Sports betting in Washington will include some betting on in-state college teams while also holding bettors accountable for threats toward players, coaches and officials under a bill headed to the governor’s desk.
On Tuesday, the Senate accepted changes made to SB 6137 by a 43-6 vote. The House voted the amended bill out by a 70-26 vote on Friday.
Gov. Bob Ferguson will have 20 days to sign or veto the sports betting legislation starting once the bill hits his desk before it becomes law without his signature.
Washington in-state sports betting rules
Currently, sports betting in Washington does not allow betting on a game involving a college or university in the state.
SB 6137 still bans three types of in-state wagers:
- Player props.
- In-game decision made by a coach of an in-state Washington team, which includes a substitution or call for replay.
- Officiating decision, which includes calling fouls or violations.
New rules against harassment
The House amended the bill to include language addressing harassment tied to sports betting.
Under the bill, anyone that threatens an athlete, coach or official would be guilty of a gross misdemeanor and banned from betting in the state.
Specifically, bettors would be banned from threatening bodily harm or physical damage to property. The threatened party has to have “reasonable fear” that the threat could be carried out.
“Threatening words do not constitute a violation of this subsection (2)(a) if it is apparent to the sports official, coach, or participant that the person does not have the present and future ability to carry out the threat,” the bill reads.
Tribal partnerships for sports betting?
The bill also changes existing language that opens up the possibility for gaming tribes with a sportsbook to allow betting on another tribe’s lands.
Current law says tribes can conduct sports betting on its land, but the possessive “its” was struck with the new legislation.
The law also currently says said online betting could be conducted if on the premises of that tribe’s casino. The word “that” was stricken and replaced with “a” tribe’s casino.
