Lawmakers in the state of Washington again discussed an online sports betting expansion bill Friday, continuing conversation about what could be a first-of-its-kind regulatory environment.
- Washington lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow multiple online sportsbooks to operate on tribal lands, creating a first-of-its-kind regulatory model.
- The legislation would expand betting to include in-state college teams and certain player props, drawing opposition over athlete integrity and harassment concerns.
- Supporters argue the bill would shift existing demand from unregulated offshore sites to regulated platforms without increasing overall gambling activity.
A House committee heard testimony about a bill that would allow access to multiple online sportsbooks on tribal lands. In Washington, as well as other states that only permit in-person betting, a bettor can only wager on premises at a casino with that facility’s lone sportsbook partner.
For example, a bettor may be able to use DraftKings but not FanDuel. This bill would allow access to any mobile sportsbook partnered with one of the state’s more than 30 brick-and-mortar casinos.
If approved, Washington would be the first state to have such a structure.
The legislation discussed Friday passed the Senate 41-8 earlier this month. The House State Government Committee is scheduled to vote next week on advancing the bill to additional committees, which from there could lead to a final vote on the House floor.
Washington has some of the nation’s strictest online gambling laws and is one of a handful of states where daily fantasy sports operators do not accept customers. Though there is little political appetite for legal statewide mobile sports wagering, the bill would increase Washington bettors’ options.
Washington is one of eight states that allow betting on tribal lands or other designated areas, but not from anywhere within state lines. Thirty-one states allow statewide mobile wagering.
College expansion remains divisive
The bill would also allow betting on in-state college teams and out-of-state individual college athlete player props, a provision that has proved more controversial.
Opponents of the provisions have argued it could impact competition integrity and increase student harassment from losing bettors. Multiple representatives from Washington State University testified against the bill in recent hearings, saying it “would be nothing but trouble” for WSU student-athletes.
Representatives from the University of Washington, the state’s other major public school with a Division I athletic program, have not opposed betting on in-state team results but remain opposed to allowing individual player prop bets on in-state athletes.
The discussions come as the NCAA has asked lawmakers and regulators across the country to ban bets on individual student athletes. A scandal in recent months implicated more than 20 NCAA athletes accused of manipulating their performances for gamblers, and concerns remain about further involvement as legal sports betting continues to expand.
A handful of states, including New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and Illinois, ban all bets involving in-state college teams. Roughly two dozen states have some limitations on college player prop bets.
Gaming stakeholders have countered that the regulated market is the best way to combat illegal activity. They argue hundreds of unregulated, offshore betting sites are available in all 50 states and offer no know-your-customer or anti-money laundering protections.
Testifying in support of the bill at Friday’s hearing, Emerald Queen Hotel & Casino CEO Yale Rowe said the proposed bill was not expected to increase gambling demand but “reroute it” to regulated sites.
“This is a modest update, but an important one that improves the fan experience while replacing the black market with accountability,” Rowe said. “It ensures that when people choose to participate, they do so in a system that is fair, legal, and transparent.”
