Regulated sports wagering

AN ACT Relating to bolstering the regulated sports wagering 1
industry; amending RCW 9.46.038, 9.46.0364, and 9.46.0368; and 2
creating new sections. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The state has long prohibited all forms 5
and means of gambling except where carefully and specifically 6
authorized and regulated. The legislature intends to bolster the 7
regulated sports wagering industry. Currently, sports wagering in 8
Washington is offered exclusively by tribal casinos subject to gaming 9
compacts entered pursuant to the Indian gaming regulatory act. This 10
offering has proven to meet the state's policy of offering gambling 11
only in a highly regulated environment that is safe for the public.12
Sec. 2. RCW 9.46.038 and 2020 c 127 s 11 are each amended to 13
read as follows: 14
(1)(a) For purposes of this chapter, "sports wagering" means the 15
business of accepting wagers on any of the following sporting events, 16
athletic events, or competitions by any system or method of wagering:17
(i) A professional sport or athletic event; 18
(ii) A collegiate sport or athletic event; 19
(iii) An Olympic or international sports competition or event;20
S-3887.1
SENATE BILL 6137
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Cortes, Nobles, Saldaña, Stanford, and Wellman
Read first time 01/14/26. Referred to Committee on Business, Trade &
Economic Development.
p. 1 SB 6137
(iv) An electronic sports or esports competition or event;1
(v) A combination of sporting events, athletic events, or 2
competitions listed in (a)(i) through (iv) of this subsection (1); or3
(vi) A portion of any sporting event, athletic event, or 4
competition listed in (a)(i) through (iv) of this subsection (1).5
(b) Sports wagering does not include the business of accepting 6
wagers on horse racing authorized pursuant to chapter 67.16 RCW.7
(2) For purposes of this section: 8
(a) "Collegiate sport or athletic event" means a sport or 9
athletic event offered or sponsored by, or played in connection with, 10
a public or private institution that offers education services beyond 11
the secondary level((, other than such an institution that is located 12
within the state of Washington )). Sports wagering may not be 13
conducted on the performance or nonperformance of any specifically 14
named individual participant in any collegiate sport or athletic 15
event who is enrolled in an educational institution located within 16
the state of Washington. 17
(b) "Electronic or esports event" means a live event or 18
tournament attended or watched by members of the public where games 19
or matches are contested in real time by players and teams and 20
players or teams can win a prize based on their performance in the 21
live event or tournament. 22
(c) "Professional sport or athletic event" means an event that is 23
not a collegiate sport or athletic event at which two or more persons 24
participate in sports or athletic events and receive compensation in 25
excess of actual expenses for their participation in the event. 26
"Professional sport or athletic event" does not include any minor 27
league sport. Sports wagering may not be conducted on any minor 28
league sport. 29
Sec. 3. RCW 9.46.0364 and 2020 c 127 s 2 are each amended to 30
read as follows: 31
(1) Upon the request of a federally recognized Indian tribe or 32
tribes in the state of Washington, the tribe's class III gaming 33
compact may be amended pursuant to the Indian gaming regulatory act, 34
25 U.S.C. Sec. 2701 et seq., and RCW 9.46.360 to authorize the tribe 35
to conduct and operate sports wagering on ((its)) Indian lands, 36
provided the amendment addresses: Licensing; fees associated with the 37
gambling commission's regulation of sports wagering; how sports 38
wagering will be conducted, operated, and regulated; issues related 39
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to criminal enforcement, including money laundering, sport integrity, 1
and information sharing between the commission and the tribe related 2
to such enforcement; and responsible and problem gambling. Sports 3
wagering conducted pursuant to the gaming compact is a gambling 4
activity authorized by this chapter. 5
(2) Sports wagering conducted pursuant to the provisions of a 6
class III gaming compact entered into by a tribe and the state 7
pursuant to RCW 9.46.360 is authorized bookmaking and is not subject 8
to civil or criminal penalties pursuant to RCW 9.46.225.9
Sec. 4. RCW 9.46.0368 and 2020 c 127 s 9 are each amended to 10
read as follows: 11
The transmission of gambling information over the internet for 12
any sports wagering conducted and operated under this section and RCW 13
9.46.0364 is authorized, provided that the wager may be placed and 14
accepted at a tribe's gaming facility only while the customer placing 15
the wager is physically present on the premises of ((that)) a tribe's 16
gaming facility. 17
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. If any provision of this act or its 18
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the 19
remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other 20
persons or circumstances is not affected.21
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act may be known and cited as the 22
sports wagering integrity act.23
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