Legislators in Washington State have successfully passed a new bill that permits betting on college sports, albeit under stringent regulations. This legislation, known as the Sports Wagering Integrity Act and designated as SB 6137, is now awaiting the signature of Governor Bob Ferguson.
The approved bill broadens the existing sports betting framework to encompass wagers on collegiate games, while explicitly prohibiting bets related to individual players, coaching choices, or officiating decisions involving Washington colleges.
In a decisive vote, the state Senate endorsed amendments to the bill with a 43–6 outcome, following a prior approval from the House, which passed the modified proposal 70–26. Once the bill reaches the governor's desk, he has 20 days to either sign it into law or veto it; otherwise, it will automatically become law without his endorsement.
Under this new proposal, sports betting in Washington will continue to be restricted to tribal casinos that operate under Class III gaming compacts with the state. Tribal operators will have the option to revise these compacts to incorporate collegiate betting within the new framework.
While bettors will still need to place their wagers in person at tribal gaming establishments, there is provision for transmitting related betting information online.
The bill also upholds a prohibition on various types of wagers, including player proposition bets and those concerning in-game decisions made by coaches, such as substitutions and timeouts. Additionally, bets associated with officiating calls, including fouls and penalties, will remain banned.
To safeguard athletes and maintain the integrity of competitions, the legislation categorizes any attempt to influence the outcome of a sporting event through bribery as a felony. Furthermore, any threats made against athletes, coaches, or officials in relation to wagers will be classified as a gross misdemeanor, potentially resulting in a ban on sports betting within the state.
The measure mandates collaboration between tribal entities and the Washington State Gambling Commission on matters of licensing, enforcement, and integrity oversight, which includes monitoring for money laundering and promoting responsible gambling initiatives.
This legislative move in Washington coincides with similar discussions occurring in several other U.S. states regarding college proposition betting restrictions. Lawmakers in states such as Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Utah are either advancing or deliberating similar regulations, while Ohio, Maryland, and Vermont have already implemented bans on college prop bets.