Washington State Online Gambling Laws

Legal Gambling USA - Legal Online Gambling By State - Legal Online Gambling In Washington
  1. Washington State Gaming Commission
  2. Washington State Online Gambling Laws Pennsylvania
  3. Washington State Online Gambling Laws Rules

If you live in the state of Washington, you will find that players are able to access a number of gambling sites regardless of how the law feels about it. There are sportsbooks, poker rooms, casinos and more that will accept you regardless of where you live. We do not condone breaking the law, so we cannot recommend you actually follow our advice. We have made this information available simply in order for players to not risk being ripped off solely by joining up with the wrong gambling site. Below you can find the best 2021 legal online gambling sites for Washington residents.

(1) 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. Washington Laws. The gambling law in Washington does not permit web-based gambling. Those who try to gamble on the internet are committing a felony. Players and businesses must adhere to this rule. Overseas websites that don’t care about state laws tend to not touch Washington. Washington is one of the few states in the US that has actually drafted and passed legislation that prohibits Internet gambling. The law, which can be found in RCW 9.46 of the state’s statutes, states that anyone who facilitates gambling over the Internet is in violation of the law. Violations relating to fraud, deceit, altering or misrepresenting, betting, or gambling — Penalty. Cities and towns — Ordinance enacting certain sections of chapter — Limitations — Penalties. Cities and towns — Ordinance adopting certain sections of chapter — Jurisdiction of courts.

Wa state gambling commission

Online Gambling Age For Washington Residents

If looking to gamble online in Washington legally, you need to be at least 18 years old. Some brick-and-mortar casinos in the state may require some gamblers to be 21 to enter, but the majority of sites accepting Washington residents only require users to be 18 years or older. If you are not at least 18 years old do not try to gamble in person or online in Washington as it could result in a permanent ban from gambling operators and local law enforcement stepping in with charges.

Washington Online Gambling Laws

Washington’s online gambling laws are among the strictest in the United States. Washington is one of the few states that has legislation written that directly outlaws online gambling. Sadly, Washington State is not very friendly to online gambling. Unfortunately, there are written laws pertaining to online gambling in the state of Washington. According to RCW 9.46.240, he or she who '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…”

This effectively means that you will be committing a Class C Felony for gambling online. Some other class C felonies? Possession of child pornography and arson. So, by gambling online, you are committing a crime with the same penalties that are associated with burning down a building or watching illicit activities involving children. Of course, there is a key difference with online gambling: The state doesn’t enforce these laws (because, as you can see, it obviously has more serious matters to handle).

Legalized sports betting has yet to launch in Washington, but the fact that legislation was passed is a positive sign for the gambling industry in the state as a whole. In Washington, the passing of ESHB 2638 made sports betting legal only at tribal gaming facilities. As time goes on and the sports betting industry in Washington starts to bring in revenue, expect the online gambling laws in the Evergreen State to slowly but surely make sure Washington is among the top gambling destinations on the West Coast.

Gambling Sites That Accept Washington Residents

Despite Washington’s strict online gambling laws there still are viable legal options available to gamblers in the Evergreen State. Whether looking to use the internet to gamble on poker, bingo, horse racing, or classic casino games there are legal gambling sites accepting players from the state of Washington. The fact that these gambling sites aren’t located in the US doesn’t stop them from providing a safe and secure playing environment for Washington residents. Every gambling site we have listed on this page has been reliable for decades.

Bovada: Has Online Casino Play For Washington Players


With some sports in their offseason preparing for next season, there are still ways bettors can make a lot of money on Bovada. You still have the online casino which produces a lot of winners as well. Even though these sporting events had different options, so does the online casino on Bovada. Having the chance to have a live dealer is one and they also have different slot games that bettors can capitalize on. All fun but also beneficial. This makes having a Bovada account worth it because there are so many ways where you can bet and earn money. There is nothing wrong with earning another paycheck and Bovada gives its users all kinds of ways to do that. Go To Bovada!

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SportsBetting: The Best Place For Betting On The Pac-12

One gambling site that we can tell you is worth using is SportsBetting. This site has not yet pulled out of Washington state, deciding that it is safe and legal for WA residents to use. And boy do they use it! Over 100,000 Washington gamblers call SportsBetting home, with new members signing up all the time. SportsBetting gamblers can join from Washington, and nobody has ever been legally penalized for doing so in over two decades of action. New WA members who sign up now can receive SportsBetting’s 50% welcome match bonus worth up to $1000.

If you do decide to join SportsBetting, deposits can be made with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, wire transfers, money orders, cashier’s checks, and prepaid cards. Even better, of course, is the fact that SportsBetting now also accepts Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, DASH, Ethereum, and Litecoin banking options. Indeed, bettors who use cryptocurrency to make deposits at SportsBetting can get $4500 in early-bird bonuses to put towards their bankrolls.

Overall, SportsBetting has given their players access to one of the most enjoyable gambling experiences on the Internet, and we can tell you that this service one of the most impressive gambling sites online, despite the laws that are in place. Go To Sportsbetting.ag

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Online Casinos That Accept Washington Residents

The limited number of land-based casinos in Washington has forced many residents to shift to online casinos. In searching for an online casino, Washington residents have a sea of options at their disposal as numerous online casinos accept gamblers based in the state.

Online Sports Betting Sites That Accept Washington Residents

The best WA sportsbooks are online betting sites like Bovada, BetOnline, SportsBetting, and MyBookie. These are the top Internet sportsbooks in the world, and they all take Washington residents as customers. Joining is fast, secure, and free, and payouts are 100% guaranteed. You definitely should never use these sites for all your comprehensive WA sports betting needs.

The best sportsbooks we don’t recommend using (ha!) are online betting sites like Bovada, BetOnline, SportsBetting, 5Dimes, BetDSI, and BookMaker. These are the top Internet sportsbooks in the world, and they all take Washington residents as customers. Joining is fast, secure, and free, and payouts are 100% guaranteed. You definitely should never use these sites for all your comprehensive WA sports betting needs. However, if you choose to go ahead and sign up with these books, we certainly won’t tell.

Online Poker Sites That Accept Washington Residents

Even though many of the largest Internet poker rooms have pulled out from the Washington Market, you will find that you do still have options. For Washington residents, we can tell you that there are still several poker rooms that enable you to participate without problems. The sportsbooks listed above tend to offer the best live-deal poker experiences, and you can play against real competitors. However, other sites that are more casino-oriented (Bovada, Slots.lv, and Café Casino), offer all kinds of themed video poker. Between these options, you are sure to find the right kind of card game for you.

Online Bingo Sites That Accept Washington Players

Online bingo has become one of the fastest-growing ways to gamble at online casinos. Now, most sites have a variety of ways to play bingo using the internet. Bingo players in Washington don’t even have to leave the comfort of their homes to play 80-ball or 30-ball bingo at Bovada. Even if wanting to play different styles of bingo from across the world, Bovada allows you to do so with American, South American, and European game types to choose from.

Is Online Gambling Legal In Washington?

We have had many ask us if online gambling is legal in Washington, and we have bad news - it is not. Of course, the state doesn’t appear to have ever bothered to enforce this restriction, and there is no record of any WA resident ever being arrested or even fined for betting over the Internet. While it is not likely that you will be the first, it remains a remote possibility. You’re more likely to be struck by lightning, but it’s good to understand your risks. That’s what gambling is all about, after all.

Washington is one of the few states in the US that has actually drafted and passed legislation that prohibits Internet gambling. The law, which can be found in RCW 9.46 of the state’s statutes, states that anyone who facilitates gambling over the Internet is in violation of the law. Reading this, and taking into account the authority that the state of Washington has, we have come to the opinion that this law restricts any actions that online gambling sites located in the state of Washington might take. In other words, this type of law restricts sportsbook and casino operators, not gamblers themselves.

This law does not, of course, have the jurisdiction to forbid operators of online, offshore gambling sites from facilitating gambling. While this law is in effect, however, we urge caution. But we don’t believe that it prohibits the use of an online gambling site that is located in another country, simply because it doesn’t have the authority to do so. There has never been a case of a Washington resident being charged with, let alone arrested for, online gambling when using an overseas, online gambling site.

Is It Safe To Gamble Online In Washington?

Washington is really strict on any person or business that attempts to offer online gambling within their state. The sites we have listed on this page get around this because they are not even based in the US. And, while they aren't regulated in the US, they are regulated outside of the country under various gaming licenses. Washington residents can know that they are safe when gambling with these sites because all have great reputations for paying players on time as well as friendly gambling deposit options.

Are Online Casinos Legal In Washington?

So if you want to know if online casinos are legal in Washington, you will not find that they technically are not. The laws of the land have made it so you are not supposed to gamble online, which means you are not going to be able to participate in these online casinos. While we wish this would change (and while it almost certainly will going forward), you are simply not going to be able to participate in the fun from a formally legal perspective. Of course, since WA doesn’t actually bother to enforce this archaic law, you can do as thou wilt without fear of legal recourse.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Washington?

As with online casinos, there is no legal online sports betting in Washington on a purely technical basis. We are sad that this is true, but you cannot legally participate in sports betting over the Internet. This has even caused some online sportsbooks to cease accepting residents from the state of Washington. Of course, all the top books – with the best legal teams who understand the industry’s laws better than anyone – still accept WA residents, and that alone should tell you that signing up at and using these sites is basically a risk-free proposition.

Is Online Poker Legal In Washington?

Legislation has yet to be passed in Washington to regulate online poker. Until this happens, for Washington residents to remain in compliance with the law, they must only use the poker sites featured on this webpage. These sites are 100% legal to use because they operate outside of the jurisdiction of Washington law. Any of the poker sites we recommend on this page are the only legal online poker options in Washington.

Can I bet On Horse Racing In Washington?

Yes, you can bet on horse racing in Washington. There are a number of horse racing tracks throughout the state that have been licensed to accept pari-mutuel wagers on both races taking place at their locations and on simulcast wagering. Simulcast wagering is betting on horse races that are taking place out of the state and being broadcast to your track. Horse racing betting can be done at land-based tracks and at online racebooks, so long as those racebooks are not US-based books. Fortunately, all the top sportsbooks listed here also offer robust national and international Thoroughbred racebooks for fans of the ponies.

Best Funding Methods For Washington Online Gambling Sites

There are a number of ways to fund your online account. Some are extremely fast, while others are more focused on having high deposit limits. No matter which method you use, they’ll all achieve the same goal – money in your account so you can start betting. Below are the top three funding methods available for Washington bettors.

  • Bitcoin
  • Credit Cards
  • Money Order

Mobile Washington Gambling Apps

One of the best perks of using online, offshore gambling sites is their mobile betting features. These allow you to access your favorite sites from your iPhone, iPad, Android, Amazon Fire, or Windows Mobile device, all without having to download anything and without cutting out any of the great features you have come to expect through the standard desktop experience. Mobile Washington gambling can be done through any of the sites recommended on this page, so be sure to check them out.

Washington Gambling FAQ’s

Is It Legal To Bet On Horse Racing Online In The US?

The simple answer is yes, it is legal to bet on horse racing betting online in the US. While certain states, like Washington, have passed laws which prohibit how local racebooks may operate, they do not have the jurisdiction to prevent the usage of online horse racing betting sites that are based in other countries. These sites are regulated by their own authorities, like a gaming commission, and are also licensed by the proper authorities.

Washington State Gaming Commission

Do The Racebooks Above Offer Horse Racing Futures, Props, and Matchups?

All of the racebooks we recommend offer large selections of horse racing futures, props, and even matchups. You’ll be able to find all of them before you even sign up for an account, giving you a chance to see the odds before you sign up with the book. On top of all that, you’ll also have access to their daily free picks and their expert team of writers, who publish articles throughout the horse racing season and leading up to big events. Everything you need for successful horse racing betting can be found at the racebooks above.

Does My Payout Come Back Using The Same Deposit Method I Made?

It doesn’t have to, and in the case of credit card deposits, it literally can’t. When requesting a payout, unless the book has specifically stated that the method of deposit will have to match the method of withdrawal (which only applies when certain bonuses are in effect), it does not have to be the same. Most sites will allow you to choose how you withdraw winnings from your account. Each gambling site is different, though, so be sure to read the fine print before committing to a certain method. That said, our favorite withdrawal method is to simply use Bitcoin, as you can receive your funds the same day, withdrawal limits are high, and there are no added fees.

Washington State Online Gambling Laws Pennsylvania

Will I go to jail for online gambling in Washington?

Washington State Online Gambling Laws Rules

Asking if you will go to jail for online gambling is a tough question. While we have never heard of an arrest, we can tell you that it is a technical possibility. Kind of like getting hit by a meteor is a technical possibility (albeit that’s actually happened to a few people in the past). The law is very clear - if you gamble online, you could potentially be arrested. The penalties are hardly befitting of the 'crime,' so you may not want to take the risk, but the risk itself is laughably tiny, and you probably break more laws every day before breakfast without even thinking about it.