In the USA where gambling laws create a patchwork of regulated and unregulated gaming states, a new push is underway to bolster legal sports-betting in Washington state – beyond what is available at tribal casinos.
On Wednesday the Senate filed a Bill (SB-5212) which could increase the scope of allowed gambling to include card-rooms and racetracks which are licensed by Washington State.
Washington's answer to pandemic-hit economy: Legal Poker & Sports BettingThe Bill is now a bi-partisan drive with the goal of generating revenues via operator taxation which can in turn be used to assist with the state’s response and recovery to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Legal sportsbetting in Washington
Last spring Native American tribes were authorized to process sports bets, but as government compacts are still being negotiated this has not happened yet.
Maverick Gaming pushed a republican endorsed Bill to Lawmakers last winter which argued that the state would benefit financially through taxation beyond tribal casinos – only to meet rejection.
Washington's answer to pandemic-hit economy: Legal Poker & Sports Betting