Governor Bob Ferguson of Washington has officially enacted a new law permitting tribal casinos to engage in betting on college sports. This legislation, known as Senate Bill 6137, was signed on Monday and allows wagers on collegiate athletics conducted within tribal gaming venues.
However, the law comes with specific limitations. Notably, betting on events involving colleges based in Washington or games played within the state remains prohibited. Additionally, wagers on minor league sports, including teams like the Tacoma Rainiers, are still banned.
According to existing Washington regulations, gaming operations are not permitted to accept bets on collegiate events sponsored by Washington institutions, college sports occurring within the state, minor league competitions, and events with predetermined outcomes, commonly referred to as “past postings.”
The new legislation also maintains a ban on bracket pools, office sports pools, and fantasy sports, including those associated with the NCAA Final Four.
For tribal casinos that choose to offer sports betting, the law sets forth several requirements. Sportsbooks must operate within tribal facilities, and employees are prohibited from advising customers on specific wagers or amounts. However, this restriction does not extend to general advertising or responses to broad inquiries.
Mobile betting must be restricted to on-site activities through geofencing, and operators are required to disclose the types of wagers available. Additionally, sports bets cannot be transferred between patrons.
The law also forbids proposition bets linked to individual performance metrics, coaching decisions such as substitutions and timeouts, and officiating outcomes, including fouls or rulings. A proposition bet typically involves wagering on a specific athlete’s performance statistics, such as points scored or minutes played.
State Representative Chris Stearns emphasized the importance of safeguarding athletes and officials, stating, “Sports betting should never put athletes or officials at risk. These changes help protect the integrity of the game and the people who make sports possible.”
The bill introduces penalties for threats made against individuals involved in athletic events, with those threatening coaches or officials facing a gross misdemeanor charge.
State Senator Adrian Cortes highlighted the importance of regulating sports betting to protect student athletes, especially amid rising online hate and harassment. He remarked, “It’s more important than ever that we protect student athletes by properly regulating sports betting on college sports in our state.”
Rebecca George, executive director of the Washington Indian Gaming Association, praised the bill, stating, “This bill strengthens a model that protects consumers and respects tribal sovereignty, ensuring that any wagering happens within a framework that has worked for decades.” She noted that as new products emerge that blur the lines of gambling, Washington is opting for clarity.
Gaming operators are required to implement measures to prevent prohibited individuals from placing bets. This includes individuals under 18, those acting as proxies, athletes whose performance may affect outcomes, individuals with access to confidential information, and those in positions of authority over participants. The restrictions extend to anyone connected to sporting events, including players, coaches, referees, trainers, physicians, team staff, and governing body employees.