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The state of Washington often gets grouped into the non-betting category. However, this is not accurate in the slightest.
Sports betting in Washington IS a thing, just not a BIG thing. This is because the state puts a huge limit on people’s betting rights. You know what happens when bettors get restricted, they have to get creative instead. And that’s what Washington bettors are doing. Allow us to update you on the legal sports betting situation in the Pacific Northwest state.
Betting In Washington Is NOT Easy
As mentioned, Washington is one of the 38 states with a legalized sports betting market. Matter of fact, they were somewhat early to the trend. The state launched it in 2020. But here’s the thing: it’s not a free market.
No, all betting in the state has to go through the Native American casinos — which there are dozens of. A few of the popular ones are Emerald Queen and Muckleshoot, but plenty of options are out there. Not only that, but the betting HAS to take place on tribal lands.
These rules effectively zero out most of the state’s population from wagering. For one, most the casinos are located away from the cities they live. But two, mobile sports betting apps are the dominant form of wagering. It accounts for 98 to 99 percent of most betting in states that allow it compared to in-person gambling.
Who wants to drive to a physical casino to place a bet? People have work, school, and family to juggle. Only someone with ample free time can drive themselves to a sportsbook anytime they get an itch to bet. Plus, have you seen gas prices these days? Yeah, forget about driving all the time.
All this is to say Washington is putting a huge cap on its sports-betting potential. Around eight million people call the state home — and many of them are diehard sports fans. Washington could be a sleeping giant in the industry if it just opened up, but alas, it hasn’t and hardly even attempted to expand.
Attempt At Expanded Betting Went Nowhere
Here’s the thing: Washington lawmakers have made zero moves to increase the state’s sports betting footprint. Zero. That’s a bad, bad sign that there’s no appetite to change things. Lawmakers must be allergic to tax revenues in that case, but we digress.
The only attempt to give non-tribal casinos a shot at sports betting was made in the court of law. You see, Maverick Casino filed a lawsuit at the start of 2022 against the state and even federal officials. Maverick was accusing them of giving tribes an unfair monopoly on betting — not just sports, but things like roulette and craps. The latter of which was the bigger sticking point because Maverick operates card rooms in the state. These facilities allow card-based betting, but not other table games, which Maverick wanted to offer.
Unfortunately for Maverick and Washington bettors, it that lawsuit met a painful death. Chief Judge David Estudillo of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington ruled that the lawsuit presented a “substantial risk” to the tribes’ “sovereign interests” and violated the compact it made with the state. Just like that, the push to expand betting hit a dead end, which has remained the case.
Washington Bettors Move Offshore
Without no hint of expanded sports betting ever coming to the state, Washington bettors have found an alternate route: using international sportsbooks to bet. This bookies are located in foreign countries where betting is 100 percent legal. That overseas base effectively allows them to sidestep rules and regulations of other countries and states.
What that means is Washington bettors can use them freely inside state borders — and that they have. Offshore betting is extra popular in states without fully-open betting markets such as Florida, New Mexico, and yes, Washington.
We’ve tried out dozens of international sportsbooks in Washington, and they all work perfectly fine. The best part? They work anywhere and everywhere using the online betting app. You could be in the heart of Seattle and still able to throw money on games — no need to drive anywhere.
We wanted to outline our most favorite international bookies for Washington bettors. Theres a lot of options out there, but these five grades out the best in our book:
Seattle Sports Are Picking Up
If there’s ever a time to get into sports betting inside the state, it’s now. Of course, we’re in the dead center of football season — both NFL and college.
As of this writing, the Seahawks are 4-4. That’s actually tied atop the NFC West, which is struggling this year. Seattle often gets overlooked in the division race, but they could easily sneak up on its rivals if Geno Smith can play more consistent.
Things are less hopeful for the Washington Huskies though. The state’s other big football team from the college realms has struggled to adjust to the B1G conference. The Huskies are 2-3 this year and near the bottom of the conference — a steep fall from its national title game season before.
But hey, betting is betting. And if you’re in Washington, the international sportsbooks are calling your name!
Best Betting Sites 