Online betting in Washington

What Gambling Is Legal in Washington

Is online gambling legal in Washington? The rules on online gambling Washington State residents face start with RCW 9.46.240. It makes knowingly sending or receiving gambling information over the internet a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The internet wording dates from 2006, and the Washington Supreme Court upheld it in Rousso v. State in 2010.

Is gambling legal in Washington at all? In person, it is legal at tribal casinos, card rooms, the Lottery, and the racetrack.

Sports Betting in Washington

Is sports betting legal in Washington? Only at tribal casinos. House Bill 2638, signed on March 25, 2020, carved compact-based sports wagering out of the felony statute, and every bet must be placed on casino property.

Washington has no statewide mobile sportsbook. Is DraftKings legal in Washington? Not as a sportsbook, a fantasy app, or a prediction market, and the DraftKings Predictions app left Washington out at launch.

Is FanDuel legal in Washington? It offers no sportsbook or paid fantasy contests here either.

Washington Online Casinos

Washington has never allowed online casino games. Anyone searching for an online casino Washington State operator will find only offshore sites working outside the law. The Gambling Commission also considers dual-currency sweepstakes casinos to be unauthorized, and major platforms block access from the state.

Online Poker in Washington

Is online poker legal in Washington? Online poker is not legal in Washington. The state has never issued a license for it, and playing online poker is covered by the same felony law as other forms of online gambling.

Fantasy Contests in Washington

The Gambling Commission treats a paid-entry contest with a prize and an element of chance as gambling. Is PrizePicks legal in Washington? Its paid fantasy contests are blocked here, and so are paid entries on DraftKings and FanDuel.

Is Underdog legal in Washington? Underdog follows the same rule and blocks paid entries from the state.

Prediction Markets in Washington

In March 2026, the Attorney General sued Kalshi. Since then, a King County Superior Court judge has stopped Kalshi from offering contracts on sports, elections, and other categories to people in Washington. Prediction markets are not a legal alternative here.

Horse Racing: The One Online Exception

Is online betting legal in Washington in any form? Online betting is only legal in Washington for horse racing. RCW 9.46.0237 does not count pari-mutuel wagering as gambling, so you can place race bets online through advance-deposit wagering accounts regulated by the Washington Horse Racing Commission.

Gambling Age in Washington State

The Washington gambling age depends on what you are playing. You must be 21 to bet on sports at tribal sportsbooks. For the Lottery, licensed card rooms, and pari-mutuel wagering, the minimum age is 18.

Tribal casinos decide their own minimum age, which can be either 18 or 21, depending on the property and whether it has an alcohol license.

Who Regulates Gambling in Washington

The Washington State Gambling Commission

The Washington State Gambling Commission, located in Lacey, licenses card rooms and charitable gaming under state law. It also negotiates agreements with tribal casinos. All 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington have a compact.

Tribal Gaming Commissions

Washington's Lottery manages draw games, and the Washington Horse Racing Commission oversees race betting. Each tribe has its own gaming commission to regulate its casino, while the National Indian Gaming Commission provides federal oversight for tribal gaming.

If you have a complaint about a card room or the state's responsibilities under a compact, contact the Commission. For disputes inside a tribal casino, you should first reach out to that tribe's gaming commission.

Where to Get Help

The Washington State Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-547-6133. The Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling runs this service 24/7. You can find more support options on our responsible gambling page.

Where to Bet in Washington

Tribal Sportsbooks

All legal sports bets in Washington must be made at a tribal casino. The Commission approved the first 15 tribal compact amendments in June 2021. You can find the current list of Washington tribal sportsbooks on the Commission's tribal casino locations page.

On-Property Apps

Some tribal casinos have their own sportsbook apps, but these apps only work when you are physically inside the casino. They stop working once you leave the property.

What Is Not Available Here

• No statewide mobile sportsbook.
• No online casino. In-person options are on the Washington casinos page.
• No online poker and no paid fantasy.
• No Kalshi sports contracts since the court order. The Kalshi prediction market page tracks the case.

House-banked card rooms in Washington offer card games and some table games, but no slot machines. Emerald Downs hosts live horse racing, but neither card rooms nor Emerald Downs accept sports bets. Card room players can join the state's self-exclusion program, while tribal casinos have their own separate programs.

No Personal Income Tax

No State Tax on Winnings

Washington does not have a personal income tax, so you do not pay state tax on gambling winnings. Casinos do not withhold state tax, and you do not need to file a state return for gambling income. The state's capital gains excise tax also does not apply to gambling winnings.

What Still Applies Federally

Federal income tax applies to all gambling winnings, and a casino issues Form W-2G when a win crosses the federal threshold. Two federal rules changed in 2026.

The reporting threshold for slot and bingo wins on Form W-2G increased to $2,000. Now, you can only deduct up to 90 percent of your gambling losses.

General information only; not tax advice.

What Could Change in Washington

The 2026 Sports Wagering Law

Senate Bill 6137, the Sports Wagering Integrity Act, took effect on June 11, 2026. Washington state sports betting now covers college games, including games involving in-state schools.

The law added three main limits. You cannot bet on props involving individual athletes at Washington schools, or on in-game coaching or officiating calls in those games. Betting on minor league games is still illegal. Also, threatening an athlete, coach, or official over a bet is now a gross misdemeanor and will ban you from sports wagering.

Online Casino: No Bill, No Path

There is no bill to legalize online casinos in Washington. To make any changes, lawmakers would first need to rewrite RCW 9.46.240. Statewide mobile sports betting faces the same legal barriers, along with tribal exclusivity.

Prediction Markets Under Court Order

Kalshi has appealed the King County court order and asked the judge to review the decision. This case is currently the biggest unresolved issue in Washington online gambling, and our Washington news coverage will keep you updated.

Frequently asked questions

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