that this new sportsbook will not only attract new player demographics but also optimize cross-promotion with the tribe’s existing gaming and hospitality amenities,” said Richard Schwartz, CEO of RSI.
Will Washington Expand “Regular” Betting?
Good for BetRivers and good for Swinomish Casino — but let’s be real, sports bettors want real expansion. Expansion as in allowing full-on mobile betting. At the moment, bets can only be made online if on tribal land. Welp, has any progress been made on this front?
Unfortunately, no. We’ve scoured through local news sources and meeting notes of lawmakers — nothing has been brought up about betting in 2025. Nothing.
The idea of expanding sports betting access has been kicked around recently too. Matter of fact, in 2024, two bills — HB 1630 and SB 5587 — were introduced. One proposal aimed to set a $100,000 licensing fee for operators and impose a 10% tax on profits, signaling a clear framework for potential online betting operations in the state. However, neither went anywhere.
The 2024 legislative session was just 60 days, far too short to fully explore and pass complex legislation like online sports betting. That’s why there was hope that 2025 would be different. See, the 2025 legislative session runs for 105 days, offering ample time for lawmakers to revisit the topic. But more than a month in, there’s been no signs of progress.
Honestly, at this point, you just have to believe Washington lawmakers have no appetite for expansion. The only ones interested are Washington bettors who don’t want to be forced to drive to tribal lands just to make sports bets. That concern apparently isn’t important enough for lawmakers to act on.
We’ll see if anything changes the rest of the legislative session, but personally, we wouldn’t get our hopes up about expanded sports betting in Washington.
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