Sportsbetting legislation clears initial hurdle in Washington

Legislators in the Washington House of Representatives reportedly approved a proposal last week that could see the western state become the latest to legalize sportsbetting via its collection of some 29 tribal casinos.

According to a Monday report from local television broadcaster KOMO-TV, House Bill 2638 was passed by an 83-to-14 vote on Thursday evening only two days after being approved by that 98-member body’s Appropriations Committee.

Precise particulars:

The broadcaster reported that the proposed legislation is the brainchild of Democratic representative Strom Peterson and seeks to allow the state’s aboriginal casinos to open sportsbooks for the purposes of offering punters the ability to place wagers on a vast array of sporting events. Although the measure would purportedly permit such venues to accept bets on professional games such as those involving the Seattle Seahawks franchise of the National Football League (NFL), it would forbid all wagering on games featuring teams from private or public universities located in Washington.

Peterson reportedly told KOMO-TV…

“We have a history of working with our tribal partners, with the sovereign nations around the state in dealing with safety, with consumer safety in making sure minors aren’t accessing this.”

Senatorial significance:

A subsequent report from the Associated Press news service published by the Bonner County Daily Bee newspaper revealed that Peterson’s proposal is now making its way through the Washington State Senate after yesterday being sent without amendment to this Democratic-controlled chamber’s Ways and Means Committee.

Growing club:

The news service reported that at least 30 members of the 49-seat Washington State Senate will subsequently be required to approve Peterson’s proposed legislation in order for the state to join over a dozen others including neighboring Oregon in having legalized some form of sportsbetting.