Author:
Ashley
Last Updated:
06/10/2024
Topic:
US States
Experiences:
CA born, casino expert
Topic:
US States
Experiences:
CA born, casino expert
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Table of Contents
- For all the fans of online casinos in WA
- The legal history of online casinos in Washington
- Editor’s recommendation – the best online casino in WA
- Five tips for a secure and fair gambling experience in Washington online casinos
- What do we look for when evaluating online casino operators for Washington residents?
- Top rated WA online casinos
- Finding your perfect online casino operator
- Conclusion: finding the best online casinos WA has to offer
- The most generous WA casino bonuses on the market
- Online casinos Washington FAQs
For all the fans of online casinos in WA
It really doesn’t matter whether you’re an experienced casino high roller, or an absolute newcomer to the exciting world of gambling, we’re here for you! If you’re on the lookout for information about the online casinos WA residents can sign up to, we’ve got all the information you need, right here on this page.
You’re not just here hoping to find the names of some online casinos in Washington. You’ll be wanting introductions to the very best online casino in WA, and we’re here to offer you all the help and advice you could possibly need. Because whether you’re looking for suggestions for online casinos in Arkansas or Wyoming, we want you to have the best possible experience every single time you play.
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The legal history of online casinos in Washington
Federal law has nothing much to say on the subject of online gambling, leaving individual states completely free to decide for themselves whether or not to allow it. And that’s a situation that has led to some of the most complex global laws affecting gambling, in all its various forms. Depending on which state you happen to reside in, you might be allowed to gamble at a land-based casino but not an online one. Tribal casinos may be allowed, but not other types of casinos and sportsbook betting may be permitted whereas poker isn’t.
But Washington is a little different from most other states, as we’re about to see. This means that for the moment at least, online casinos in WA are as rare as hens’ teeth! But as we’ve already mentioned, the online gambling laws are far from clear, so we have to dig a little deeper to discover what’s going on.
Gambling and Washington state law
Gambling was a widespread activity throughout the US at one time, having arrived with the earliest European settlers. Card games, particularly poker, soon became popular across North America, with other types of gambling, such a sports betting, also attracting plenty of enthusiastic bettors. But all good things come to an end, and for the state of Washington that came about in 1889 when all gambling was banned.
The human urge to make a wager is strong though, so by the time 1933 came along in the years of the Great Depression, laws were passed to allow betting on horse races. Not surprisingly, this did very little to discourage the booming underground gambling market, which was all but running out of control by the early 1970s. Corruption was rife, so Washington responded with the creation of its Gambling Commission.
By this time Washington residents were legally allowed to participate in raffles and bingo games, followed by pull tabs and Vegas-style fundraisers. Legal card rooms soon followed, and the stage seemed set for a steady relaxation of the remaining gambling laws. State lotteries were legally approved in 1982, with Congress formally permitting tribal casinos six years later. And by the start of the new millennium, Washington state was pulling in over $1 billion from gambling, almost half of it from tribal casinos.
Washington’s heavily regulated gambling industry
Bettors across the US are familiar with the ever-changing gambling laws. It’s just about impossible to find online casinos in Utah, for example, whereas online slots fans will find themselves absolutely spoilt for choice in Pennsylvania. And with more states starting to look quite favourably at the prospect of permitting online casinos to operate, the situation seems to be looking up for online players across the US.
But Washington famously has some of the strictest rules surrounding gambling, and none more so than when it comes to playing online games. It’s incredibly confusing to try to get your head around, so here’s a quick rundown on the laws as they currently stand – although we recommend checking back regularly to find out what’s new.
- Bricks and mortar casinos: legally permitted
- Land-based sports betting: legally permitted
- Land-based bingo: legally permitted
- Poker at licensed cardrooms: legally permitted
- State lottery: legally permitted
- Online gambling: illegal
As you can clearly see, when it comes to online gambling Washington state laws are pretty unequivocal. Online gambling, in any form, simply isn’t allowed – at least for the time being.
What are the risks?
To date, no resident of Washington state has been convicted of illegally playing at an online casino from within state lines, which is reassuring to know. And for most US states who don’t permit online casinos to operate, there’s always the possibility of signing up to an offshore operator. That gives access to all your favourite slots, table games and casino favourites without technically breaking any laws.
But Washington is the one state that’s really gone to town on its online gambling laws, and these are no mere misdemeanours we’re talking about! It’s a class B felony to aid and abet any illegal gambling operations, which is punishable by a $20,000 fine and/or up-to 10 years in jail if convicted. And profiting from illegal betting operations is a class C felony, resulting in a fine of $5,000 and up to a year in jail.
These are the strictest penalties across the entire US, so although nobody’s ever been prosecuted for playing at an offshore online casino, this is perhaps one state where you might feel that it’s simply not worth the risk. But there’s absolutely no harm in getting yourself up to speed with how online casinos operate, so you’re ready to get started as soon as WA online gambling sites are legalised.
Editor’s recommendation – the best online casino in WA
A wager, an element of chance and a prize – these are the three things that constitute gambling, according to the state of Washington. Operators have to be licensed if they want to run any kind of gambling business, with some of the strictest laws and regulations across the entire USA. That doesn’t mean gambling is prohibited though – you’re never too far from a legal land-based operation in Washington, although that’s little help when you want to enjoy playing at home.
But when looking for the best online casino in WA, unfortunately, that’s a prospect for a later date. Right now there aren’t any online casinos legally allowed to operate within the Evergreen State, and that’s simply not up for discussion. It’s the law, and the penalties are some of the harshest across the entire US. It doesn’t mean you can’t try your luck at an offshore online casino, but since online gambling is specifically banned, we’re not about to suggest you should break the law!
What we can do is give you the heads up about the top operator to aim for, once online gambling is finally permitted in Washington. And we predict that topping the list of the online casinos WA residents will be allowed to sign up with, will be the powerhouse that is BetMGM. This is an online casino that regularly tops our preferred operator list for a number of reasons. There’s an incredibly generous sign-up offer, a massive selection of games to enjoy playing, and an excellent range of deposit and withdrawal options.
Five tips for a secure and fair gambling experience in Washington online casinos
There may not be any online casinos in Washington right now, but as history shows, things change. There’s an increasing number of states reconsidering their stance on online gambling, with Michigan and Illinois recent converts to the idea. There’s almost a domino effect going on, so we think it’s only a matter of time before there’s a choice of online casinos WA bettors can sign up to.
But just because it isn’t possible to join an online casino in Washington right now, there’s no reason not to start making plans. Once the first operators make their websites available in the Evergreen State, you’ll want to hit the ground running. But you definitely don’t want to be running headlong into trouble! So read up on our top five online gambling tips, and be ready to make the best decisions the moment you’re allowed to sign up and open an online casino account.
What do we look for when evaluating online casino operators for Washington residents?
You can’t yet join an online casino in the Evergreen State, but that situation is bound to change at some point in the future. And when it does, you’ll be able to take full advantage of the information we provide with our in-depth operator reviews. Because make no mistake, we dig as deeply as we can into every online casino, tracking down all the important info you need to know about.
Our experts carefully consider every single aspect of the casino operator’s we review, shining a light into the murkiest corners to uncover the full facts. Read our comprehensive casino reviews to discover:
- The complete pros and cons of every operator
- Information about licenses and security
- Payment and withdrawal options
- The usability, look and feel of a site
- How supportive the customer support teams really are
- The types and range of the games on offer
- Bonus rewards and loyalty programs
Top rated WA online casinos
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Finding your perfect online casino operator
You’re here because you’re looking for the very best online WA casinos – but as we’ve mentioned, they aren’t yet legal in Washington. With more and more states starting to welcome the idea of legalizing the online casino industry, we think it’s only a matter of time before online operators are welcomed into the Evergreen State, so it’s worth putting in some preliminary research sooner, rather than later.
We suggest starting by considering what type of gambling you enjoy the most. If it’s the traditional casino favourites that hold the most appeal, you’ll want to check out casino operators offering all the top games, including Roulette, Blackjack and Baccarat. Poker fans will want to see a great selection of table and live-dealer games, whilst slots fans will be looking for the most comprehensive selection of games available to them.
But it’s also worth considering the times of day you like to play too. Night owls will want to make sure that customer support operates round the clock, for example. And if you love the thrills and spills of a live casino, you’re definitely going to want to source an operator offering Live Dealer gaming options.
Conclusion: finding the best online casinos WA has to offer
Here at Las Vegas How-To, we’re constantly striving to improve the service we offer to gambling fans across the US. So whether you’re searching for the top online casinos in New Hampshire, or the finest online casinos Oregon has to offer, we’ve got all the information and resources you need to make the right decisions for you.
Online casinos aren’t yet permitted within Washington state lines, and the laws surrounding online gambling are much more strict than in any of the other US states. But times change, and we’re hopeful that new laws will eventually be passed, allowing Washington residents to enjoy online gambling without fear of prosecution. Rest assured that when that day comes, we’re ready and waiting to help you enjoy gambling at the top sites accessible to Washington gambling fans.
The most generous WA casino bonuses on the market
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Online casinos Washington FAQs
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