Maverick Gaming, after facing numerous unsuccessful attempts, has introduced yet another bill aiming to obtain approval for cardroom sports betting in Washington.
House Bill 1630 and Senate Bill 5587, introduced by the gaming company, propose an expansion of legal sports betting. The bills aim to go beyond tribal casinos and enable cardrooms or racetracks to offer retail and online sportsbooks.
For the third time in consecutive years, the state has made another endeavor to expand its sports betting offerings beyond tribal gaming and permit specific types of online betting.
The Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA) has consistently been against this, as Washington is the only state in the US that has given complete exclusivity to its tribes.
As per the existing state legislation, all forms of online gambling are strictly prohibited.
Participating in an unlicensed or non-contractual offering of a sports pool or an online sports pool is considered a class B felony. Those involved may be subject to a maximum fine of $25,000, while non-natural entities could potentially face a fine of up to $100,000.
What will bills HB 1630 and SB 5587 make legal in Washington?
New bipartisan bills, HB 1630 and SB 5587, were recently introduced by the house of the Evergreen State.
In the event that House Bill 1630 is successfully passed, the act of sports betting will no longer be classified as bookmaking, thereby eliminating any potential civil or criminal penalties. Additionally, if this bill is approved, the authorized licensee for sports betting will be granted the power to establish sportsbooks at a racetrack or offer services through an online operator.
In order to participate in sports betting, these enterprises are required to obtain a sports betting license, which carries a cost of $100,000 upon being granted. Each licensee is permitted to operate solely one online application and platform. However, the act of placing bets is confined exclusively to the physical location of the respective establishment.
In addition, the government will apply a 10% state tax on all bets.
HB1630 suggests amending state laws to permit the operation of sports boards, which would grant any person, association, or organization the ability to engage in this activity. Nonetheless, individuals directly affiliated with the respective sports will be prohibited from participating in any betting activities.
Washington Indian Gaming Association criticizes new bills
Rebecca George, the Executive Director of the Washington Indian Gaming Association, responded to the introduction of the new bills by issuing a written rebuttal.
She confidently affirmed that our tribal gaming system in Washington is both secure and accountable, bringing numerous advantages to communities. With its efficient operation, the system successfully attains the perfect balance desired.
We have created agreements, increased tribal investments, and formed community partnerships to ensure that responsible adults can participate in gaming activities without causing negative social consequences related to gambling.
In their own words, Maverick is determined to bring sports betting to a vast audience in Washington. Yet, previous endeavors to revolutionize our existing system and significantly expand non-tribal gaming have been outright rejected by Washington voters and elected officials.
Significant gambling expansions still face strong opposition from local communities and neighborhoods.
Washington State tribes are steadfast in their opposition to Maverick’s gambling expansion legislation, firmly believing that it would undermine the state’s successful and stable gaming system, thus endangering the welfare of Washington residents. As a result, we implore legislative leaders to once again dismiss the proposed bill.
Maverick Gaming tried to expand Washington sports betting several times
In January 2022, Maverick Gaming took legal action by suing the implementation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. Later in May, the case was moved to the US District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Maverick Gaming has made efforts to convince the Washington state government to expand the boundaries of legal sports betting in the area, but unfortunately, their attempts have not yielded any success thus far. In July 2022, Maverick Gaming took the step of filing an amended complaint with the federal district court for the western district of Washington.
The complete dismissal of the lawsuit in federal court has been requested by the Shoalwater Bay Tribe. Their argument is that the plaintiff’s aim is to establish a legal framework for sports betting in Washington state, which they believe would be uninteresting and not worthwhile.
