Casinos in Washington

The Best Casinos in Washington

The Biggest Casinos in Washington

Are There Indian Casinos in Washington?

Yes, there are many Indian casinos – also sometimes called Native American casinos or tribal casinos – in Washington state. They were legalized in 1988 by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Tribal casinos in Washington offer everything a gambler could want, including the full range of casino games. You can see three of the best tribal casinos in Washington below.

Racinos

As the name suggests, a racino is a combination of a racetrack and a casino, and they’re designed to give visitors an all-round gambling experience. You won’t find any racinos in Washington state. You will find off-track betting facilities at some Washington casinos though, including the Muckleshoot.

Are There Cruise Ship or Riverboat Casinos in Washington?

There are no riverboat casinos found in Washington, however you will be able to find a number of cruise ship casinos. These cruise ships sail out of Washington’s jurisdiction in order to offer legal gambling to passengers. Cruise ships will also often offer a number of other amenities too, such as a restaurant and bar.

Full Washington Casino List

Expected New Casinos

At the moment, there are no expected new casinos in Washington state, meaning that there won’t be any new Washington gambling cities anytime soon. We’ll be sure to add any new Washington casinos to this page if and when they open.

Gambling in Washington

Take a look at the facts and figures below to learn more about gambling in Washington state. You’ll be able to see the minimum age for gambling in the state, what games are offered by Washington casinos, and much more.

Casino Games in Washington

You’ll find a massive range of games offered at the casinos in Washington state, including poker, blackjack and slots. It is also possible to bet on horses at casinos with off-track betting. Sports betting is legal at tribal casinos, however no Washington casinos have started offering sports betting to visitors yet, as it was only recently legalized.

Gambling Legal Situation in Washington

Taxation of Winnings

Washington state does not have a state income tax, therefore you won’t pay any tax to the state when winning money in a Washington casino. You will still have to pay federal income tax though, which is 24% of money won over a game’s threshold. For slots, this is $1,200. You will also have to pay federal tax on any prizes won that are worth 300x your initial bet or more.

Washington Gambling Laws

Indian casinos were legalized in 1988 by the Supreme Court, however various other forms of gambling still remain illegal under Washington State’s gambling laws. The overriding rule when it comes to gambling in Washington is this: gambling in Washington is illegal unless the activity has been specifically authorized by the state. A couple of gambling types that have been legalized are the lottery and sports betting at Indian casinos.

History

As with most states in the country, gambling in Washington has a long history. You can find out about some of the most important milestones for gambling in Washington when you read below.

• 1933: Legislation is passed that allows horse racing betting in the state.
• 1971: Bingo and raffles are legalized by legislation.
• 1972: Voters in the state approve SJR 5, which leads to gambling prohibition being repealed.
• 1973: The Gambling Act creates the Washington State Gambling Commission, plus authorizes various forms of charitable gambling.
• 1982: The state lottery is created due to budget pressures.
• 1987: Off-track betting on horse racing is legalized.
• 1988: The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act authorizes tribal casinos.
• 1992: The state’s first tribal casinos are opened by the Tulalip Tribe and the Lummi Tribe.
• 1997: Non-tribal card rooms are legalized by lawmakers.
• 2020: Sports betting at tribal casinos is legalized. Mobile betting is also authorized, however only when a player is within the tribal casino.

Upcoming Changes in the Gambling Regulation

There are no upcoming changes planned for gambling regulation in Washington. While other states are considering the idea of legalizing various online gambling options, there have not been any real moves to legalize online betting in Washington state.