FanDuel to Start In-Person Sports Betting in the State of Washington

The Status of in-person sports betting in the State of Washington has just changed drastically. Sportsbook FanDuel announced that they have agreed to a partnership to gain market access for Washington in-person sports betting. FanDuel is also partnering with the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort in Suquamish, WA to operate the facility’s retail sportsbook. The Suquamish FanDuel sportsbook will open its doors this fall and is going to feature three live betting windows and 12 self-service betting terminal kiosks. The casino will also install three self-service betting kiosks located in the Beach Rock Music and Sports Lounge.

Where Can You Do In-Person Sports Betting?

Currently, twelve tribes in Washington have received approval for their gaming compacts from the U.S. Department of the Interior. They are now able to offer in-person sports betting. The twelve tribes are the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Tulalip Tribe of Washington, Spokane Tribe, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, Lummi Nation, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Squaxin Island Tribe, Suquamish Tribe, Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, Colville Tribe, Muckleshoot Tribe, and the Shoalwater Tribe. There are 24 tribes and a total of 30 casinos being operated in Washington, so do not be surprised if in-person sports betting becomes even more accessible in the very near future. If a tribe does want to start allowing sports betting in their casino/s, they will need to renegotiate compacts with the government and create the proper infrastructure.

Where Will the Revenue Go?

Since in-person sports betting in the State of Washington is only legal on Native American lands, there will be no tax revenue going to the Washington State government. All revenue from in-person sports betting will go to the Suquamish Tribe’s governmental services. Those services are used to support tribal members as well as the local non-tribal community.

When Did This Start?

Washington began taking sports bets on Thursday, September 9th (opening day of the NFL season). The Snoqualmie Casino, the closest casino to Seattle, was the first Washington casino open to take sports bets.

What is the Backstory?

Washington legalized sports betting in 2020 when The Washington State legislature successfully passed bill ESHB 2638. Governor Jay Inslee then approved the bill. Governor Inslee was particularly invested in legalizing sports betting. He enacted an emergency clause that made the bill legal once it was signed. Usually, there is a waiting period after a bill is signed, but there was no waiting period this time. He wanted to end the illegal gambling market in his state and provide more funds to the state’s gambling regulators.

Washington was the 21st state to legalize in-person sports betting. The process to legalize sports betting in Washington began on May 4, 2018, after the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned. When the PASPA was overturned, each state was allowed to regulate and make its own laws for sports betting.

Even though Governor Inslee enacted an emergency clause on ESHB 2638, the approval of sports betting in Washington was a surprising move. Previous to March 2020, Washington was one of the most regulated states in the country. It was the only state that did not allow daily fantasy games (DFS).