- Is Online Gambling Illegal In Washington State Parks
- Is Online Gambling Illegal In Washington State Right Now
Washington is one of the few states in the US that has actually drafted and passed legislation that prohibits Internet gambling. The law, which can be found in RCW 9.46 of the state’s statutes, states that anyone who facilitates gambling over the Internet is in violation of the law.
July 24, 2018 at 2:38 pm
I’m a poker player. There was a time when you would have to whisper that fact in hushed tones and make sure you watched who you were talking to. That was before the World Series of Poker was televised nationwide on ESPN, and people generally accepted the fact that there is skill involved in the game. That was before there were personal computers in every pocket and very smart people would try and solve the game with algorithms.
RELATED: Ron’s life lessons learned from poker
Did you realize that in the state of Washington it is a Class C Felony to play a hand of poker online for real money? Yes, it is a felony to place an online wager in Washington!
Just to give you some context, here is the explanation of misdemeanors from the Washington State Courts webpage: “Examples of gross misdemeanors are theft of property and driving while under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs. Among the many types of misdemeanors are disorderly conduct and prostitution.”
It’s also illegal for businesses to run gambling websites and to solicit online bets. Even companies handling transactions for cyberspace bettors can face federal charges. Our strategy for tackling illegal online gambling—as a key enforcement agency—is to start with the companies providing the services in the first place. Online gambling as such is prohibited in Washington, if we are to judge according to the website of the Washington State Gambling Commission. Additionally, online gambling operators that decide to operate an illegal gambling site in this state could be charged with a Class C felony.
You got that right. G casino manchester poker schedule 2020. A DUI and prostitution are misdemeanors, while placing a wager online is a felony.
Here’s the thing though, people like to gamble. It’s fun, and it can add a little excitement to a dull day. So I was surprised to read on Geekwire that Muckleshoot Casino is rolling out a new app that has a clever work around this draconian online wagering law.
Here’s how it’s going to work starting in the fall. You download their app to your phone, then physically go to the casino and purchase games with cash money. Then you can leave the casino and play the games anywhere virtually. If you win, you’re winning real money that you collect the next time you’re at the casino.
These won’t be games like poker or roulette, but more like bingo and other games where you’re not playing against the house.
I’m tempted to go on a diatribe on how stupid the state of Washington is for criminalizing an online behavior that is perfectly legal in real life. Instead, I’m going to view this as a positive step.
Hopefully, this will end up in court and the current laws will be thrown out.
Is Online Gambling Illegal In Washington State Parks
Society is slowly losing its judgments about archaic prohibitions from a bygone era. Attitudes are becoming more liberal around the idea of placing a bet for entertainment. Look no further than the recent Supreme Court decision on sports wagering.
Washington state needs to wake up and realize this is a perfectly acceptable tax revenue stream that is no different than ordering your groceries online instead of going to the brick and mortar store. If people want to use their entertainment budget to play a game, isn’t that their business?
Kudos to Muckleshoot for moving this issue forward. Now let’s take the next logical step and allow responsible adults to do online all the things they can legally do in a casino.
You can hear “What are we talking about here?” everyday at 4:45 p.m. on 97.3 FM.
An Overview Of The Gambling Laws In The State Of Washington
Washington State offers a huge choice of brick and mortar gambling to their citizens, with more than 100 venues including Tribal casinos, poker card rooms and racetracks. On the other hand this is the most clearly anti-gambling State when it comes to online play – with an act making this illegal and including some severe punishments. This article gives you a complete overview of the gambling laws in the State of Washington.
First up, you will find a quick-fire history below, going from the early settlers through to the present day. After that the different gambling formats are listed, along with the legal situation in Washington State for each one. Next the more detailed information can be found, including quotations from the Statutes themselves and a legal timeline. At the end of this page you will find a summary and look at possible future scenarios.
Washington Gambling Laws – A Brief History
Like many States, the initial Statutes in Washington were strongly anti-gambling. This was partly the puritanical views of the era, and party a reaction against the excessive vices (including gambling) of the earliest settlers. The history of gambling laws in this State since is largely built on gradually exempting different forms of gambling from the initial cover-all ban.
Today, Washington is a haven for gamblers, with a huge choice of venues. There are more than 100 casinos, mostly on tribal lands. These were created during the 1990’s – after the State negotiated compacts with the tribes. There are also casino cruises operating out of Seattle, these boats sail the requisite 3 miles to reach international waters, where players are free to gamble without jurisdictional issues. Charity ‘casino nights’ make up the other casino gaming options.
Poker fans are well served in this State. There are many legal card-rooms who offer non-banked games. While there are a lot of smaller poker tournaments and cash games, none of the global tournament tours have made it to this corner of the US as yet. You can also play home-games. The stipulation for these is that nobody takes a profit from the games, either by raking the pots or selling beverages.
If you prefer to play your poker games online, then you are out of luck in this State. They have harsh anti-internet gambling laws, which were put into effect in 2006. These make it a felony to transmit betting information on the internet – even for the players. There have been failed attempts to get these penalties watered down, and also a failed attempt in 2010 to have this law struck down as unconstitutional.
There has been a lottery in Washington since 1982. This includes scratch-off cards, draws and also participates in the major inter-State games. Charity bingo and raffles are also permitted, though these require individual licenses and are subject to restrictions in frequency and prize pools. The other alternative for gamblers in Washington is horse racing. This was the first format to be legalized, when pari-mutuel betting was allowed on-track back in 1933. Nowadays you can bet on simulcast races from designated tracks and off-track betting sites too. There are no slots of lottery type games at the racetracks.
What Forms Of Gambling Are Currently Legal?
Casino Gaming: Yes, there are more than 100 casinos in this State, the majority of them on Tribal land offering slots, blackjack and poker and video poker.
Online Casinos: No, gambling on the internet is explicitly illegal in Washington, carrying a Felony charge.
Live Poker: Yes, you can enjoy poker in card rooms who run on the basis that poker is a game of skill, or at the tribal casinos. Home games are also legal, as long as nobody is taking a profit from the games via rake or fees. There are also several casino cruise ships which operate out of Seattle.
Online Poker: No, the ‘Skill Game’ argument is not accepted as exempting poker from the internet gambling laws.
Sports Betting: Yes, pari-mutuel betting can take place from 4 racetracks and off-track locations, this includes Simulcast betting on races from out of state.
Lottery Betting: Yes, Washington State has a lottery and also takes part in the inter-state games like the PowerBall and Mega Millions.
Bingo Games: Yes, there are separate Charity gambling laws which cover bingo and raffle games for good causes.
Washington Gambling Laws – Statutes And Legal Timeline
The Washington Statutes are longer and more thorough in the details of carve-outs than those in many States. They rest on a ‘contest of chance’ definition, which live poker games have already been successfully exempted from. Online gambling games have their own act and some strong wording to boot.
Here is the key definition of gambling:
[su_quote] “Gambling.” as used in this chapter, means 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. (From RCW 9.46.0225)[/su_quote]
Here is the key wording concerning internet gambling:
July 24, 2018 at 2:38 pm
I’m a poker player. There was a time when you would have to whisper that fact in hushed tones and make sure you watched who you were talking to. That was before the World Series of Poker was televised nationwide on ESPN, and people generally accepted the fact that there is skill involved in the game. That was before there were personal computers in every pocket and very smart people would try and solve the game with algorithms.
RELATED: Ron’s life lessons learned from poker
Did you realize that in the state of Washington it is a Class C Felony to play a hand of poker online for real money? Yes, it is a felony to place an online wager in Washington!
Just to give you some context, here is the explanation of misdemeanors from the Washington State Courts webpage: “Examples of gross misdemeanors are theft of property and driving while under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs. Among the many types of misdemeanors are disorderly conduct and prostitution.”
It’s also illegal for businesses to run gambling websites and to solicit online bets. Even companies handling transactions for cyberspace bettors can face federal charges. Our strategy for tackling illegal online gambling—as a key enforcement agency—is to start with the companies providing the services in the first place. Online gambling as such is prohibited in Washington, if we are to judge according to the website of the Washington State Gambling Commission. Additionally, online gambling operators that decide to operate an illegal gambling site in this state could be charged with a Class C felony.
You got that right. G casino manchester poker schedule 2020. A DUI and prostitution are misdemeanors, while placing a wager online is a felony.
Here’s the thing though, people like to gamble. It’s fun, and it can add a little excitement to a dull day. So I was surprised to read on Geekwire that Muckleshoot Casino is rolling out a new app that has a clever work around this draconian online wagering law.
Here’s how it’s going to work starting in the fall. You download their app to your phone, then physically go to the casino and purchase games with cash money. Then you can leave the casino and play the games anywhere virtually. If you win, you’re winning real money that you collect the next time you’re at the casino.
These won’t be games like poker or roulette, but more like bingo and other games where you’re not playing against the house.
I’m tempted to go on a diatribe on how stupid the state of Washington is for criminalizing an online behavior that is perfectly legal in real life. Instead, I’m going to view this as a positive step.
Hopefully, this will end up in court and the current laws will be thrown out.
Is Online Gambling Illegal In Washington State Parks
Society is slowly losing its judgments about archaic prohibitions from a bygone era. Attitudes are becoming more liberal around the idea of placing a bet for entertainment. Look no further than the recent Supreme Court decision on sports wagering.
Washington state needs to wake up and realize this is a perfectly acceptable tax revenue stream that is no different than ordering your groceries online instead of going to the brick and mortar store. If people want to use their entertainment budget to play a game, isn’t that their business?
Kudos to Muckleshoot for moving this issue forward. Now let’s take the next logical step and allow responsible adults to do online all the things they can legally do in a casino.
You can hear “What are we talking about here?” everyday at 4:45 p.m. on 97.3 FM.
An Overview Of The Gambling Laws In The State Of Washington
Washington State offers a huge choice of brick and mortar gambling to their citizens, with more than 100 venues including Tribal casinos, poker card rooms and racetracks. On the other hand this is the most clearly anti-gambling State when it comes to online play – with an act making this illegal and including some severe punishments. This article gives you a complete overview of the gambling laws in the State of Washington.
First up, you will find a quick-fire history below, going from the early settlers through to the present day. After that the different gambling formats are listed, along with the legal situation in Washington State for each one. Next the more detailed information can be found, including quotations from the Statutes themselves and a legal timeline. At the end of this page you will find a summary and look at possible future scenarios.
Washington Gambling Laws – A Brief History
Like many States, the initial Statutes in Washington were strongly anti-gambling. This was partly the puritanical views of the era, and party a reaction against the excessive vices (including gambling) of the earliest settlers. The history of gambling laws in this State since is largely built on gradually exempting different forms of gambling from the initial cover-all ban.
Today, Washington is a haven for gamblers, with a huge choice of venues. There are more than 100 casinos, mostly on tribal lands. These were created during the 1990’s – after the State negotiated compacts with the tribes. There are also casino cruises operating out of Seattle, these boats sail the requisite 3 miles to reach international waters, where players are free to gamble without jurisdictional issues. Charity ‘casino nights’ make up the other casino gaming options.
Poker fans are well served in this State. There are many legal card-rooms who offer non-banked games. While there are a lot of smaller poker tournaments and cash games, none of the global tournament tours have made it to this corner of the US as yet. You can also play home-games. The stipulation for these is that nobody takes a profit from the games, either by raking the pots or selling beverages.
If you prefer to play your poker games online, then you are out of luck in this State. They have harsh anti-internet gambling laws, which were put into effect in 2006. These make it a felony to transmit betting information on the internet – even for the players. There have been failed attempts to get these penalties watered down, and also a failed attempt in 2010 to have this law struck down as unconstitutional.
There has been a lottery in Washington since 1982. This includes scratch-off cards, draws and also participates in the major inter-State games. Charity bingo and raffles are also permitted, though these require individual licenses and are subject to restrictions in frequency and prize pools. The other alternative for gamblers in Washington is horse racing. This was the first format to be legalized, when pari-mutuel betting was allowed on-track back in 1933. Nowadays you can bet on simulcast races from designated tracks and off-track betting sites too. There are no slots of lottery type games at the racetracks.
What Forms Of Gambling Are Currently Legal?
Casino Gaming: Yes, there are more than 100 casinos in this State, the majority of them on Tribal land offering slots, blackjack and poker and video poker.
Online Casinos: No, gambling on the internet is explicitly illegal in Washington, carrying a Felony charge.
Live Poker: Yes, you can enjoy poker in card rooms who run on the basis that poker is a game of skill, or at the tribal casinos. Home games are also legal, as long as nobody is taking a profit from the games via rake or fees. There are also several casino cruise ships which operate out of Seattle.
Online Poker: No, the ‘Skill Game’ argument is not accepted as exempting poker from the internet gambling laws.
Sports Betting: Yes, pari-mutuel betting can take place from 4 racetracks and off-track locations, this includes Simulcast betting on races from out of state.
Lottery Betting: Yes, Washington State has a lottery and also takes part in the inter-state games like the PowerBall and Mega Millions.
Bingo Games: Yes, there are separate Charity gambling laws which cover bingo and raffle games for good causes.
Washington Gambling Laws – Statutes And Legal Timeline
The Washington Statutes are longer and more thorough in the details of carve-outs than those in many States. They rest on a ‘contest of chance’ definition, which live poker games have already been successfully exempted from. Online gambling games have their own act and some strong wording to boot.
Here is the key definition of gambling:
[su_quote] “Gambling.” as used in this chapter, means 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. (From RCW 9.46.0225)[/su_quote]
Here is the key wording concerning internet gambling:
[su_quote]Whoever knowingly transmits or receives gambling information by telephone, telegraph, radio, semaphore, the internet, a telecommunications transmission system, or similar means, or knowingly installs or maintains equipment for the transmission or receipt of gambling information shall be guilty of a class C felony… (From RCW 9.46.240)[/su_quote]
Below are the legal milestones which have occurred since the generally anti-gambling constitution was signed back in 1890.
1933: Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing first legalized.
1973: Charity gambling begins under the auspices of the newly formed Gambling Commission. This allows bingo, pull-tabs, raffles and casino nights.
1982: State lottery signed into law, this now includes a wide range of draws and games including the inter-state games.
1992: First compact signed with a native tribe following the 1988 Federal Indian Gambling Regulation Act in 1988.
1997: Card rooms allowed offering non-banked games outside of tribal lands. This includes poker, where the game is not played against the house.
Is Online Gambling Illegal In Washington State Right Now
2006: Internet gambling made into a felony via an act which makes transmission of gambling information over phones or the internet illegal for the players as well as the operators.
2010: Poker Players Alliance bid questioning whether the internet gambling ban was constitutional fails, with the Supreme Court backing the State.
2013: Bill put forward (Initiative Measure 582) for the regulation of intra-State poker within Washington. This did not make it as far as the floor. As of 2014 there are no known alternative bills in the legislative process.
Washington Gambling Laws – Summary And Look To The Future
While online poker players think of Washington as draconian in their approach to gambling, the truth is that the laws are liberal here – at least for live gambling games. The choice of Indian casinos is huge, with at least one in every city and reasonably sized town offering a range of games including poker. The internet laws are strict, and the chances of these being amended any time soon look slim. Even if the argument for regulation and taxation could be won inside the government, there are a lot of tribal interests who might feel this could reduce the number of players coming through their doors.
Useful Resources:
Internet Act
Info On Online Act
- https://gamblingandthelaw.com//columns/115-washington-state-makes-it-a-felony-to-play-poker-online
Statutes
Summary Of Gambling Laws
Background Information From Government Covering Gambling Laws And History
- http://www.wsgc.wa.gov/docs/background.pdf
