Washington gambling laws allow casinos, horse racing, a state lottery, and
most other forms of gaming.
To get a Seattle business license tax certificate, you are not required to have a state or federal business identification number. But if you already have any of the following numbers, please provide them. Washington State Unified Business Identifier (UBI) Washington state contractor number; Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). The company has no FX forward contracts in place and does not hedge any washington state gambling license status of Latin American currencies. The shooter must handle the dice with one hand only when throwing and the dice must hit the walls on the opposite end of the table. Gambling Commission, Washington State (WSGC) Geographic Information Council, Washington State (WAGIC) Governor, Office of the (GOVERNOR) Governor's Office of Indian Affairs (GOIA) Grain Commission (WGC) Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB) Return to top H. Hardwoods Commission (WHC) Health Care Authority, Washington State (HCA).
But they’re strict when it comes to gambling online.
In addition to discussing Washington’s online gambling laws, we’ll also
cover offshore gaming sites, land-based gambling laws in Washington, where to gamble in Washington, Washington’s
gambling history and the future of gambling in Washington
Online Gambling and Washington Law
Is Online Gambling Legal in Washington?
No, online gambling is not legal in Washington. The Washington Revised Code
strictly prohibits the transmission of gambling information over the internet.
This law applies to both players and operators.
Washington is one of the few states with specific laws on the books about
online gambling.
Here’s what the Washington State Gambling Commission website says about
internet gambling:
“The Washington
State Constitution (Article II Section 24) prohibits all gambling activities
unless the activity is specifically authorized in State law. Internet gambling
has never been authorized and is illegal in Washington State.
To further clarify this, in 2006, the Washington State Legislature amended RCW
9.46.240 to affirmatively state that Internet gambling is illegal in
Washington State.
The penalty for transmitting gambling information was also increased from a
gross misdemeanor to a class C felony.
It is illegal to:
- Operate an Internet gambling site.
- Gamble on the Internet.
- Install or maintain equipment to send or receive gambling information.
- Facilitate Internet gambling in any way.”
Can I Get Arrested for Gambling Online in Washington?
Yes, you can get arrested for gambling online in Washington. It’s a felony to
gamble online in Washington, which seems like a strict penalty when compared to
many other states, where it’s usually a misdemeanor.
But we couldn’t find record of any individual who has been arrested for
gambling online in Washington.
Law enforcement in Washington doesn’t have much interested in pursuing
individual online gamblers; they’re interested in residents who are running
illegal casinos online and on land.
Is Washington Going to Legalize Online Gaming?
It’s safe to say that since Washington went to the length of specifically
prohibiting online gambling and making it a felony, they most likely won’t
legalize online gambling.
Although Washington gambling sites could bring revenue into the state, it
seems that Washington is set on outlawing all forms of online gambling.
It’s possible that with some political changes and a push from the current
casinos, online gambling could come to Washington, but it would be a long time
before we saw any change.
How Do I Choose a Good Online Gaming Site?
Our best advice to all our readers is to follow the laws in your state. But
if you’re going to risk it, you can find Washington gambling sites operating in
other countries. These are companies who don’t mind skirting the legal situation
in the state.
If you decide to play at one of these sites, you need to take appropriate
steps to find one that’s legitimate.
Choosing a good online gaming site can be easy if you know what to look for.
- Deposit Options
Check the deposit options available on the site. If you
don’t feel comfortable using the deposit options available, look for a different
site. Also check the withdrawal options. - Game Variety
Look into the all the games that the site offers. You want to
make sure there’s enough content to keep you entertained. - Read Reviews
Read reviews from current or past members of the site. Reading
reviews can be the most crucial part of your research because it gives you the
best idea of what you can expect from the website. - Talk to Customer Service
Email, call, or live chat with the customer
service team of the website you’re considering. You don’t have to have a real
question; just come up with anything. The point of contacting the customer
service department is to see how professional and quick they are. - Read the Small Print
Read the fine print on the sign-up promotions. Some
promotions seem too good to be true, and they usually are. Reading the fine
print about the promotion tells you how much you have to wager or how long you
have to be a member before you get the promotional value.
Are Offshore Gambling Sites Safe?
Checking how long a site has been in business and reviewing their licenses
can let you know if a site is safe.
For any business to stay open, they have to have customers. Check how long
the site has been in business and it will give you a good idea about if they
have loyal customers that are happy with the site. A site that has been open 10
years has more loyal customers and more reviews than a site that has been open
10 months.
Offshore gambling sites have different restrictions and regulations when
getting their license than businesses in the U.S. do. Read into the details of
the regulations they have to follow to learn about the fees and restrictions the
site might have.
Are Daily Fantasy Sports Legal in Washington?
No, daily fantasy sports are illegal in Washington.
Here’s what the Washington State Gambling Commission Spots Wagering page says
about it:
“In 1973, when the Gambling Act was first passed 100 square sports pool
boards were authorized. We believe these boards were popular at the time and
that’s why they were specifically authorized. We understand the NCAA basketball
“Final Four” tournament and the bracket pools often associated with the
tournament increased in popularity after 1979 when ESPN aired on television.
However, bracket pools, office sports pools, and fantasy sports have never been
authorized as gambling activities in Washington State and are illegal.”
Also On This Page
Gambling Venues in Washington
The History of Gaming Laws in Washington
More Gambling Laws in Washington
- Casino Games (Legal)
- Lottery (Legal)
- Sports and Race Betting (Parimuteul Only)
- Bingo (Charitable games only)
- Social Gambling (Illegal Eith Exceptions)
The Washington Revised Code defines gambling as:
“staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest of
chance or a future contingent event not under the person’s control or influence,
upon an agreement or understanding that the person or someone else will receive
something of value in the event of a certain outcome. Gambling does not include
fishing derbies as defined by this chapter, parimutuel betting and handicapping
contests”
Casino Games: Legal
Casinos can be found throughout Washington. Most casinos in Washington are
tribal casinos.
Tribal casinos are authorized for class three games, so you can find your
favorite casino games, including craps, poker, blackjack, and roulette, at these
casinos.
Here’s a list of the authorized card games that card rooms in these casinos
can offer:
Sports and Race Betting: Parimutuel Only
Parimutuel, or pool betting, is legal in Washington.
Here’s what the Washington State Gambling Commission Sports Wagering page
says:
“Both businesses and individuals may offer 100 square sports pool boards.
Strict rules must be followed when offering them (RCW 9.46.0335).
- Each business or individual may offer only one board on any single athletic event.
- The board must be divided into 100 squares.
- You may charge up to one dollar per square. Each player must be charged the same entry fee (up to one dollar per square).
- Each player picks a square and their name is written in the square.
- Numbers representing game scores are randomly assigned to each square.
You should develop and post house rules for how the sports pool board will be
operated. For example, a deadline for collecting prize money, winner
identification, requirements for someone other than a winner collecting a prize,
what will happen if there is a tie, and how money will be distributed if a
winning square is not sold.
The sports pool board must be available for inspection by anyone purchasing a
square, Gambling Commission agents, and other law enforcement representatives.
These limitations apply to all sporting events equally (Super Bowl, Final
Four, etc.).
It is illegal to have a sports pool board where you:
- Have more than one board per athletic event;
- Offer anything other than 100 squares;
- or Charge more than one dollar per square.
The 100 square sports pool board is the only sports wagering authorized in
Washington State law.”
Greyhound racing is illegal in Washington. Here’s what the Washington Revised
Code says about greyhound racing:
“A person may not hold, conduct, or operate live greyhound racing for public
exhibition, parimutuel betting, or special exhibition events, if such activities
are conducted for gambling purposes. A person may not transmit or receive
intrastate or interstate simulcasting of greyhound racing for commercial,
parimutuel, or exhibition purposes, if such activities are conducted for
gambling purposes.
A person who violates this section is guilty of a class B felony, under RCW
9.46.220, professional gambling in the first degree, and is subject to the
penalty under RCW 9A.20.021″
Lottery: Legal
Washington has a state-regulated lottery.
Here’s what the Washington state lottery website says:
“In addition to Washington’s Lottery players who took home $432.9 million
last year, the Lottery helps fund and support people and communities all over
the state. From the student who receives a college grant, to the convenience
store owner supporting his family, to the CenturyLink Stadium employee,
Washington’s Lottery continues to contribute to the well-being of others with
its proceeds.”
The Washington state lottery revenue goes toward:
- Winners 61.6%
- WOPA Education 18.3%
- Cost of Sales 6.3%
- Retailers 5.1%
- Stadium & Exhibition Center 1.7%
- General Fund 4.5%
- Administration 2.1%
- Economic Development 0.4%
- And problem gambling
Washington state lottery games include:
- Power Ball
- Mega Millions
- Lotto
- Hit 5
- Match 4
- Daily Game
- Daily Keno
- And scratch off cards
Washington State Gambling License Fees
Bingo: Charitable Games Only
Social card games, dice games, bingo, raffles, and more are all legal for
charitable and nonprofit organizations to run in Washington.
Here’s what the Washington charitable gaming laws say about charitable and
nonprofit organization gambling activities:
“The legislature hereby authorizes bona fide charitable or nonprofit
organizations to conduct bingo games, raffles, amusement games, and fund raising
events, and to utilize punch boards and pull-tabs and to allow their premises
and facilities to be used by only members, their guests, and members of a
chapter or unit organized under the same state, regional, or national charter or
constitution, to play social card games authorized by the commission, when
licensed, conducted or operated pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and
rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.”
Social card games, punch boards, and pull tab games are also legal at
restaurants. Here’s what the Washington charitable gaming laws say about it:
“The legislature hereby authorizes any person, association or organization
operating an established business primarily engaged in the selling of food or
drink for consumption on the premises to conduct social card games and to
utilize punch boards and pull-tabs as a commercial stimulant to such business
when licensed and utilized or operated pursuant to the provisions of this
chapter and rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.”
Social gambling: Illegal With Exceptions
Washington gambling laws are based off three elements, which are a prize,
wagering, and chance. In order for it to be gambling, all three elements have to
be present, and if one of them is missing, it’s not considered gambling.
Washington residents can play any casino game in their home, as long as it’s
missing one of the three elements of gambling.
Here’s a list of the tribal casinos located in Washington:
1) Lucky Eagle Casino
12888 188th Avenue SW,
Rochester, WA 98579
(360) 273-2000
2) Coulee Dam Casino
515 Birch Street,
Coulee Dam, WA 99116
1-800-556-7492
3) Mill Bay Casino
455 E. Wapato Lake Rd,
Manson, WA 98831
1-800-648-2946
4) 12 Tribes Resort
28968 Highway 97,
Omak, WA 98841
1-800-559-4643
5) Ilani Casino Resort
1 Cowlitz Way,
Ridgefield, WA 98642
1-877-464-5264
6) 7 Cedars Casino
270756 Hwy 101,
Sequim, WA 98382
(360) 683-7777
7) Northern Quest Casino
100 N. Hayford Road,
Airway Heights, WA 99001
(509) 242-7000
8) Silver Reef Casino
4876 Haxton Way,
Ferndale, WA 98428
(360) 383-0777
9) Muckleshoot Casino
2402 Auburn Way S.,
Auburn, WA 98002
(800) 804-4944
10) Muckleshoot Bingo
2117 Auburn Way S,
Auburn, WA 98002
(253) 735-2404
11) Red Wind Casino
12819 Yelm Hwy SE,
Olympia, WA 98513
(360) 412-5000
12) The Point Casino
7989 Salish Lane NE,
Kingston, WA 98346
(360) 297-0070
13) Emerald Queen Casino at I-5
2024 E. 29th St.,
Tacoma, WA 98404
(253) 594-7777
14) EQC at FIFE
5700 Pacific Highway E,
Fife, WA 98424
(253) 594-7777
15) Quinault Beach Resort & Casino
78 State Route 115,
Ocean Shores, WA 98569
(360) 289-4466
14) Lucky Dog Casino
19330 US-101,
Skokomish, WA 98584
(360) 877-5656
17) Snoqualmie Casino
37500 SE North Bend Way,
Snoqualmie, WA 98065
(425) 888-1234
18) Chewelah Casino
2555 Smith Road,
Chewela, WA 99109
(509) 258-9845
19) Two Rivers Casino
6828-B Highway 25 South,
Davenport, WA 99122
1-800-954-2946
20) Little Creek Casino Resort
91 West State Route 108,
Shelton, WA 98584
(360) 427-7711
21) Angel of the Winds Casino
3438 Stoluckaguamish Lane,
Arlington, WA 98223
(360) 474-9740
22) Suquamish Clearwater Resort
15347 Suquamish Way NE,
Suquamish, WA 98392
(360) 598-8700
23) Suquamish Casino
12885 Casino Drive,
Anacortes, WA 98221
(360) 293-2691
24) Tulalip Resort Casino
10200 Quil Ceda Blvd,
Tulalip, WA 98270
(360) 716-6000
25) Skagit Valley Casino
5984 N. Dark Lane,
Bow, WA 98232
(360) 724-7777
26) Yakama Legends Casino
580 E. Fort Road,
Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8800
History of Gambling in Washington
1933Washington legalized pari-mutuel wagering on horse races.
1973The Gambling Commission oversees charity gambling including bingo, pull tabs, raffles, and casio nights.
1992Washington Signs it’s first compact with a native tribe to open casinos.
1997Card rooms that offer non banked games are legalized outside of tribal lands.
2006Internet gambling is made a felony for both players and operators.
2010The poker Players Alliance goes to the Supreme Court to question the Internet gambling ban, but fails with the Supreme Court choosing to back the state.
2013A bill is put forward to regulate intra state poker in Washington but it doesn’t make it far before it’s rejected.
Additional Resources
Washington Gambling Future
Washington has legalized plenty of gambling, including casinos, social
gambling, charitable gambling, a lottery, and parimutuel horse racing.
But Washington gambling sites seem to be out of the question.
Since Washington has strictly prohibited daily fantasy sports online and made
gambling online a felony for both players and operators, it’s unlikely
Washington will ever have a state-regulated gambling site.
Is there any limit on the value of a prize I can offer?This gambling permit washington state includes games offered, hotel rates, buffet prices, gambling age, maps, directions and .. All casinos in Washington state are affiliated with Indian Tribes and all have compacts with .. Card rooms have been legal in Washington since 1974.Inside NJ's Regulated Online Casinos
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Is Your Raffle Legal?
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- Is Your Raffle Legal?
Is Your Raffle Legal?
- November 9, 2017
- Jacobson Jarvis & Co
- News
- 0 Comments
By Julleen Snyder, CPA, CGMA
Many not-for-profit organizations choose to supplement their fundraising efforts with raffles, either in conjunction with an event such as a dinner auction or on a standalone basis. However, many are unaware that such raffles are illegal if the organization is not in compliance with the Washington State Gambling Commission’s rules. Raffles are covered in state law under RCW 9.46 with further administrative guidance in WAC 230-11 . In addition, the gambling commission has published a helpful brochure covering raffles . In this article, I will summarize some of most common requirements for raffles. However, before holding your own raffle, you should be familiar with all the requirements.
Not every nonprofit organization is allowed to hold a raffle. To be eligible to hold a raffle of any kind, the organization must have been in existence and operating for at least a year. You cannot hold a raffle in attempts to get a brand new organization off the ground. In addition, the by-laws or articles of incorporation must state that the organization is organized and operated only for certain charitable purposes (see RCW 9.46.0209 ). Although this list is fairly inclusive, it does not include such things as lobbying. In addition, it is clear that you must actually have filed by-laws/articles with the state. Loosely formed groups of well-meaning volunteers cannot hold a raffle even if all the proceeds are going to a charitable purpose.
A raffle can be either licensed or unlicensed. For unlicensed raffles, no application or reporting is due to the gambling commission. However, an organization may only offer two unlicensed raffles to the public each year and the combined gross revenue from the unlicensed raffles cannot exceed ,000. There are certain other situations that also require a license such as holding a joint raffle with another organization. ( WAC 230-11 ) If you plan to exceed either of the limits, you must apply for a license before holding the raffle. When applying for a license, you must prove that significant progress has been made toward accomplishing your stated purpose during the prior year. Once you have received your license, you must display the license when selecting the winners of the raffle.
Be sure to check with your local taxing authority for any taxes that may be due. Only the first ,000 of net proceeds is specifically exempt from taxation. ( RCW 9.46.110 ) Also, you may have a federal tax reporting requirement if the winner receives more than 0. The winner must provide their tax information so you can complete an IRS Form W-2G .
One of the lesser known requirements of holding a raffle is the requirement to notify your local police. For unlicensed raffles, the local police must be notified at least 5 days prior to selecting the winners and for licensed raffles, the notification must be in writing prior to selling any tickets.
Whether the raffle is licensed or not, rules for conducting the raffle are similar. When selling tickets ( WAC 230-11-014 to WAC 230-11-035 ), the maximum allowable individual ticket price (cost per chance) is 0. All tickets must be sold for the same price. You may not give away any free tickets. Tickets cannot be sold over the phone, via the internet or through the mail. You can promote the raffle via phone, internet or mail but the actual sale of tickets must be in person and paid in full (no IOUs). Purchaser must be 18 or older. Except in certain circumstances ( WAC 230-06-101 ), tickets can only be sold by members who are 18 or older.
Raffles are a fun addition to any auction or event and the prospect of a flashing button or other indication of raffle ticket purchase can add a sense of competition within the room. However, before your event committee gets too far along in its planning, make sure you can comply with all of the gambling commission rules.
About the Author:
Julleen Snyder, CPA, CGMA, Partner has been with Jacobson Jarvis since 1995. She has both practical experience working as a controller within a not-for-profit organization, as well as auditing experience with Ernst & Young and Jacobson Jarvis. This multi-disciplinary experience provides her with a unique perspective of the client’s issues combined with the ability to implement timely, appropriate solutions.
Julleen can be contacted at Julleen@jjco.com or (206) 812-5474.
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Before you conduct gambling activities in Seattle, you must:
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- contact us to get an official Notice of Intent to Conduct Gambling Activity
Nonprofits don't pay the gambling tax if their yearly gambling revenue is less than a certain amount. This amount is ,000 for bingo or amusement games; the amount is ,000 for raffles.
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Online gambling options
Washington is in a unique position when it comes to online gambling. So far, Nevada , New Jersey , and Delaware have been the only states with sanctioned, regulated gaming sites. Most other states are either working toward iGaming (like Pennsylvania and New York ) or are allowing online gambling to exist in a sort of legal gray area.
Washington has taken the alternative route. It’s one of the few states to outright ban online gambling and proscribe legal penalties – it’s a felony ! Even fantasy sports betting is strictly prohibited. So far, any attempts to reverse the ban’s applicability to DFS have died in the Washington State Legislature . In a state with such prevalent gaming, it’s a bit shocking that the government has taken such a hard stance.
No firm explanation exists for this position. It is possible that the state wished to protect its land-based interests in the tribal casinos. The tax receipts on billion dollars in revenue are massive. So it seems reasonable that the state would not want the money flow to slow down.
Whatever the reason, do not attempt to gamble online in Washington for any length of time. According to the state website, even having equipment installed to assist in gambling constitutes a violation. Nobody needs police busting down their doors because they downloaded Ignition or Americas Cardroom .
WAC 230-06-125. Renew your license in a timely manner. (1) Licensees must ensure a properly completed renewal application and all applicable fees are .. This Week's AdsI was on active military service when my license expired. Can I still renew or do I need to reapply for my CRE license?
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