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Relevant State Code: 9.46.010 et seq.; 67.16.010 et seq.

Gambling online is strictly prohibited in the state of Washington, which is the only state to categorize such offences as felonies. With this in mind, it is really best to make sure that you fully understand all of the Washington gambling laws before you plan a gambling session, whether online or at a land-based establishment.

1. Online gambling as such is prohibited in Washington, if we are to judge according to the website of the Washington State Gambling Commission. Additionally, online gambling operators that decide to operate an illegal gambling site in this state.
2. Online Casinos in Washington Online casinos are not licensed by the state of Washington, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any for residents to play with. We expect that licensed online casinos will soon become available in Washington state, most likely in 2020.

Washington State has likely secured a place in the annals of online gambling thanks to the state's status as the first to explicitly outlaw the act of placing a bet online. That is only one aspect of Washington's very strict approach to handling gambling activity, which rests on a broad definition of what it means to gamble:

Section 9.46.0237
'Gambling,' as used in this chapter, means staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under the person's control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that the person or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.

Washington law also provides a further definition of 'contest of chance':

Section 9.46.0225
'Contest of chance.' as used in this chapter, means any contest, game, gaming scheme, or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of the contestants may also be a factor therein.

Washington, therefore, applies the Material Degree Test to determine whether a game is one of chance. Under this test, a game that involves substantial skill can still be considered a game of chance if chance still plays a significant role in the outcome. Any form of gambling not expressly regulated is illegal per the state constitution of Washington.

Penalties in Washington for gambling violations are, by the letter of the law, quite severe. Players are on the hook for charges ranging from gross misdemeanors to class C felonies. Operators face at least a half-dozen unique felony charges (click here for information about associated sentences and fines).

Despite (or perhaps due to) that formidable arsenal, Washington reported only 5 gambling-related arrests in 2011.

Regulated Gambling Options in Washington

Washington State hosts tribal casinos, commercial casinos and a state lottery. Wagering on horse racing, overseen by the Washington Horse Racing Commission, is available at tracks such as Emerald Downs.

There is an apparent exception for social gambling provided by the legal definition of 'player' found in Washington law:

Section 9.46.0265
as used in this chapter, means a natural person who engages, on equal terms with the other participants, and solely as a contestant or bettor, in any form of gambling in which no person may receive or become entitled to receive any profit therefrom other than personal gambling winnings, and without otherwise rendering any material assistance to the establishment, conduct or operation of a particular gambling activity. A natural person who gambles at a social game of chance on equal terms with the other participants shall not be considered as rendering material assistance to the establishment, conduct or operation of the social game merely by performing, without fee or remuneration, acts directed toward the arrangement or facilitation of the game, such as inviting persons to play, permitting the use of premises for the game, or supplying cards or other equipment to be used in the games.

If no one pays a fee, no one profits, and all are on equal terms, social games of chance appear to be exempted from Washington gambling law.

Washington law grants broad exceptions to gambling activities conducted by approved charitable organizations. Some forms of gambling (Vegas Nights, poker games) require a license, while others (raffles and some card games, depending on the organization) do not require a license. Complete information about charitable gambling regulations can be found at the website for the Washington State Gambling Commission.

Can I Play Poker For Real Money Legally In Washington?

Yes. Washington State is home to a number of casinos and card clubs that offer poker (albeit under some strange conditions).

Additionally, home games of poker appear to be legal as long as they adhere to the conditions set forth by Washington law. Charitable poker games (tournaments only) are allowed at 'Vegas Nights' in Washington when conducted in compliance with all rules and regulations.

Online poker is a different story. Playing online poker is specifically criminalized (although officialsclaimplayersaren'tatarget) in Washington, a situation we'll discuss in more depth below.

Washington's Stance - Is Poker Legal in Washinton?

In 2006, Washington passed a law that amended their criminal code to include the act of placing or receiving bets online. The law updated Section 9.46.240, which now reads:

Gambling information, transmitting or receiving.
Whoever knowingly transmits or receives gambling information by telephone, telegraph, radio, semaphore, the internet, a telecommunications transmission system, or similar means, or knowingly installs or maintains equipment for the transmission or receipt of gambling information shall be guilty of a class C felony subject to the penalty set forth in RCW 9A.20.021.
Other states, such as Georgia and Connecticut, have similar 'transmission' laws, but such laws generally fail to mention the Internet, focus exclusively on sports wagering or are only concerned with the party sending the information. Transmission laws are generally also misdemeanor violations, whereas Washington's is a felony charge.

The Washington State Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the law in 2010, rejecting a commerce clause argument brought by Lee Russo and the Poker Player's Alliance.

Noted gambling law expert I Nelson Rose published ananalysis of the law back at the time of passage that is still quite relevant today. His basic conclusion: While the law does technically include players in its scope, the functional target of the law is operators and not players.

Washington Gambling Laws: Fun Facts
For a brief period, Washington law allowed a $500 'all-in' bet in addition to the $40 maximum bet state law currently enforces. As strange as it was brief, the law was revised a few months later to remove the 'all-in' bet.

A bill to except online poker players playing in their homes from Washington anti-gambling law stalledin 2008.

Online Gambling Headlines in Washington

Washington State law was invoked as part of a multi - million dollar asset seizure action in January 2011 against individuals allegedly involved in online gambling payment processing.

There have been no recent efforts of note to regulate online gambling in the state.

Likelihood of Online Poker Regulation in Washington

It would certainly be a bit ironic if one of the first states to outlaw online poker was also one of the first states to regulate it, but Washington appears to be quite a far distance from any sort of serious effort to regulate online poker (or online gambling of any sort). The fractured nature of the state's current gambling industry would make garnering broad support for such a proposal difficult (see California for an example of how frustrating such a process can be), and there is no clear advocate for such a push in the state legislature.

Lacking those fundamental elements, the environment in Washington is simply inhospitable for online poker regulation. As a result, online poker enthusiasts in Washington have a worse-than-average shot of seeing the game they enjoy regulated at any point in the foreseeable future.

Finding legal online gambling sites for Washington residents can be somewhat of a challenge. While there are various forms of land based gambling that have been authorized, there is one thing that is rather unfortunate in the state. If you look at the laws in the state, you will find that the industry of Internet gambling has been locked down in Washington, with legislators turning online gambling into a Class C Felony, equal to arson and the possession of child pornography. If you decide to start gambling online while living in Washington, you will be violating the law - something we do not condone. We will still show you where you can play, but we do not recommend you do so. We will show you these because we want our readers to be safe if they are going to do so.

There is a limited selection and slim availability for legal Washington gambling. The state government in Washington took a stance on the business of wagering that is considerably harsher than other states of the US. While they seriously inhibited the availability and legal use of online gambling in the state, there remains many fantastic land-based options for gamblers, as well as legal overseas gambling sites. Over a dozen different Native American tribes administrate these fines casinos and they operate under an exception to the anti-gambling laws.

It is important to understand the rules over gambling in the state of Washington and whether people have been in trouble for doing it. If any user is still interested, there are easy and secure methods for making deposits, and rewards to obtain. We do not recommend or condone the illegal use of any gambling website or sports betting site, but we can certainly recommend the best places to visit for all the best online sportsbooks, poker rooms, and casinos.

There is somewhat of a risk an involved and not too many options for legal Washington gambling online. This is a unique state in their stance on gambling by use of the internet. Congressional leaders have specifically ruled against using the internet for gambling purposes. The problem for these politicians is that enforcement of the law is tricky and time consuming. It may be taking a risk by gambling online.

There are many options for gambling online, these services offer a full amenity of casino games and ways to gamble. These sites offer fully interactive sportsbooks with live up-to-the-minute stats on the games and updated odds. While there are some laws that specifically address the act of online wagering, no one has ever been fined, reprimanded, or arrested for it. Therefore, while we cannot tell you that it is legal to participate, we can say that the odds are on your side, and there are certainly thousands of Washington residents that enjoy these sites every day.

Washington state legislature contains a statute, RCW 9.46.240, that outlines the definition of the law that pertains to online gambling in the state of Washington. The legal consequences for breaking this law could be up to a class C felony. This might mean some fines for the player if they are caught. We believe that the laws on the books for Washington gamblers are outdated and unenforceable. We’ve scoured for records of strong indictment on individual gamblers and found none. The websites that offer legal Washington gambling operate within the laws and regulations from the gambling commissions of their own home countries and offer a service for people in all 50 states.

In order to service customers within the United States, all of the legal Washington gambling sites follow strict rules when doing transactions. The UIGEA, a federal law that governs the use of the internet for unlawful gambling, places tough restrictions on the transactions between financial institutions. This law only has legal consequences for the banks or credit unions and not for the player.

This means that online sites must be able offer many different methods like credit/debit card deposits, mailing in deposits, or using online services like Bitcoin. Players have a large number of different methods they can choose to make a legal deposit into the gambling websites.

Getting deposit bonuses at great legal Washington gambling sites is easy. Just sign up. This process usually takes minutes and all users have to supply is a small amount of information and an email address. Joining all the great sites will allow the player to stockpile the rewards and keep on collecting free money over and over again. The bonuses could range from up to $250 in free plays or up to %200 matches on the initial deposits. The deposit bonuses don’t end after you sign up though, most sites will get returns of %25 on every deposit after the first.

There are laws that limit the availability of sports betting in Washington. In addition to state laws that inhibit legal Washington gambling, the federal government provided its own restrictions. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act made it unlawful for any organization in the United States, with exceptions, to run sportsbooks and accept bets on any competitions. Unfortunately, these exceptions to apply to any casinos in Washington and so the options are limited.

However, there are online sites that serve customers from Washington. These sports betting sites will allow any registered player a chance to log in and make a wager on the games as they’re being played out. Many online sportsbooks feature an interactive mobile app for updating your bets on the go.

The Native tribes in the state of Washington are given special permission to run casinos on their own reservation and these great casinos feature all of the games you would find at the hottest casinos in Vegas. Take a ride to one and spend hours playing the different kinds of slot machines from three reel, to five reel, to specialty styles. Many of the larger casinos offer thousands of choices in slots and up to 30 different tables that feature games like Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, and Pai Gow. The legal Washington Gambling sites are safe methods for getting your game one. If you are looking for the best in poker, casino games, and sports betting, these sites are going to be your Shangri-La’s.

​The gambling laws in the state of Washington have criminalized online gambling. Under RCW 9.46.240 in the state's statutes, it is illegal to transmit or receive gambling information by way of the Internet. We can only recommend that you stick to the safest and most secure of all gaming sites in order to insulate yourself from further trouble outside of the trouble that can come from the law. If you are going to gamble online, you still have to adhere to the age requirement set by the state. You have to be 21 years of age in order to start gambling, online or in a land based gaming location.

Read more about if online gambling is legal in the state of Washington by clicking here.

Read more about if online gambling is legal in the state of Washington by clicking here

It can be a difficult proposition to find online sports betting sites that accept Washington bettors. You will want to remember that sports betting is also incredibly criminalized. The felony found in sports betting is enough to get you up to five years in prison, and we do not recommend you try to bet on sports online. We can only say that you should stick to the safe locations, as you could otherwise find yourself losing out on your money without the chance of earning anything which would basically be a pointless endeavor.

Sportsbetting.ag is our sportsbook of choice. They provide their players with some of the hottest options, covering every major and most minor sports. Sportsbetting.ag provides their players with a hoard of betting lines, covering everything from professional and amateur sports. The bet types available through Sportsbetting.ag cover the straight wager and the exotic, with the moneyline, spread bets, total scores, props, futures and more. Sportsbetting.ag has a 75% to $1,000 match bonus, which covers players with one of the best bonuses around. VISA and wire transfers can all be used to fund your account as well as methods like prepaid cards and American Express, so you will not have to worry about much by way of their betting site. In the event that you visit Sportsbetting.ag, remember that it is still a felony to gamble online, but this is where you can safely do so without the risk of being robbed.

BetOnline is another safe betting site, one we can assure you is one of the highest paying options around. If you decide to stick to BetOnline, you will find it to be one of the most generous betting options around. They have a solid set of odds, covering everything from professional sports and collegiate events alike. BetOnline comes with a 50% match to $2,500 upon making any transaction into your sports betting account, which will add cash into your account as soon as you make your first deposit. MasterCard, VISA and American Express can all be used to make payments directly into your gambling account plus you can always send the old trusty check or money order through the mail. Should you decide to start playing with BetOnline, you will be able to start playing instantly. Deposits come easy, as do cash outs, and you do not have to worry about much other than the law than you do with BetOnline.

Read More About: Legal Washington Online Sportsbooks!

Online Casino Legal In Washington State Capitol

Washington is writhe with casinos, mostly tribal gambling centers. The Internet is equally versatile, with many options around. There are dozens of online casinos out there, and you will be able to play with each of them as time goes on. Should you decide to start playing with online casinos that welcome Washington residents, you will be able to participate but you may have to contend with the law. Just remember that you have to be of legal age, and even then you are still committing a felony... but you won't really need to worry.

My mind was recently blows when I joined Slots.lv and found out that they would give me up to $1,000 just for signing up. All I had to do was enter HELLOSLOTS200 when I made my first deposit, and I was all set. I was even more impressed that the site ran on RTG technology, which is the most capable gaming platform in the world. This site isn’t just bells and whistles either. The crazy amounts of slots, video poker games, progressives, and specialty games mean that hitting a jackpot is never far away. I thank my lucky stars that I found this site, and so will you.

Another safe casino you can play with is that of Lucky Red. Lucky Red Casino has brought their users a handful of different options. You will be able to start playing with a solid set of bonuses, easy deposits, and over 100 games. Their deposit methods offer their players a solid set of options, including MyPayLinq, VISA, MasterCard, American Express, prepaid options and wire transfers. They have a choice between two bonuses, including a 400% match to $4,000 on slots and a 100% match to $1,000 on table games. Only one option can be used, so use the bonus code LUCKYRED400 or LUCKYRED100 in order to participate.

Through Aladdin's Gold Casino you will see that there are a huge number of games, bonuses and easy deposits. When joining up with Aladdin's Gold, you can receive a solid bonus - a 200% match on every single deposit you make during the first week of play. If you decide to start gambling with Aladdin's Gold, you will see that prepaid cards, wiretransfers MyPayLinq, VISA, MasterCard and American Express as deposit options. Aladdin's Gold has decided to offer their players a handful of options. This online casino provides their players with some of the easiest games, including slots, video poker and table games alike.

Read More About: Legal Washington Online Casinos!

The legality of online poker in Washington state has been argued over regularly. Due to the gambling laws making it a crime for players to hit the tables in Washington, the Poker Players Alliance has been diligently attempting to overturn the illegal status of Internet based poker. Even though some courts have deemed poker a game of skill rather than chance, it is still considered gambling in Washington. Thus, online poker is currently a felony in the state.

Best Casino In Washington State

If you are going to risk playing online poker, you will want to do so with only the safest possible sites. If you stick to BetOnline, you will be choosing one of these safe sites. We have tested BetOnline's tables excessively, and we have found that players start out with the utmost ease due to their deposit methods. Mastercard, American Express, VISA, money orders, prepaid cards and wire transfers can all be used to fund an account through BetOnline. A 25% match to $900 awaits players whenever they make a deposit, and you can accept this bonus simply using most methods they offer at the poker room. Built in rake back, guaranteed tournaments and freeroll tournaments all exist through their service. BetOnline has a handful of different styles of poker, including stud, Omaha and Texas Hold 'em.

Legal United States Online Casino

Land based gambling is all over Washington. There are gambling options all over the state, and you will be able to start playing instantly. If you want to legally gamble without the fear of the law, you will be able to start playing instantly. There are casinos and poker rooms all over the state, you will not have to worry about anything but managing your bankroll as these casinos are all operating under the strict regulation of the law.

Online Casino Legal In Washington State Park

Online Casinos Legal In Il

In the end, we do not recommend you start gambling in the state of Washington. Residents of Washington have easy access to a number of gambling sites, but the law has made it a crime for you to participate. In the event that you decide to visit these gambling sites, you could ultimately get yourself arrested. The consequences include being arrested, fined, and potentially imprisoned for five years. We do not recommend you break the law, nor do we condone it, and we cannot be held accountable for your actions. Should you decide to gamble on the Internet, you will be facing down the barrel of a loaded gun, so to speak. Legal online gambling in Washington is not something you will find until the laws are changed.