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There’s still A LOT of confusion about the state of Washington sports betting. Is it legal? Is it not? What can you do? What can’t you do? Our inboxes are flooded with these types of questions.
Of course, these messages are picking up this time of year. College football and NFL betting is back in business, which is a big deal in the state of Washington. Local fans have hopes for the Huskies and Seahawks. There’s also the Sounders of the MLS, which have championship aspirations of their own.
So where is a Washington local supposed to get action on all these Fall sports? Keep on reading, and we’ll explain your three options at hand.
Option 1: Bet At Tribal Casinos
Let’s get something straight: legal sports betting is indeed a thing in Washington, but only inside licensed tribal casinos. There are more than a dozen tribes that now offer sportsbooks on their reservations, including places like Tulalip, Snoqualmie, and Emerald Queen.
If you want to bet legally, you’ll need to make the drive to one of these casinos and place your wagers in person. There is no mobile betting app option unless you’re on the grounds of the casino — so no at-home wagering like other states have it.
Another unique wrinkle: Washington doesn’t allow betting on in-state college teams. So while you can bet the Seahawks, you can’t place a legal wager on the Huskies or Cougars, even at a casino. That’s a dealbreaker for plenty of college football fans who’d love to back their hometown programs.
All of this makes betting at tribal casinos quite bothersome. It’s a slog to drive out there (and waste gas money in this economy) and then once you get there, certain bets are off limits. That’s why we encourage Washington bettors to try options two and three, as we’ll get into next.
Option 2: Use Offshore Sportsbooks
Alright, here’s a way, way easier option than driving to a physical sportsbook. Stay at home or the bar or in traffic or anywhere else you have an Internet connection, and tap into an offshore sportsbook. These sites aren’t officially licensed, but that doesn’t mean they don’t work. They do, and many are just as good as top betting apps like DraftKings or FanDuel.
Well-known names like Bovada, BetOnline, MyBookie, and XBet all accept players from Washington. You’re probably wondering, “but will I get in trouble for using them?” No, silly! While they’re not completely legal, they’re also not big enough issues for Washington officials to care. In other words, they also have bigger fish to fry than bust folks for betting Seahawks games online.
Trust us, you’re in good hands with these sites. Outside of the sheer convenience of betting anywhere and everywhere, these sites also offer a killer experience. You’ll find bigger bonuses for than most regulated apps, more betting markets, and the ability to wager on local college teams — something Washington’s regulated market blocks.
You just need to be sure to be using trusted sites. There are some “bad apples” out there, but they’re few and far between. If you need recommended sites, start with our list below. These ones rank among our “best of the best” in our review section:
Option 3: Try Prediction Markets
There’s a newer alternative that’s been gaining serious traction in Washington and nationwide: prediction markets. Platforms like Kalshi allow users to trade “contracts” on real-world events, including sports outcomes. The contracts look and feel like sports bets, but legally, they’re treated as commodities regulated at the federal level. That makes them available in all 50 states, including Washington.
The numbers on Kalshi are staggering so far. During NFL Week 1, the platform reported more than $300 million in trading volume. That’s small numbers compared to offshore sites or regulated sportsbooks, but this whole prediction market thing just started. Kalshi didn’t start offering it on sports until earlier this year. A year from now, these numbers will likely be in the billions.
That is, if they aren’t regulated in a year’s time. Right now, the federal government says prediction markets are fair game and are NOT sports betting. Some states beg to differ, but Washington hasn’t fought the issue like Nevada and New Jersey has.
For Washington bettors, the appeal is obvious: prediction markets are also accessible from anywhere, and technically speaking, they are legal compared to offshore sites. You’ll find an array of football outcomes to bet on these sites so you’re not missing out on all that much.
All this is to say, Washington bettors have options. You don’t have to abide by the state’s strict rules. We got nothing against tribal casinos, but it’s a handcuffing experience. Anyone who’s bet on an app in another state will tell you how much more convenient it is.
So while we’re not telling you to explicitly break Washington betting rules, we just wanted to lay out your options this Fall season. Whether you’re backing the Seahawks or fading the Huskies, you’ve got more than one way to get action this season.
Best Betting Sites 