Washington (WA)

On March 25th, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee agreed to sign sports betting legislation into law, making Washington the 21st state to legalize sports betting. WA used to have some of the strictest anti-gambling legislation in the country, and there are still a lot of limitations.

Currently, the bill exclusively allows sports gambling on Tribal land in the state; thus, sports betting is only legal in tribal casino territory. Therefore, there is no authorized legislature in Washington regarding mobile sports betting.

Online Sports Betting in Washington

At this time, only the tribal casinos within Washington are legally allowed to offer online sports betting. There are no other online betting applications in Washington State due to special state rules.

Although offshore wagering apps or sportsbooks will allow WA registrations, you violate the law if you register and wager. As the state betting laws prohibit betting on sports online or with non-tribal local bookies, there's a chance you'll be penalized or arrested if you're discovered wagering on sports outside of these areas.

It also has a specific law that prohibits residents from offshore online sportsbooks. However, no attempt has been made to enforce this statute. We have uncovered no evidence that anyone charged for betting online, even though bettors from WA account for a significant portion of online sports bettors.

So, when it comes to online sports betting in Washington, the options are somewhat limited. That being said, several tribal casinos such as Snoqualmie Casino sportsbook offer online options as well as in-person betting as long as the player is within the grounds of the casino.

For those looking for other options, there are some offshore sportsbooks that players can choose to use, such as Bovada, BetUS, and more, but caution is advised.

Sports Betting Legislation in WA

Gambling of any kind was unlawful in the United States for many years. However, the US Supreme Court decided against PASPA in May 2018. With earlier laws repealed, each state has the authority to enact its sports betting legislation.

Some have taken this on faster than others. Individuals of Washington can legitimately place sports bets at one of the country's authorized tribal casinos. Unfortunately, the authorities strictly prohibit online sports betting outside these areas.

But, there may be some movement toward legalizing it in the future as the biggest names in the gambling industry are already partnering up with the tribal casinos. For example, in January 2022, a partnership between DraftKings and Tulalip Tribes brought two new DraftKings retail sports betting sites in WA. We think it's only a matter of time before Washington realizes the full potential of online and mobile sports gambling as these partnerships flourish.

The state makes things difficult for sports bettors in other areas too. While most states allow offshore betting, Washington does not. That's not to say players can't place bets in this fashion, but the risk is much greater if caught. That being said, Washington's betting regulations have become increasingly liberal over the last few years.

In-Person Sports Betting In Washington

The betting age varies from place to place in the United States, with the minimum eligible age for sports betting being 18. However, in most cases, the average age is 21.

Since 1973, when citizens removed the betting restriction and the legislature modified the law, gaming has been allowed. In the state, however, gamblers who want to wager in person must go to one of the 29 tribal casinos scattered around the state.

The state of Washington acknowledges 29 communities in the region, each of which has been granted a gaming compact. All this enables tribal casinos to offer card games, slots, table games, and sports wagering. All gaming, however, must take place in these permitted facilities, and Bettors must also play table games in specially designated card rooms.

Sports Betting In Neighboring States

The fact that digital sports gambling is not legal will benefit neighboring states such as Oregon. Mobile sports betting is allowed in Oregon, which is located on Washington's southern border. So, going over state borders into Oregon to wager from their mobile platforms may be more feasible for citizens in the southern part of the state than traveling to tribal land within the state to place bets.

Indeed, some residents who currently travel to Oregon to gamble may be less eager to shift to betting in person in their native state. Another neighbor, Idaho, has also yet to legalize sports betting. But, if Idaho legalizes online sports gambling before Washington, the state will undoubtedly lose a share of revenue over the short term.

How do mobile sportsbook apps work in Washington?

While it is possible to bet online using the sportsbooks at the tribal casinos, provided players are within the casino grounds; there are no existing apps up and running. This means that players can only use mobile apps through offshore sites. Bear in mind that these apps are technically illegal within the state. However, there are several top apps available.

For instance, BetOnline is at the top of the WA sports betting list. BetOnline provides a diverse range of wagering options. Payments can be made using cryptocurrency or more conventional ways, including credit cards.

Another option is XBet which delivers a user-friendly internet gambling platform. It also includes simple instructions for making a payment and putting in a wager. This online gambling service offers a diverse range of betting alternatives to gamblers. For example, basketball lovers will find this one of the top NBA sportsbooks. The betting website also offers a variety of casino and slot games.

MyBookie is a fantastic option if you want to perform internet gambling in Washington State via a smartphone app. The gambling service always has a solution for every customer's preference. MyBookie, one of the best offshore gambling websites, offers slot machines and wagering.

All these apps have easy and similar signup processes.

Getting started - Step-by-step

To sign up for sports betting in Washington, consider the following steps:

1. Create a user profile. On your web page, go to the website. Then, at the top of the screen, identify and press the green "Join," "Sign Up," or "Register" icon. After that, the app will take you to the "new account" page. Then, in the boxes provided, fill in the relevant personal details. Finally, choose "Create Account" once you're finished.

2. Authenticate Your Account. Once you've completed your profile, it will email you a link to validate it. Once you receive a confirmation mail, tap the link given. The website will then authenticate your profile, and you can start playing.

3. Make your initial deposit. Visit the cashier section to make your deposit. Select your payment form from the options available on the payment page. Finally, hit the "Deposit Now" option and continue the on-screen instructions to complete your transaction.

4. Place your bet. After completing the process, place your bets and start to play!

Bonuses and WA sports betting offers

Gamers in Washington can only take advantage of exciting bonuses and promotions at offshore sportsbooks. Luckily, there are several different options available for players to choose from.

For instance, Bovada offers a 50% match deposit bonus of up to $1000, and my Bookie and BetOnline offer a similar promotion. For something a little different, players can look to BetUS, which provides a 125% match bonus up to an impressive $3125, while Xbet has a 100% match deposit bonus up to $500.

All of these means that players boost their bankrolls, enabling them to wager on more sports events.

Payment methods for depositing

Online sports betting sites like Bovada, My Bookie, and BetOnline provide banking options for players via credit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, and even cryptocurrency. Fortunately for Washington, players can use most of these payment methods for deposits and withdrawals.

However, this is not always the case, so players need to check with the individual sportsbook to see which payment options are available for making deposit and withdrawal requests. Most of these offshore sportsbooks have an array of payment options, making it easy for players to choose what works for them. Better still, they're all safe and secure too.

What is legal to bet on in Washington?

When it comes to online wagering, the minimum age limit is 18 years old throughout the state. However, this varies on the specific offshore apps, where the legal age is often 21 to create an account. As players in Washington have access to a range of offshore sportsbook sites, they also have access to a great selection of different sports.

All the top US sports are available across these apps. These include options such as hockey, football, basketball, and baseball. Because of the global nature of these apps, there is also an array of different sports options from other countries. These include rugby, tennis, cricket, golf, MMA, and many more.

Some apps offer the chance for live or in-play betting too. This allows players to place bets while the event is underway and can mean players get a more lucrative win as they have the option to cash out early. However, as noted before, this is the only state where these apps are illegal, so players may find access is restricted.

What’s Next For WA Betting Apps?

It's worth noting that Washington currently has some of the nation's harshest internet gaming restrictions. Anyone found placing bets over the web in this state could be charged. Although it is an out-of-date and oppressive law, it is still in effect today.

The likelihood of legalizing land-based sports gambling changing is strong. There are chances that sports betting will become legal soon.

Trusted Washington sports betting mobile apps in 2023

Sports gambling is not allowed in the state of Washington, however, horse racing wagering is permitted.

As a result, the only sports betting apps available right now are horse race wagering apps, and a few of them are pretty successful in the region. TVG and TwinSpires are two of the market's mainstays, and their sports gambling apps are accessible for Android and Apple iOS smartphones.

In-state individuals can now wager on sports at physical casinos on tribal gambling premises in the state. However, offshore betting is still illegal because of state prohibitions. We don't recommend that you play online, but we've never heard of anyone being punished or fined for doing so.

State citizens can use offshore casinos, but they recommend that you follow local gaming rules. Some top options to consider include Bovada, and BetUS, both licensed outside the US and hold licenses from Curaçao, and these two apps have a strong presence in many states throughout the US.