Washington passes sports betting bill

A Senate committee in Washington has approved a bill that would legalise sports betting in the state.

US.- The Washington Senate Labor and Commerce Committee passed this week a bill that aims at legalising sports betting in the state. The legislative piece would legalise both land-based and online sports betting in Washington.

House Bill 2638 and Senate Bill 6394 would allow in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and cardrooms. The modality would also be available on mobile, but on-premises.

The Senate committee approved the bill on Monday and sent it to the Senate’s Ways and Means Committee for further discussion. In order to turn into law, it needs the vote from the full Senate and the governor’s signature.

The legislation for sports betting in Washington would allow the state’s 29 tribal casinos to offer sports betting unprofessional and college sports. It would also allow bets on Olympic events and eSports. However, gambling on games involving local colleges, public or private, would still be prohibited.

Back in the committee stage, Representative Drew Stokesbary said: “This is a middle ground. It permits adults who are responsible to engage in an activity that doesn’t harm other people. But it doesn’t make it so prevalent or so pervasive in our society that we as a legislature have to worry about the morality and ethics of that.”