Washington State Online Gambling Legal Guide

Washington residents can access a number of Best Us Casinos’ recommended sites to play online casino games safely. While Washington state lawmakers haven’t regulated the sites we recommend, they are licensed and regulated by international gaming commissions and are accessible to players in the state. Before choosing where to play, players should consider the gambling laws Washington does have, which are highlighted below.

Read more on this page about the specifics of Washington state gambling laws. Learn more about our recommended casino sites, the legal status of sportsbooks, and more.

If you landed here by mistake and are looking for legal gambling information on the other side of the coast, no worries our page for Washington D.C. is where you need to be.

Casino Apps Offered to Washington Residents

If you’re looking for high-quality Washington online casinos you know you can trust, we’re confident in saying you’ll be happy with any of the casino apps listed on this page.

Online casinos are always looking for ways to stay ahead of the curb regarding innovation and technology. One way they have done that is by updating their mobile app platform. It’s no surprise that mobile Washington casino apps have become increasingly popular over the past decade.

Some online casinos have dedicated Washington casino gambling apps that have to be downloaded onto your device before you can play them. Others simply have a mobile-friendly user interface that can be accessed through your phone’s web browser. And, because the domain is not based in the state of Washington, it is legal for you to use.

The best WA online casinos offer the best Washington casino apps. Stick with our list of recommendations for the best mobile experience.

Top Casinos for Washington Residents

These top online casinos are ideal for Washington residents. Since they do not operate within Washington’s borders, they are legal for residents to use.

Las Atlantis

Las Atlantis is a great place to be if you enjoy playing slots! It offers many slot welcome bonuses and promotions to keep you spinning and winning. Blackjack, poker, and roulette games are also available at the online casino.

El Royale

El Royale casino has a 1920s theme with slots, poker, and table games to keep you entertained. The demo mode is a great feature to log some practice time before making a wager and the no-fee, prompt payouts are a great feature when you’re ready to cash in your winnings.

Bovada

Bovada casino has a bit of something for everyone. In addition to casino games, it features a robust sportsbook and an entire section dedicated to poker enthusiasts. The live casino features real-time streaming, and a variety of table games with a wide range of betting limits.

DuckyLuck

DuckyLuck Casino has a wide selection of game titles you’re sure to enjoy. We love the progressive jackpots and the rewards program is a must for repeat players. The casino has multiple ways to contact the customer support team. We found response times to be prompt and courteous.

What Makes These the Best Washington Online Casinos?

Our team of experts specializes in determining the quality of an online casino site. When creating our recommended list, we only want online betting sites of the highest quality. There’s no reason you shouldn’t have the best when you’re wagering with your hard-earned money. All of the best Washington online casinos we recommended know how to take care of their clients the right way.

Here’s what our team looks for in a quality online gambling experience:

• Newest games and the classics from the top gaming companies
• Valuable welcome packages, bonuses, promotions, and loyalty perks
• An array of banking options to choose from
• Seamless animations and high-quality graphics
• A gaming lobby that’s easy to navigate
• A secure, reputable site with trusted banking methods
• Top notch customer service options

Ultimately, we’re looking for the most well-rounded experience possible.

Game Quality & Quantity

Wherever you are in the country, there are always trends of casino games that residents love to play. In Washington, it’s blackjack, roulette, and slots!

When choosing which Washington online casino sites to recommend, we make sure they offer the highest-quality versions of these games. Not only do we want to see desktop versions of these games, but we want to see superb mobile versions as well.

Bonuses & Promotions

Bonuses and promotions at online casinos are a top factor in our review process. Everyone benefits from extra cushion in their bankroll and that’s where bonuses and promotions shine. We look for casinos that offer valuable welcome packages, bonuses and promotions for existing customers, and loyalty perks.

Many of the online casinos offer crypto welcome packages and bonuses as well.

User Interface & Mobile Compatibility

The best Washington casino sites load quickly, look appealing, and important information like banking, customer support, and your favorite games is easily accessible. Mobile compatibility is also crucial. The casino sites we recommend are either mobile-friendly for iOS and Android devices – meaning they look the same on a smartphone as on a desktop – or have an app to download. Either way, the experience should be enjoyable and similar to the desktop version.

Safety & Security

When you’re gambling for real money online, you need to know your money is safe. Our team does an extensive review of the safety, security, and trustworthiness of gambling sites to ensure we’re only recommending the safest and best Washington online casinos. There is no excuse for any online gambling site to put you or your money at risk.

Factors we look at include:

• Proper SSL encryption across the entire casino site
• Banking partners with appropriate safety and security protocols in place
• Banking integration conducted properly
• Random number generators tested for fairness
• Internal processes designed to protect the flow of information
• Dedicated security representatives
• Consistent updates of software; highest-quality software utilized

Banking Options

Versatile banking options is a must have with real money online casinos in Washington. Multiple deposit and withdrawal methods and fast payouts with low or no transaction fees are criteria we look for.

Washington friendly online casinos offer all or some of these banking methods.

Customer Service

The best Washington online casinos have top-notch customer service. It’s so important to be able to contact a friendly team member or find answers in a timely way when your wagering online.

Customer service options we look for include some or all of the following:

Are Washington Online Casinos Legal?

Washington’s gambling commission states that online casinos that operate within the state’s borders are illegal. In fact, it’s a Class C felony if you gamble online at a casino that resides within Washington’s borders. Which is why we do not recommend that you gamble online without knowing where the casino operates. Not all online casinos make licensing information readily available, so if you’re not sure where the online casino you’re gambling at is licensed and located, you could be in trouble.

All of the casino sites we recommend are based outside of WA borders, therefore, they are 100% legal for you to use. If you venture beyond our recommendations you may be putting yourself at risk with the state’s gambling act.

Real Money Online Sports Betting in Washington

WA sports gambling sites have so much to offer for sports betting enthusiasts. For starters, they typically accept wagers on all of these sports:

Besides having a massive selection of sports to bet on, Washington online casinos with sportsbooks also have a wide range of betting options. You can bet your standard straight and total line bets, or you can spice things up and bet your parlay and teaser bets. How much you can bet will be determined by the minimum and maximum bet amounts set by each sportsbook.

We recommend these top five sportsbooks to wager on your favorite teams.

Online Poker in Washington

Just like sportsbooks and other online casino games, there’s a place for Washington online poker players to partake in their favorite card game. Our recommended poker sites offer bonuses, tournaments, and live dealer platforms to accommodate every type of poker player.

If poker is your game, these poker sites are for you.

The Legal Landscape of Brick and Mortar Casinos in Washington

Tribal casinos are the only land based casinos permitted to operate in Washington state. The most recent legislation passed in favor of tribal casinos was HB 2638 in March 2020. The bill allows sports wagering and mobile sports wagering at tribal casinos in a limited fashion.

Here are the highlights you need to know about brick and mortar gambling laws in Washington:

• Casinos are only allowed on Native American reservations
• Dog racing and horse racing are legal at tribal casinos
• Workplace gambling is legal in WA (legalized in 1973)
• Sports betting and mobile sports betting are only allowed at tribal casinos

Gambling regulations in Washington is covered by two sections of legal code:

Gambling Legal Code 9.46.010 and Gambling Legal Code 67.16.010

The state of Washington defines gambling as:

“Staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or future contingent event not under the person’s control or influence, upon an agreement that someone will receive something of value.”

Land-Based Casinos in Washington

Washington has 29 brick-and-mortar casinos. All of these land-based casinos are owned by Native American tribes and are located on Native American reservations.

Simply opening a casino in Washington is illegal, but since Native Americans don’t have to abide by the same laws as other citizens, the casinos they open are completely legal. So, you can visit them guilt-free. Every few years, a new casino opens in the state, and we don’t have any reason to believe that trend will stop anytime soon.

Washington Online Casinos FAQs

• Why is online gambling still illegal in Washington?

  Online gambling is legal if you use one of our recommended sites. The only time online gambling is illegal in Washington, is if you are using a site that operates within the state borders. Stick with our online casino recommendations and you’ll continue to be a law-abiding citizen.

• What do I do if a gambling site tries to rip me off?

  We’re going to be very honest with you here. There’s not really a whole lot you can do if real money casinos rip you off due to the legal issues regarding gambling in the state. That’s why it’s better to avoid getting ripped off instead, which you can do by sticking to our list of the best Washington online casinos. We never recommend sites that have a history of ripping players off.

• Do you have any safety tips for Washington online casino gambling?

  There are many things you can do to stay safe while playing with money at WA online casinos.

  • Play at reputable US gambling sites.
  • Stick to a reasonable budget.
  • Create a unique password.
  • Avoid sharing your log-in details.

• Which banking method is the best for online gambling?

  We have used a variety of banking methods over the years. One of our favorite methods is cryptocurrencies like Litecoin or Ripple. Cryptocurrencies are a safe way to get money into and out of your online account. Transactions using cryptocurrencies also seem to process faster than other methods, which we see as a huge benefit.

• Is gambling online in Washington safe?

  Yes. Gambling online in Washington is completely safe. As long as you follow some simple safety guidelines, you have nothing to worry about. Here are the most critical safe online gambling guidelines: Never use your casino account on a public computer. Always keep your antivirus software updated. Don’t use a weak password or share your password with anyone else. Never gamble when you are intoxicated or emotional. Never wager more money than you are willing to part with. Always use reputable Washington online casino sites.

• What is the gambling age in Washington?

  You have to be 18 years or older to gamble in the state of Washington. That age restriction increases to 21 if the real money casino you play at offers alcoholic beverages.

• When will online gambling be legal in Washington state?

  Not any time soon that we know of. For now and the foreseeable future, Washington lawmakers are content only allowing tribal casinos to operate legally within state borders. It is legal to use an online casino that operates outside of Washington state borders, like the one’s we recommend on this page.

• Is online gambling legal in other states?

  Yes, it is. Currently online gambling is legal in six states: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

• Is online gambling legal in Canada?

  Yes – depending on the location in Canada. According to the country’s Criminal Code, gambling is illegal unless expressly licensed or legalized by the local government. However, provinces are allowed exemptions that override federal prohibitions. There are also online casinos outside of Canada’s borders that can be legally used and casinos owned by First Nations tribes whose status makes them exempt from Canadian provincial governments.

• Is horse betting legal in Washington?

  Yes, horse betting is legal at the land based tribal casinos in Washington. It is also legal to use our recommended online casino sites for horse betting, because they operate outside of the state border.

• Are casino winnings taxable in Washington?

  According to the Washington State Gambling Commission, the state does not collect a tax, rather it is up to the individual cities, towns, and counties in the state.