Here you will learn everything you need to know to avoid getting stuck with WA laws, involving all the legal stuff, big no-no’s in WA, sources and more.
Strict gambling laws are set in place in Washington, the only state named after a president. All online gambling is firmly prohibited. But don’t fret about it, there are many land-based casinos where you can enjoy your favorite games of chance.
Eager to know what to do and what not to do in WA? Are you ready to delve into the state’s gambling history? Read on.
When it first became a state in 1889, WA’s original constitution did not allow gambling. But over the years, more and more sorts of gambling have been legalized. These involve a state lottery (1982), tribal casinos (1992), house-banked card rooms (1997), and sports betting in tribal casinos only (2020). Let’s start with what you’re curious about.
For starters, land-based casinos are legal in WA. These are mainly tribal casinos, but there are also house-banked card rooms throughout the state. You can play the lottery and relish charitable gaming. Recently, you can even wager on sports. However, online gambling and sweepstakes casinos stays illegal in the state. DFS contests and online poker are also not allowed. It is even illegal to purchase lottery tickets online.
So if you like to gamble, WA has over 30 land-based casinos to select from. But if you prefer to gamble from home, you are out of luck! There are no legal online or sweepstakes casinos, as the strict 2006 legislation makes it a crime to opt for online gambling.
Since the law is catered directly at online gambling, anyone caught breaking the law could face five years in prison or a $10,000 fine.
Additionally, while some people might consider offshore gambling as an alternative to gambling in WA, it’s a bad idea because those sites are definitely against the law in WA. Why risk it when you can play secure in land casinos or, if you don’t live in WA, go to a nearby state to play in online sweepstakes casinos?
Another thing that makes offshore casinos dangerous is that they work outside of U.S. law. They don’t have operating licenses or governing bodies to support you if you get into trouble. Sometimes you even risk having your personal information leaked by a shady casino, which is the least of your worries in WA, where you can get jailed for doing this.
Will WA’s gaming situation ever change? It’s hard to say. Changing these laws and then regulating online gambling would probably take a lot of effort. It’s too much of a hassle, so lawmakers keep putting it off.
In the mid-2000s, due to the thriving tribal gambling industry in WA, the legislature decided to ban all Internet gambling. This included sweepstakes and social casinos. They initially wanted to make it a misdemeanor, but eventually decided to make it a felony to deter interested players with the threat of spending years behind bars.
2018 saw a final blow to the iGaming industry, claiming that the virtual coin sweepstakes casinos used instead of money was “valuable” because players were able to buy it for real money, effectively rendering those casinos illegal within Western Australia.
WA is the only state that clearly defines offshore online gambling as a crime, although it does not strictly enforce the law, unlike all other states. Most other states, such as Maryland, Tennessee, Mississippi, etc., have no clear law.
In addition, WA has a number of programs in place to promote responsible gambling and address problem gambling. In particular, the Washington State Health Care Authority oversees the Washington State Problem Gambling Program. The Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling is another organization actively involved in this area.
Another good thing about WA’s gambling industry is that players can choose to be excluded for any number of years, allowing for more responsible gambling.
As for the minimum age for gambling, it’s 18 years old, but it goes up to 21 years old for places that sell alcohol. However, there are some age variations in various tribal casinos. Interestingly, the legal age to place bet also varies depending on casino regulations in states like California and Michigan.
However, even WA’s laws are less strict than those of Hawaii and Utah. In these states, all sorts of gambling are illegal. On the other side, WA is lagging behind in terms of online gambling, as most of the other states, such as North Dakota, Missouri, South Dakota, and many more, at least enable sweepstakes and social casinos.
It’s vital to stay knowledgeable about gambling laws and regulations in WA more as well as in other US states.
This will help you circumvent legal problems and keep you safe. Always obey state laws and abide the specific rules of each tribal casino.
Keep in mind that laws are prone to change and it is important to be in compliance with these laws, particularly in strict jurisdictions like WA. Read these laws to stay tuned about the legal status of gaming and sweepstakes casinos in WA:
In WA, the Washington State Gambling Commission takes the lead in monitoring all gaming licenses and ensuring that gaming is regulated. It even works with various agencies, including global ones, to keep gambling in check.
On top of that, the Tribal Gaming Agencies also supervise the tribal casinos, and even the WSGC has its own Tribal Gaming Unit to make it simpler to ensure compliance on the ground.
Imagine gambling casinos were legal in WA! What casinos could you pick in and enjoy the selection of casino-like games? Why not check out some sweepstakes casinos that could one day rise from the ashes in WA?
Chumba Casino, Gambino Slots and LuckyLand Slots are famous in many states. Players are usually pleased with them, as they offer a range of games to suit all tastes.
For anyone who prefers online casino-like games, Chumba casino is a dream come true. The interface is easy to navigate, and the casino boasts over 150 fun games to pick from, such as slot machines, table games, and specialty games. On top of that, there are killer bonus offers and payment is a breeze.
Another casino that would be right for this imaginary scenario of sweepstakes casinos in WA is Gambino Slots. It would be perfect for many different adventures and topics with over 150 games including Vegas style releases. Mixed with the excellent sign-up bonuses and promos, it would be a true pleasure for the residents of WA to play at.
With its impressive game variety and more than 100 slot games specific to the site (with two new games every month), LuckyLand Slots is another real choice for our theoretical revival of the sweepstakes casino scene in WA. The range of competitions, tournaments, and proos makes LuckyLand Slots even more attractive.
If sweepstake casinos were legal in WA, popular casino games would have probably been blackjack, poker, and slots because those are the favorites in many land-based casinos in WA.
Also known as 21, blackjack online guarantees a fantastic time. With its straightforward yet intricate gameplay, this game provides endless entertainment. Its rules are easy to grasp, and the excitement of outsmarting the dealer makes it irresistible for everyone. Some fun variants are Single Deck and Double Deck.
It’s likely that online poker would have been popular in the hypothetical WA sweepstakes casino, because it’s always an entertaining game, whether played online or offline. It is a favorite of many casino players, and if WA were to legalize sweepstakes gambling one day, it would be a hit. Texas Hold’em would probably be the number one choice for players in WA.
The star of many online casinos are sweepstakes slots, so why not also these imaginary WA casinos? They have something for everyone with their range of games and enchanting locations and themes. Some of the most popular slots are Gladiator and Buffalo King.
As you know by now, sweepstakes casinos are illegal in the state of WA, but there are still sites out there that claim that they are legal in the state.
How do you know if they lie? Check their operating licenses and regulatory agencies. If there are none, wherever you are, don’t use them! No matter what state they are in, it’s not worth the hassle and potential danger.
Other factors to be aware of in the selection of sweepstakes casinos, whether hypothetical or real, are:
To learn more, research and compare all your options to choose the best Sweepstakes Casino to suit your preferences. Don’t forget that sweepstakes casinos are illegal in the state of WA! As laws are tough, don’t take chances and check all relevant laws and regulations before doing anything you are not sure is legal in your country.
Compare Washington with its closest neighbor state
There are none because they are illegal in WA.
No, they aren’t. They’re illegal throughout WA.Â
No, because there are none to access. Moreover, some sweepstakes casinos from other states don’t accept WA residents because of WA’s strict laws.
The legal gambling age in WA is 18, except in casinos that sell alcohol, where you must be at least 21. However, the minimum age to bet on horse racing in Washington is 18, although to wager on any of the ADW sites, you must be at least 21.
You can get no winnings from sweepstakes casinos in WA as they are illegal. However, when talking about land-based casinos, WA doesn’t have a state income tax, but you’ll still have to pay the federal one, which is 24% of the money you win over a game’s threshold.
No bonuses are available, as sweepstakes and social casinos are illegal in WA, including all other types of online gambling.
