Hello Seattle, I am a gambler.
Like in the Adam Young song, gamblers can feel at home in the state of Washington too. Sports betting was legalized in 2020 at Native American casinos. They became the 21st state to legalize.
The biggest city in Washington is Seattle with around 750,000 people. It hosts the only three major professional sports teams in the state, the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners and Seattle Kraken. The five Division 1 college programs are Washington, Washington State, Gonzaga, Eastern Washington and Seattle U.
The Evergreen State might be tucked away in the Pacific Northwest, but they’re a staple in the national sports scene. They have passionate fans who come out and support regardless of the sport. Now these fans can show support with their wallets as well with legalized sports betting.
Yes, gambling is legal in Washington. Governor Jay Inslee signed HB 2638 on March 25th, 2020. This legalized sports gambling in tribal casinos. In this bill, each of the 29 tribal casinos could have their own sportsbooks and take wagers.
Currently, online sports wagering is not allowed. Betters need to go in person to the retail locations to place bets. There has been some hope that lawmakers will figure out a way to launch mobile betting. For now, residents of Washington can only bet onsite.