Washington State: Calls For Expanded Sports Betting Bill Continue
Washington state is one with a vibrant sports scene, with a pro baseball team and an expansion NHL team in the works as well. Because of that, it has always felt out of place that Washington has not had legalized sports betting. However, many are hoping that is going to change in the near future, as calls for expanded gambling abilities have made it so that Washington is in a position where it can potentially pass legislation to bring sports gambling to the state once and for all.
Two new sports betting bills introduced
Without the introduction of new bills, sports betting laws cannot be passed. Fortunately for the state of Washington, there are multiple bills on the table attempting to get sports gambling legislation passed so that Washington State’s gambling repertoire can be similar to that of the Nevada gambling offerings people in the Pacific Northwest have grown fond of. House Bill 2478 and Senate Bill 6277 have been introduced, both with the intention of making land-based and mobile sports betting an option for people throughout Washington state.
Both of these bills aim to legalize sports wagering at card rooms, racetracks, and the tribal casinos that exist throughout Washington state. They would also provide for the opportunity to bet on mobile devices for those who are located in the state at a given time. While these bills have only just been introduced, and have yet to make any meaningful forward progress in the state legislature, their introduction is progress in and of itself for a state that currently does not offer any legal online gambling and does not give those in Washington the ability to wager on sports at this time.
A different feel this time around
Believe it or not, this is not the first time that there has been an attempt to bring sports betting to Washington State recently. Last year, House Bill 1975 was introduced that had the backing of the head of the effort to bring the NHL back to Seattle and would only allow for sports betting at Native American gambling facilities throughout the state. That legislation never gained much momentum and did not get passed. But for those who want to bet on Super Bowl odds and other popular types of sports betting, the current attempts at legalization feel different in that Washington is getting some support from outside of the state.
That support has come most notably from Maverick Gaming, a casino operator that has properties located in Nevada and elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest, including just under 20 card rooms in Washington state alone. Maverick has voiced its support for the recent sports betting bills, citing the revenue benefits that regulated and taxed sports betting would provide for the state. The company has also stated its intention to continue to invest in gaming properties across the state, giving the push for sports betting in Washington backing from a respected industry voice, something it has not had in previous legalization efforts.
