There are several states that have emerged as the main opposition to anti-sports betting legislation in the United States. These states are lobbying for the right to host sports betting in their state. Washington is not one of these states, opting instead for silence on the issue. This silence could be taken as a wait-and-see approach, as those states that are lobbying are already so entrenched in the issue it might be better to just wait and see what happens. If something does change in regards to the legalization of sports betting, Washington, and any other state for that matter, could push for state-sponsored sports betting.
Currently, there is one overarching law that governs sports betting in the United States—the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, or PASPA, for short. Under PASPA, 46 states are barred from having state-sponsored sports betting. Washington is included in this list of banned states. The only four states that are exempted from PASPA are Delaware, Oregon, Montana and Nevada. Out of these states, Nevada is the only one that offers single-game sports betting (think Las Vegas sportsbooks). Delaware offers NFL-parlay betting through their state Lottery, Montana offers sports pool style betting (but there is no real “house” to bet against) and Oregon once offered a sports betting option called Sports Action, but they no longer have it due to backlash from the major professional sports leagues. PASPA was passed back in 1992 and has been governing sports betting in the United States in the 25 years since. Those who are against PASPA believe it is an outdated ban that needs to be lifted in accordance with the changing mentality surrounding sports betting.
The states that have been pushing for sports betting legalization have had to go up against PASPA and have been unsuccessful up to this point. New Jersey has been the leading force against PASPA and has drafted and voted in legislation that directly went around PASPA. Despite New Jersey residents voting it in, a lawsuit was filed against the state from the major professional sports leagues that halted any sportsbooks from opening. New Jersey has filed several unsuccessful appeals and is waiting on word from the Supreme Court on whether they’ll hear the case. This would likely be New Jersey’s last chance unless some sort of executive action happened. Michigan, Mississippi and most recently West Virginia have joined the fight by pushing bills that support sports betting legalization. However, unlike New Jersey’s case, these states are waiting to see what happens with PASPA and any possible repeal or amendments.
Washington has several major sports franchises, so there is a strong fan base in the state. Sports betting already takes place in great numbers, as evidence by the American Gaming Association’s projection that over $4 billion worth of bets will be placed on Super Bowl LI. The state could benefit off a regulated sports betting industry, however as it stands now they’re missing out on the market. States pushing for legalization argue that the federal government shouldn’t determine whether they can have sports betting or not, and that they’re missing out on a lucrative untapped market. Washington sports gambling could transform pending the outcome of the New Jersey case. If PASPA ends up being repealed or amended, Washington’s silence could turn to action if they choose to bring sports betting to the state.