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SUBJECTS › LEGAL › Gambling in Washington State
Reviewed 12/08

Gambling in Washington State

Contents

Introduction to Gambling in Washington State

The purpose of this page is to provide local governments with information about gambling and gambling regulation in Washington State.  Gambling, like liquor sales and use, is an activity that is generally controlled by state law, and cities and counties are quite limited in their ability to regulate it locally.   However, they are authorized to: (1) tax certain gambling activities; (2) enact as local ordinances any of the state gambling statutes the violation of which constitutes a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor; and/or (3) prohibit any or all gambling activities for which licenses are required.

Gambling activities have received more attention locally as a result of 1996 and 1997 legislation that permits gambling establishments offering card room gambling to have up to 15 tables and to have "house-banked" card games.  For a discussion of the issues surrounding the new card rooms, or "mini-casinos, and concerning gambling regulation in general, view the article from our March 1999 newsletter, New Laws Allow Enhanced Card Rooms : Local Governments Address Effects by Bob Meinig, MRSC Legal Consultant. An initiative measure that would have expanded the availability of electronic slot machines, Initiative 892, was defeated by voters in November, 2004.

In deciding how to address whether to prohibit some or all gambling activities allowed by state law, cities and counties are confronted with much conflicting information on the effects of gambling on local communities. While some studies have been made or are in progress concerning the effects of gambling on local communities, there is no definitive word on these impacts.  The results and predictions of existing studies are often dependent on the agenda of the sponsoring organization.  MRSC has collected some information on this issue and hopes to collect more.

We would appreciate your comments, leads to additional useful information, and information about your jurisdiction's activities. Send your comments and information additions to Bob Meinig at bmeinig@mrsc.org or call 206-625-1300.

Information by Subject

Gambling Studies

Card Rooms

Revenue

Reference Sources

Local Ordinances

State Statutes

Administrative Regulations

Cases

  • Edmonds Shopping Center v. Edmonds, 117 Wn. App. 344 (2003).  The state court of appeals held that a city may prohibit card rooms, including existing card rooms, but is preempted by state law from requiring or allowing a phase-out period of operation. For more information, see MRSC Focus article State Court of Appeals Upholds Mini-Casino Ban, June 24, 2003.
  • Paradise Village Bowl v. Pierce County, 124 Wn. App. 759 (2004).  In a case similar to the Edmonds Shopping Center case, above, the state court of appeals upheld the county's ban on for-profit social card games, rejecting a challenge by a business that included such card games and that alleged that the ban was a takings and violated substantive due process and equal protection.

Links to Other Gambling Resources

Government Agencies

Private and Nonprofit Agencies