Is Sports Betting Legal In Washington?
In the rainy territory of the Pacific northwest, Washington state has become a haven for those not only wishing to explore the gorgeous state parks, but those wishing to enjoy the food, music and culture a big city like Seattle has to offer. Of course, when you have so many people gathered in one city, the sports culture is bound to get a little rowdy as well, and Seattle certainly delivers, offering some of the loudest stadiums n the country. This can lead to a lot of questions from Washington residents about betting on sports, and that's what we're here to help with today.
The first question is almost always whether or not betting on sports in Washington is legal, and it's great to be able to answer with good news. Contrary to popular opinion, it is not unlawful to bet on sports events in the state of Washington. The confusion that surround this issue has everything to do with the fact that it is illegal to facilitate sports betting. This means there are laws written up against bookies, loan sharks, essentially anyone who can stand to profit from sports betting without making a wager, but the actual act of betting on a sports game is perfectly legal.
Land-Based Sports Betting in Washington:
Land-based sports betting in Washington is coming. With the passage of WA 2638 in the 2020 legislative session, the state agreed to rework it’s tribal gaming compacts to allow tribes to offer sports betting at their casinos. It took almost a year later, but over a dozen tribes signed off on a new compact with sports betting. Now, it’s a matter of getting those facilities up and running which looks to happen at the end of this year. There are tribal casinos located all across the state with several in a short driving distance from Seattle.
Legal Online Sports Betting in Washington:
For those that don’t want to wait or would rather not take the trip out to a casino there is another option. By betting online, Washington residents can play with legitimate businesses that operate overseas, thereby bypassing all the state laws that forbid sports betting in their home state. These online sportsbooks are long-standing businesses sporting not only rave customer reviews spanning all their years of service, but endorsement from media giants like ESPN and CSNBC. It is perfectly legal for you to bet with these sportsbooks online, and since they are legitimate businesses, there should be no worries about trusting them with your money.
Bovada Sportsbook - Providing The Northwest A World Class Sportsbook To Enjoy
If you're a Washington resident looking for an online sportsbook to bet with, it would be prudent for you to investigate the Bovada sports betting network. Bovada's sportsbooks has become a gold standard through years of providing excellent customer service and devoting a lot of time and energy to delivering well thought out odds lines that will make every bet a thrill. When a major network like CBS talks about the betting line on a particular game, it's not Las Vegas they're referencing, it's the Bovada online sportsbook. In addition to legitimacy, Bovada also offers a lot of fun for would be bettors. By making their entire, easily navigated and user friendly interface available on an app for all smart phones, Bovada has made it easy to bet, request a payout, or deposit with a few keystrokes. Now you can take your sports betting hobby with you in your pocket, and place a bet from virtually anywhere you can get a phone signal.
Top Washington Sports Betting Sites
What's The Bottom Line? Will I Get In Trouble For Betting On Sports?
Now that Washington sports fans know how easy it is to bet legally and safely, there shouldn't be anything to stop you from making your next trip to Seattle to see the Seahawks play even more exciting by placing a bet, with the possible exception of the loud noise around you.