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Sports Betting, Washington

Sports Betting at Snoqualmie Casino Finally Goes Live

By James Murray

Washington State And Snoqualmie Tribe Logo Background

It wasn’t easy, yet Washington’s sports betting industry is finally going live. Sportsbooks around the state are beginning to accept wagers. To the delight of many residents, sports betting at Snoqualmie Casino is now available!

These options are launching in time to bet on the 2021/2022 NFL season. Analysts are expecting many of these football wagers to begin flowing in over the next few months.

Here’s what you need to know.

Sports Betting at Snoqualmie Casino is Now Available

Sports betting has grown incredibly popular throughout the United States over the past few years. This is mostly due to the removal of PASPA, allowing each state to legalize and regulate this form of gambling. Many states now have successful sports betting industries set in place.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee approved a final sports betting bill back in March of 2020. Officials within the WA State Gambling Commission have since been coming up with specific regulations for this industry. The goal has been to launch the state’s first sportsbooks by the start of the 2021/2022 NFL regular season.

This goal has been reached. Sports betting at Snoqualmie Casino is now available. This marks the first sportsbook in the state of Washington to go live. The casino’s CEO, Stanford Le, spoke about this launch to the media earlier today.

“Obviously, there’s revenue implications to that [launching a sportsbook],” Le said. “But more importantly, the timing was just right, the fervor for football season. This is making history. So having a natural time frame, the kickoff of the NFL season and the kickoff of our sportsbook and being the first in Washington all just made a lot of sense.”

Six sports betting kiosks will be available throughout the Snoqualmie Casino floor. Another more official sportsbook is also now operational here. Some are now beginning to wonder when exactly the state’s first online sportsbooks will launch.

Washington’s Online Sportsbooks Will Take Weeks to Launch

The past few weeks have demonstrated how difficult it is to launch a legal sports betting industry. Many states planned to launch their first sportsbooks by the NFL’s season-opening game. Not all of these states managed to do so.

Washington’s sports betting laws are a little different than in other areas of the country. Here, online sports betting is set to become legal, yet only inside licensed casinos. Statewide online sports betting will not become available here.

It appears that the first online sportsbooks in Washington will not be going live for at least a few weeks. Officials at the Snoqualmie Casino have confirmed this is the case. First, the casino needs to conduct tests on the geo-perimeter to ensure all online sports bets are placed on casino grounds.

Still, residents are excited to hear that sports betting is now available in the state. A huge number of individuals will be excited to take part in sports betting at Snoqualmie Casino. It will be interesting to see how much revenue is earned from this state’s entire sports gambling industry over the next four months.

There is still time for sports fans around the country to make their football bets online. Here’s a quick look at some of the odds being offered on tonight’s opening game.

Here’s How to Find Odds on the Cowboys vs. Buccaneers Online

This NFL season is expected to be an exciting one. More than 45 million Americans are now expected to wager on football over the next five months. Many are already heading over to sites like BetOnline to make their bets on tonight’s game between the Cowboys and Buccaneers.

BetOnline lists the Cowboys as the +375 underdogs in this matchup. Dak Prescott is one of the top quarterbacks in the league, yet many are questioning how the rest of the Cowboys’ roster will perform this season. A win for Dallas could earn bettors some serious cash.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers come into this game as the -465 favorites. They are the defending Super Bowl champions and have an elite stable of players. Of course, Tom Brady is now 44-years-old and fans are left wondering when time will eventually catch up to him.

There are many exciting football betting options available through BetOnline right now. Members here can also bet on the future Super Bowl winners, and more. Feel free to check out all of these options today!

Are you excited to see sports betting at Snoqualmie Casino become available? Which team do you think wins tonight’s game? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Sports, Sports Betting, Washington

Washington Football Team Partners With AGA on Responsible Betting

By Brian Walker

Football Being Measured for First Down and a Sportsbook

The Washington Football Team has become the first NFL team to join the American Gaming Association in its “Have a Game Plan Bet Responsibly” public service campaign.

The agreement was announced prior to the WFT’s preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals and comes as the sports betting industry continues to expand in the United States. To date, a total of 22 states and the District of Columbia have launched legal sports betting with six more states to open their markets soon.

In a statement Washington Football Team Chief Partnership Officer said:

“With legal sports betting now permitted across our region, we are ensuring responsible gaming serves as a foundation for how we engage in this exciting commercial market. We’re not only proud to partner with the AGA, the architect of Have a Game Plan, but also proud to lead by educating fans as they enjoy football in an engaging, new way.”

Educating Fans on Principles of Responsible Gaming

Initiated in 2019, the Have a Game Plan campaign was created to educate fans on the principles of responsible betting. Since then, it has partnered with sports organizations like NASCAR, National Hockey League, PGA Tour, Las Vegas Golden Knights, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The campaign suggests a series of steps to take in order to become a responsible bettor.These steps include setting a budget and sticking to it, keeping sports betting social by betting with friends, family, or colleagues, to be informed and to learn the details of the game that is being played, and to only bet with licensed and regulated sports betting operators.

Promoting Responsible Betting Through Multiple Channels

By joining the campaign, the Washington Football Team commits to promote responsible betting through multiple channels. These include in-stadium activities, sponsored content on their website, and promotion on the team’s upcoming preseason radio and television broadcasts.

The Washington Football Team announced that its preseason radio and TV broadcasts will include 20-second spots that will encourage fans to bet responsibly. Fans will also be directed to the AGA’s Have a Game Plan website for resources and information.

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Sports, Sports Betting, Washington

BetMGM App Goes Live at Nationals Park

By Brian Walker

Person Browsing a Sports Betting Site on a Tablet

The Entain-MGM Resorts owned BetMGM App went live in DC last Thursday, bringing the MGM brand to th D.C. sports betting market.

Said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt in a statement:

“Launching in Washington, D.C. at Nationals Park sets the stage for our plans to expand BetMGM within the region, as we’ve already seen great success in Virginia. The Washington Nationals have been a fantastic partner, committed to innovating the in-stadium fan experience and we’re looking forward to opening our retail sportsbook at the stadium later this year.”

Part of Exclusive Partnership With Nationals

The launch of the BetMGM App is part of the exclusive partnership that MGM Resorts signed with the Washington Nationals five months ago. Under that agreement, BetMGM will also build a retail sportsbook connected to Nationals Park. That project is expected to launch later this year.

Meanwhile, the BetMGM App can now be downloaded by DC residents via Android or iOS. While the app can be downloaded and accessed throughout the region, wagers can only be placed within a two-block radius from Nationals Park, as per DC law.

Since the BetMGM App is integrated with MGM Resorts M Life Rewards Program, Nationals fans can redeem their gameplay for world-class experiences at all MGM properties across the United States.

Completing Presence in DMV

BetMGM’s mobile app launch in D.C. also completes its presence in the Washington Metroplex known as the DMV ( D.C.-Maryland-Virginia ).

Last January, the BetMGM mobile sports betting app launched in Virginia. BetMGM is also set to have a presence in Maryland where voters approved to legalize sports betting last year. MGM Resorts also operates the MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, just outside of DC.

The BetMGM App is the second mobile sports betting app attached to a sports team in DC. Last summer, William Hill launched in the nation’s capital via its partnership with the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals. Like BetMGM, wagers placed via the William Hill app have to be placed withing a two-block radius from the Capital One Arena.

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Sports, Sports Betting, Washington

Tulalip Tribes Reach Sports Betting Agreement With State Commission

By Brian Walker

Sportsbook

Almost one year after the Washington Legislature voted to legalize sports betting in the state, the terms for the opening of the first sportsbook in Washington has been agreed upon.

Last Friday, the Tulalip Tribes and the Washington State Gambling Commission reached a temporary agreement that will allow legal Washington sports betting sites at two Tulalip Reservation resorts, per an announcement by the state agency.

The 35-page regulations, limits, and controls will now go through a state and federal approval process before the first ever sports bet can be wagered in the state of Washington. The Committee of state legislature and the Gambling Commission will hold hearings and take public comments this spring. After that, the governor and the tribes will sign off the agreement before it is sent to the U.S. Interior Department for Consideration.

National Sports Betting Brands Are Interested

Under the agreement legal Wasington sports betting will include wagers on the top professional sports leagues, the Olympic games, and other international sporting events. College sports bets will also be allowed except for in-state school games. Unlike neighboring Oregon, no online or mobile gaming options will be allowed outside the walls of the authorized tribal casinos.

National sports betting brands like DraftKings, FanDuel, and William Hill have shown interest in competing for the licenses to operate the sportsbooks at the tribal casinos. This was evident during the hearings, and in their public comments to the state Gambling Commission.

Not the Last Agreement

The Tulalip Tribes own the Tulalip Resort Casino and Quil Ceda Creek Casino, both near I-5 on the reservation. The agreement between the Tulalip Tribes is the first between the state gambling commission and a tribal government but it will most certainly be not the last one.

According to the Gambling Commission, 13 to 14 tribes have expressed their interest in offering legal Washington sports betting at their resorts. According to Legal and Legislative manager Brian Considine of the Washington State Gambling Commission, the announcement of the first ever leal Washington sports betting agreement with the Tulalips would launch a cascade of negotiating rounds with the other tribes who now have a concrete agreement to work from.

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Sports, Sports Betting, Washington

Expanded Washington Sports Betting Would Add More Jobs

By Brian Walker

Odds Board and Money
Lawmakers in Washington State are working on a bill that seeks to expand sports betting in the Evergreen State.

The new bill proposes that Washington State sports betting will no longer be conducted by just the tribal casinos and private card rooms. The state wants to expand Washington State sports betting to other locations, similar to how it is across the United States. Primarily, lawmakers want to allow state-run card rooms and horse tracks to engage in Washington State sports betting activities.

said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, a sponsor of the bill:

“This is about fairness. We need to share the wealth. We need to take care of the state of Washington as well.”

Creating Jobs Across the State

Under the expanded bill, sports betting operators would pay licensing fees amounting to $100,000 and are required to pay the state a 10% tax based on their revenues. The proposal will not allow betting on Washington State college sports, high school sports, and eGames.

The supporters of the proposal argue that increasing sports betting locations in the state would create jobs across the state and add an estimated $50M in annual tax revenues. However, those opposed to the idea insist that expanding sports betting in Washington State would take away income from the tribal groups that use these revenues to fund their own operations and social programs.

Lines Are Drawn

Washington State legalized sports betting for tribal casinos last year. However, these casinos have not commenced operations as they are still deciding on compacts in negotiations. The delay by these tribal groups has left the door open for lawmakers to attempt to expand Washington State sports betting.

State officials tried to expand the sports betting law last year but failed to pass a bill. 2021 is going to be an interesting year in Washington State with the lines drawn between the proponents of the expanded bill and those who support the existing one. Although both have good arguments, having more Washington State sports betting operators will be better for the competition and will also mean more income for the state.

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Online Gambling, Sports, Sports Betting, Washington

BetMGM to Open Physical Sportsbook at Nationals Park

By Brian Walker

BetMGM announced on Monday that it has entered into a multi-year agreement with MLB’s Washington Nationals to open a brick and mortar sportsbook at Nationals Park in Washington D.C.

The partnership includes the use of BetMGM’s mobile betting app within the area surrounding the ballpark. BetMGM will have its signage inside Nationals Park with the gambling company designated as the MLB team’s official sports betting partner.

Said BetMGM Chief Revenue Officer Matt Prevost in a statement:

“This new partnership with the Nationals is our most in-depth partnership with a team and showcases the multitude of ways we’re able to engage fans in and out of stadiums.”

Sportsbook inside the Arena

The brick and mortar sportsbook inside Nationals Park will be the second of its kind in the market. In 2018, William Hill opened a temporary physical sportsbook at the Capital One Arena which is the home of the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals. A permanent sportsbook is currently under construction and is expected to open in early spring.

The Nationals Park sportsbook will be located in the space which is currently the Center Field Social, across Center Field Plaza from the Nationals Team Store. That means that the 4,400 square foot Las Vegas Style sportsbook won’t be accessible to fans inside the stadium but that’s where the sports betting app comes in.

BetMGM Sports Betting App

The BetMGM sports betting app will let fans inside the stadium place bets. Per the District’s sports betting regulations, the mobile app will be accessible to bettors from withing two blocks of Nationals Park. BetMGM is targeting the launch of the app for the start of the 2021 MLB season.

Under the District’s sports betting regulations, sports betting apps that are connected to a venue’s physical sportsbook can only operate within a few blocks from the surrounding venue. Only Gamebet DC, the mobile app operated by the D.C. Lottery can be accessed throughout the entire city.

BetMGM Gets Foothold of the Region

The deal with the Washington Nationals will likely give BetMGM a foothold of the region. BetMGM currently operates in 11 states. It already has a sports betting facility in West Virginia and is expected to launch in Virginia this year. BetMGM is also the likely sports betting operator at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland once the state approves its sports betting regulations.

The physical BetMGM sportsbook will include betting windows, electronic betting, and betting kiosks. It will be open all-year round even before or after the MLB season. The sportsbook will not be governed pandemic-related stadium restrictions because it is not a ticketed space. Instead, it will follow all D.C. regulations.

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Sports Betting, Washington

William Hill Sports Betting App Launched in Washington D.C.

By Brian Walker

Sports Betting Graphic and Man Holding Fan of Money

William Hill launched its sports betting app in the Nation’s capital earlier this week after securing approval from the D.C. Office of Lottery and Gaming. However, there is a catch.

Because William Hill received a Class A sports betting license, it’s mobile app is only allowed to be used within two blocks of the Capital One Arena. That’s because a Class A gaming license is reserved for facilities located inside the city’s four major sports stadiums and arenas.

William Hill is the exclusive sports betting partner of the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, and Washington Mystics who all play their home games at the Capital One Arena.

App Not Available Everywhere

The William Hill sports betting app will offer several types of bets including in-play wagering and parlay cards that will link multiple bets. Starting this past Tuesday, it is available for download in any Apple or Google devices. But like D.C. Lottery’s Gamebet DC sports betting app, it isn’t available for use inside federal buildings.

But while the two block radius distance from the Capital One Arena and the prohibition of use inside government buildings is a limitation for the William Hill sports betting app, it’s launch will give DC sports bettors a solid alternative from the existing Gamebet DC sports betting app. William Hill is known to give the best user experience while also offering very competitive odds.

First Sportsbook Inside U.S. Sports Venue

Last July, William Hill also launched a pop-up sportsbook inside the Capital One Arena. It is also awaiting the completion of the construction of a full-service retail sportsbook in the venue. That project is in partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment which owns the Wizards franchise.

Once finished in the spring of 2021, the brick and mortar William Hill sportsbook at the former Greene Turtle Bar at the corner of F and Sixth Streets NW at the arena will have a restaurant and it will offer a first-of-its-kind experience for Washington sports fans and bettors. It will also be the first retail sportsbook to operate inside a U.S. sports venue.

William Hill vs Gamebet DC

The arrival of William Hill in D.C. has given Gambet DC stiff competition. William Hill’s pop-up sportsbook took $13.7M worth of bets with a reported $2.73M in gross gaming revenues in November. In contrast, Gamebet DC took in just $3.9M in sports bet during the same month.

The launch of its sports betting app only looks to make William Hill’s D.C. presence even stronger. Aside from D.C., William Hill has offers its mobile sports betting app in seven other states, namely Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, New Jersey, and West Virginia. It also operates the trading services for the Rhode Island Lottery mobile app.

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Casino, Washington

Spokane Tribe Casino to Double its Current Size in Expansion Project

By Brian Walker

Casino Chips With a Casino Floor Themed Background
The Spokane Tribe Casino in Airway Heights, Washington has broken ground on an expansion project that aims to double its current size.

According to a statement from the Spokane Tribe on Monday, the expansion has already started earlier this month with the demolition of the Washington casino’s east side parking lot. The construction is expected to be completed in the latter part of 2021 and it will help bring in a total of 300 construction and casino jobs. The Spokane Tribe also said that additional amenities and expansion plans will be revealed in a series of announcements next year.

Expansion Project

The expansion project involves the addition of 20,000 square feet of gaming space to the Washington casino’s existing area. It is the second phase of the Spokane Tribe’s Economic Development Plan that calls for a hotel, cultural center, entertainment venue, and retail shops on the 145-acre site on U.S. Highway 2.

Warner Gaming, which operates the Washington casino, will lead the development of the expansion project. Spokane’s Swinerton Builders has been designated as the project contractor while the Cuningham Group from Minnesota will design the expansion.

Per Spokane Tribal Casino Marketing Director Christopher Marzotto, the Spokane Tribe had planned to break ground on the project earlier this year but was forced to move the date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Doubling the Current Size

The Spokane Tribal Casino is built on the Spokane Tribal Exclusive Aboriginal Territory and it is owned and operated by the Spokane Indian Tribe. As such, it has tribal sovereignty and it is not covered by the state’s COVID-19 protocols.

Currently, Gov. Jay Inslee has set a 10 p.m. curfew for establishments in the state. However, since the Spokane Tribal Casino is on reservation land, it is open until 3 a.m. The casino however follows the state’s other protocols like the strict wearing of face masks, temperature checks, and regular disinfection of areas.

Because of its “relaxed” rules during the pandemic, the Washington casino continues to roll as its non-reservation competitors struggle. According to management, the Spokane Trial Casino has made profits of 10% more than its monthly average prior to the pandemic. Because of how well they are doing, they have decided to double the size of the current facility.

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Casino, Sports Betting, Washington

Ilani Casino Announces Expansion Plan

By Brian Walker

Roulette Wheel and Row of Slot Machines

A 14-storey hotel, two new restaurants, and additional gaming space are among the components of a major expansion announced by ilani Casino Resort. The Washington casino also revealed that its 2,700-space six storey parking garage is set to open next month.

The expansion will begin on October 15th with the addition of about 17,000 square feet of gaming area. According to ilani President Kara Fox-LaRose, workers will remove an existing wall of the casino near the foodcourt. The area, which is currently a dirt floor with beams, is already under the same roof as the casino. According to Fox-LaRose, the project will cost $30M.

Roughly 200 jobs, 200 slot machines, and additional gaming tables will be added to the Washington casino as a result of the extension of its gaming area. This project was originally scheduled to open this summer together with the parking garage but has been moved to next summer after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two New Restaurants

One of the restaurants will be an open kitchen format eating house that will serve authentic Asian cuisine. Fox-La Rose added that ilani Casino is designing an Asian-themed gaming area to complement the new Asian restaurant. The second restaurant is still in the planning stage but according to Fox-La Rose, it will incorporate sports betting which the Washington casino plans to offer in the coming years.

The ilani big boss added that they are currently working with the state on the possibility of including electronic table games in the future. Fox-La Rose added that there are a lot of fun products in the market as the gaming industry continues to evolve. The Washington casino is currently going through the selection process in picking which ones to add to their stable.

The ilani Hotel

The planned hotel will employ a few hundred new employees. It will have 300 guest rooms, a swimming pool, spa, and fitness center. It will also feature a top-floor restaurant and a patio on the south side. Ilani also has a design to add a second tower in the future, if that becomes possible. The Las Vegas based Friedmutter Group, which designed all of ilani, is the new hotel’s architect.

The 14-storey tower will be wrapped in a curtain of royal blue glass. It can bee viewed by commuters who are traveling on Interstate 5. Per Fox-La Rose, the goal is to build a (AAA) Four Diamond Hotel since they are no hotels ranked that high in Clark County. Ilani’s current primary customer base come from within 80 miles of the Cowlitz Indian reservation but it also lure a secondary market that lives beyond Southwest Washington.

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Casino, Washington

Here’s an Update on Washington’s Casino Plans

By James Murray

As the days progress, more states are beginning to slowly open back up. Unfortunately, the US land-based casino industry remains completely shut down. This week, officials offered an update on Washington’s casino plans and discussed when these gambling venues may open to the public.Washington State Flag

It’s an extremely complicated situation. Casinos are ideal places for a virus to spread. Now is the perfect time to discuss what measures casino companies in Washington plan on taking to get things back to normal.

Let’s get into it!

The US Casino Industry Remains Shut Down

The past few months have been some of the toughest that US casino companies have ever endured. All casinos in the country have been shut down for weeks. Revenue has stopped flowing in and a huge number of casino employees have lost their jobs.

This has become a more serious issue in some parts of the country. Places like Las Vegas and Atlantic City, for example, are known to rely heavily on their casinos. The regulations set in place are already taking a massive toll on these cities.

Some states are slowly beginning to lift their restrictions. In some ways, this approach is an experiment for the rest of the country. Several top health experts are expressing fear that reopening the economy in these states will result in a spike of new Covid-19 cases.

Unfortunately, even the states with the most relaxed approach towards this virus are unsure about how to reopen casinos. Not long ago, Nevada’s Gaming Control Board released a set of guidelines that casinos can take to open again. Most feel it will be at least a month before the casinos in Las Vegas allows guests in.

Washington is known for having a successful casino industry. Tribal leaders in the state have been looking at ways to reopen casinos for weeks. Here’s what’s being discussed right now.

Tribal Governments Offer an Update on Washington’s Casino Plans

When most people think of the US casino industry, states like Washington don’t come to mind. That’s not entirely surprising. In reality, though, the state’s casinos generate more than $2 billion in revenue every year.

Closing down casinos here has been devastating for many local economies. Tens of thousands of Washington residents work inside casinos. According to a report by the Washington Indian Gaming Association, Tribal governments here are the 8th largest employer in the entire state.

Tribal leaders are now giving an update on Washington’s casino plans. Ron Allen, chairman of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and a member of the Washington Indian Gaming Association, spoke about the impact that closing down casinos is having.

“We are definitely in survival mode,” he said. “Some tribes would like to open up now, but we don’t want to be the source that causes anyone to get sick from the virus. It is a calculated risk, when to open up, but we can’t wait for zero, there won’t be any economy left.”

Many tribes have been forced to lay off thousands of workers. None have set official dates to reopen yet. Most agree that it’s impossible to do so until the virus spread is under control. Even then, these casinos are going to look different than they used to for some time.

Fortunately, infection rates have been relatively low in Washington in recent weeks. With more widespread testing, things may begin to improve here quicker than some analysts predict.

Las Vegas Casinos Continue Looking at Ways to Reopen

Washington is clearly taking a hit due to the shutdown of the state’s gambling industry. The economic losses here pale in comparison to what’s happening over in Nevada, though. Las Vegas casinos are completely shut down and revenue here is now at a record low.

The gambling and entertainment industry here employs hundreds of thousands of people. As time goes on, the impact of the casino shutdown gets more severe. Several major casino companies here are losing millions of dollars every single day.

Some hoped that things would begin to reopen by May. That includes Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, who continues to call for the city to reopen. Casino companies are now focused on finding ways to safely allow guests back in.

A few of the major casino-resorts on the Las Vegas Strip are accepting reservations as early as June. It seems these companies feel they’ll find safe reopening solutions by then. A recent report stated that the MGM’s New York New York and Bellagio venues may be the first to open their doors.

The update on Washington’s casino plans is similar to what many state leaders are saying. Unless everyone knows things will be completely safe, these casinos will remain closed.

When do you expect the US casino industry to get back on track? What do you think casinos will look like once they reopen? Let us know in the comments section below.