Washington Sports Betting – The Best WA Betting Sites & Sportsbooks

Washington state is one of the latest in the U.S. to allow legal sports betting. However, the laws can be a little confusing. Retail sports betting is allowed at any of the tribal casinos across the state, but the law also is worded in such a way that sports gambling is only legal when you go through casino operators.

If you’re looking to get in on the online action you will have a much better betting experience going through sports gambling sites that operate offshore.

When it comes to the best online betting sites, you want to see variety across the board, especially regarding the leagues and types of sports markets offered, bonuses and banking methods among others.

In addition to reviewing the top offshore sportsbooks to help you find your ideal betting site, we will cover the legal issues surrounding sports betting both in person and online in the Evergreen State.

Top Washington Sportsbooks

Best Washington Sports Betting Sites in 2023

Our experts have put in the time to research the growing market of online betting sites to find the best ones for you, based on a set of criteria. We have included our top 10 list of the best sportsbooks available to anyone in Washington today. Here are each of the standout betting site features.

1. Bookmaker – Earliest lines in the market
2. Heritage Sports – Elite for live betting
3. Bovada – Great prop builder
4. BetOnline – Specializes in opinionated lines
5. BetAnySports – Best for reduced juice (-105)
6. BetUS – Large bonuses
7. WagerWeb – Good for crypto
8. Everygame – Best-looking site
9. SportsBetting – $25 risk-free live bet
10. JustBet – Early lines

All 10 sites are offshore sportsbooks, meaning they are located outside of the country and are not subject to the same sports wagering law as operators in the United States. They offer legal sports betting, online slot machines, and other casino games.

For more on the legal issues surrounding Washington sports betting and specific betting site features, scroll below in our guide.

Is it legal to bet on sports in Washington?

Sports betting is legal in Washington, but only if done at a tribal casino in the state. However, if you plan on betting on the Washington Huskies, Gonzaga Bulldogs, or another in-state collegiate team this year, you’re also out of luck. The Washington State Gambling Commission still prohibits college sports betting.

Strangely, Washington is also one of the few states left in the country where you cannot legally play Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) with the use of DraftKings or FanDuel.

Until online sports betting is fully functional across the state, your best option is to join the offshore sportsbooks we highlighted in this guide.

The Best Washington Sportsbooks Reviews 

We understand you need more convincing than a bulleted top 10 list. That is why we have included 10 in-depth reviews for our top offshore sportsbooks that Washington users can join today. 

1. Bookmaker: Earliest Lines in the Market 

Bookmaker.eu has been around since 1996, making it one of the oldest sportsbooks in the industry. That level of experience adds to its argument for being the best offshore sportsbook for Washington players. You will get access to some of the earliest lines in the market, which can be very valuable to sports bettors.

While the reputation of early lines is well known with Bookmaker, the live betting markets are also heating up with a ton of options from different leagues across the world. You can bet on your favorite college team in Washington State at Bookmaker, which is something you cannot do at a tribal casino that takes legal bets as betting on collegiate sports is not legal in Washington State.

Bookmaker also has one of the best racebooks with everything from the Triple Crown races to tracks ranging from North America to Australia. If you join the loyalty program, you are in line to earn some great reload bonuses if you are a heavy bettor. The nice thing about Bookmaker is that winning players will not see their accounts get limited like on some books.

2. Heritage Sports: Elite for Live Betting 

Heritage Sports has operated out of Costa Rica since 2001, spending many years as an invite-only service. But with demand increasing, they let the door open to anyone to join, including any players in Washington looking to get some of the best reduced juice lines for sports bets.

The Reduced Juice-Cash Back program is a must-have for serious sports bettors at Heritage Sports making it one of the best promos around.

Not only do you get -108 lines on sides and totals, but you also get free weekly payouts, a 10% cash deposit bonus, an 8% casino bonus, and up to 4% in racebook rebates each month, Double Cash Back on parlays of four or more legs and every eighth deposit is on the house.

You also will be given free entry into any contest, and every bet you place (regardless if you win or lose) can give you up to 0.8% cashback. 

The live betting at Heritage Sports is also some of the best in the market with plenty of options and a good mobile app to place them with ease. You also will enjoy their racebook and live casino games. The esports section is arguably the best in our list if that is something that interests you too.

3. Bovada: Awesome for Prop Picks

Bovada is a well-established online sportsbook and poker room operating out of Costa Rica. It is very easy to use for Americans who may be new to the industry and want to place some bets safely with quick payouts. 

One of the best features of Bovada is its prop builder which is well-designed and easy to make parlays for your favorite leagues. You also will get high limits and relatively low rollover on bonus money, and it is one of the most crypto-friendly sites in our list with many users using Bitcoin for their transactions. Those crypto transactions are processed within a day or two and carry no fee.

Beyond the sportsbook, you can play in poker tournaments on the busiest operating poker network for American users. They also have a fun racebook with plenty of choices and drop-down menus that make getting your Win/Place/Show bets a piece of cake. 

4. BetOnline: Best Opinionated Lines

Costa Rica is clearly the offshore sportsbook mecca of the world as BetOnline is another one of its A+ rated sites. The distinguishing factor for BetOnline is opinionated lines on NFL, NBA and MLB. You won’t find these lines elsewhere, and you can build props using them.

For example, U.S. sites like FanDuel offer alternate lines for all starting NFL receivers to have 25-plus receiving yards, 40-plus receiving yards and other multiples of 10. But at BetOnline, you can get one receiver with lines like 34-plus yards, 44-plus yards, 54-plus yards, and another player in the same game can have options like 28-plus yards, 38-plus yards and so on. It’s just more flexibility for your bets.

You can also get a daily booster for enhanced odds on select markets, and there are many options for live betting. The 50% welcome bonus of up to $1,000 is one of the most generous for new users looking to bet on sports. BetOnline also does a high-quality job with its racebook, esports and a great online casino. 

5. BetAnySports: Reduced Juice & More  

Also based in Costa Rica since 2002, BetAnySports is an A-rated sportsbook with the best Less Juice Package in our top five. While every site has -110 betting lines, and a few more offer reduced juice lines at -108, BetAnySports takes it even further with -105 lines on sides and totals. 

You also get access to a pretty solid prop builder that will parlay certain markets you couldn’t even parlay at a retail sportsbook in a Washington casino. BetAnySports is also home to a variety of different lines from American Lines to Offshore Lines to Premier Lines, Super Lines and Ultimate Lines. The differences come in which markets are available, some slight variations in prices, and the Super Lines and Premier Lines are mostly about live betting markets.

New accounts can receive a 25% cash bonus of up to $500 on their first deposit. The user is allowed to get one free payout every 30 days, and your every seventh deposit is free if you have a “House Money” account.

6. BetUS: America’s Favorite Sportsbook 

BetUS is a very experienced sportsbook from Costa Rica with a launch date of 1994. Known as “America’s Favorite Sportsbook,” BetUS has betting markets on all the popular American leagues as well as plenty of obscure ones like snooker, table tennis, and handball. You can also bet on entertainment, political and novelty markets.

The prop picks could be a little better organized like the sites in our top five, but a fair selection is available for popular leagues. The real strengths at BetUS are the high limits, large bonuses and the original content that will help you become a better bettor. Not only are there useful guides about all aspects of betting, but BetUS TV has original series with experts providing analysis and sports picks. Look for more companies to follow suit as the legal betting industry continues to expand across the states. 

7. WagerWeb: Crypto-Friendly

WagerWeb compares most favorably to Heritage Sports when it comes to our top 10 list. Both are from Costa Rica, but WagerWeb has actually been around longer, launching in 1994 compared to 2001 for Heritage Sports. They both also offer -108 reduced juice odds, and you can find live betting, a racebook and casino games. WagerWeb also allows users to join a weekly football contest at no charge.

A lot of the best welcome bonuses at WagerWeb are only eligible to users who make their first deposits using Bitcoin or MoneyGram, so they lose some points for transaction flexibility there. But players not using those methods can get 20% cash up to $1,000 with 10x rollover, so there are promotions for everyone at WagerWeb. You also can receive 1% cash back every Monday for your bets in the sportsbook (win or lose). This will be rewarded as a Free Play with no rollover. 

8. Everygame: Great Mobile Site

Long known as Intertops, the Antigua-based Everygame was rebranded recently to celebrate its 25th year in the business. With a sleek, new web design and deep sports markets, the rebranding is a very accurate name for this A-rated site. You also get a great selection of obscure sports, and you can even bet on markets like the South African Powerball drawing. 

There is a robust live betting section with markets on college football, American football, soccer and many more. You also get access to a couple of the best online casinos around with over 300 video slots and downloadable poker software also available.

New users can get up to $750 on their first three deposits as a sign-up bonus. You will get $250 per deposit with 4x rollover (minimum odds of -200) that must be completed before the next bonus is unlocked.

9. SportsBetting: 50% Sports Welcome Bonus 

SportsBetting may not have put a lot of thought into its name, but its website is impressive. It was bought years ago by BetOnline, so you can see some similarities in how the sites look and operate, which is good since BetOnline is one of our top choices.

But SportsBetting is a bit more than just a copycat of BetOnline. SportsBetting also offers some very solid promotions, including a 50% Sports Welcome Bonus of up to $1,000. There are also 25% sports reload bonuses up to $250 and 35% when you use crypto.

You can also enter great sports contests like NFL Survivor pools where the winners can take anywhere from $10,000 (free entry) to $150,000 ($30 entry fee). You can also get some fun insurance on your bets like a $50 credit on spread bets if the NFL team you bet on gets shut out, or a $50 credit on NBA moneyline bets if your team blows a 15-point lead after halftime. Your first live bet is also a $25 risk-free bet, so give live betting a try when you join SportsBetting.

10. JustBet: A Sister Site to Bookmaker

JustBet is a sister site to Bookmaker, our No. 1 sportsbook. The good news is you can expect a similar gambling experience to using Bookmaker, including the early lines on sports that they are famous for. You will also have access to a racebook section, and a casino loaded with your usual assortment of Vegas-style games. The loyalty program is also very much the same thing with three tiers (Gold, Platinum, Diamond) where you accumulate points for rewards such as great reload bonuses.

If there is a criticism we can put on JustBet, it would be that it doesn’t distinguish itself enough from Bookmaker. They could have added something new that Bookmaker does not have like poker tournaments, but you are largely signing up for the same experience on a site that arguably has a worse design than Bookmaker’s efficient layout.

Recent Washington Sports Betting Timeline 

To help you understand how the legality of sports betting in the Evergreen State has reached the point it is at today, here is a timeline of recent events:

• September 2021: The state’s first sportsbook opens at Snoqualmie Casino for in-person bets before later adding online bets to those using an app on tribal ground.
• March 2020: After the Washington Senate approves the bill by a 34-15 margin, it is signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee on March 25, 2020. Tribal casinos are now allowed to take sports bets in person and online if the bettor is present on tribal grounds.
• February 2020: Bill HB 2638 is passed by the Washington House in an 83-14 vote.
• January 2020: Bill HB 2638 is presented to make it legal in the state of Washington for tribal casinos to accept sports bets.
• November 2006: Washington lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment to make online gambling illegal and a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $10,000. While this anti-gambling law has not led to the imprisonment of any Washington resident, it is the most Draconian law of its kind in America and is still in effect today despite some challenges over the years.

Presently, there is still no law in place to legalize online sports betting across Washington State. The tribal casinos continue to make partnerships with retail sportsbooks such as BetMGM and FanDuel to provide betting options on professional sports in their casinos on tribal grounds.

Washington Sports Betting Teams 

Washington has had a solid sports history, both with professional teams and some top-notch college programs such as Gonzaga (Bulldogs) and the University of Washington (Huskies). With the recent addition of the Seattle Kraken in the NHL, Seattle has had a team in all four major American sports leagues, but never at the same time. The Supersonics left for Oklahoma City in 2008.

Here are some of the most noteworthy professional and college sports teams in Washington State:

• NFL: Seattle Seahawks
• NBA: Washington Wizards
• WNBA: Seattle Storm
• MLB: Seattle Mariners
• NHL: Seattle Kraken
• MLS: Seattle Sounders FC
• College: Gonzaga University, Seattle University, University of Washington and Washington State University

Compare the Best Washington Betting Sites & Sportsbooks

Below you can easily compare each of our highest-rated sportsbooks:

Sportsbook	Rating	Online Since	Payment Methods	Read Review
Bookmaker	A+	1996	Credit Card, Bitcoin, P2P, Crypto	Bookmaker Review
Heritage Sports	A+	2001	Credit Card, Bitcoin, Cashiers Check, Bank Transfer, P2P	Heritage Sports Review
Bovada	A+	2011	Credit Card, Bitcoin	Bovada Review
BetOnline	A+	2001	Credit Card, Bitcoin, Crypto, Cashiers Check, Bank Transfer, P2P	BetOnline Review
BetAnySports	A	2002	Credit Card, Bitcoin, Electronic Check	BetAnySports Review
BetUS	A	2000	Credit Card, Bitcoin, Bank Transfer, P2P	BetUS Review
WagerWeb	A	1994	Credit Card, Bitcoin, Cashiers Check, Bank Transfer, P2P	WagerWeb Review
Everygame	A	1996	Credit Card, Bitcoin, Skrill, Neteller, Bank Transfer, P2P	Everygame Review
SportsBetting	A	2002	Credit Card, Bitcoin, Crypto, Cashiers Check, Bank Transfer, P2P	SportsBetting Review
JustBet	A	2000	Credit Card, Bitcoin, P2P, Crypto	JustBet Review

As you can see, Bookmaker.eu, Heritage Sports, Bovada and BetOnline all have earned an A+ rating from our industry experts.

Important Traits of the Best Washington Sportsbooks 

The best sportsbooks for bettors in the Evergreen State tend to grade well in the key criteria we use to evaluate them:

Wide Variety of Betting Options 

Many moons ago, a sports bettor would call their bookie and just place a spread, total or moneyline wager. Things have changed drastically over time with so many unique betting markets and parlay bets now available. When you join an online betting site, you want to look for a huge selection of game props, player props, futures, live betting markets and much more. Same Game Parlays (SGP) are also extremely popular now where you can add multiple props and lines from the same game onto the same parlay. Look for all the sportsbooks to get better at adding those to live up to the high standard FanDuel has set with SGP and SGP+.

Competitive Betting Odds 

If you want to get serious about sports betting, you should have accounts at multiple sportsbooks so you can shop around for the best prices on your desired wagers. Some sites, such as Heritage Sports and BetAnySports, offer reduced juice where you can get -108 or even -105 lines instead of the traditional -110 offerings.

Bonuses and Promotions 

A generous sign-up bonus can reel in a new Washington user to a site but keeping them there for the long term is going to require more promotions and perks. In this competitive market, you can expect to see a variety of these offerings at a top-level offshore sportsbook:

• Reload bonuses 
• Risk-free bets
• Rebates on losses
• Loyalty/VIP membership
• Refer-a-friend program
• Enhanced odds 
• Contests/sweepstakes

Always check for these on a continuous basis, including limited deals that may require the use of sportsbook promo codes like the ones we track at Bookmakers Review. 

Mobile-Friendly Interface to Make Bets 

The beauty of online sports betting is being able to use your phone to make bets on the fly. This is why we love to see a mobile betting site that looks good on a phone or table, runs smoothly and can handle live bets in an instant for as many markets as possible. Most of the offshore sportsbooks lack a native app that you can download on the Play Store or Apple Store, but they all have websites tested to run well on your favorite devices. 

Trustworthy Reputation 

Experience does count for something, so the companies such as Bookmaker and BetOnline that can boast 25-plus years of experience are given a boost for reliability and trustworthiness. A lot of new sites will be popping up in this market as more parts of the U.S. and the world legalize online sports gambling, but BMR will always be on top of reviewing these sites to find the best brands for you to join. 

Quick and Secure Sportsbook Payouts 

One of the easiest ways to get a bad grade is to have a bad reputation when it comes to paying customers in a timely manner. We put a lot of importance on a site’s ability to pay winning bets on time and with a wide selection of withdrawal and deposit options.

Fortunately, most online sportsbooks are getting good at providing a variety of payment methods from traditional services (credit/debit cards, checks, wire transfers) to more modern methods (P2P, eWallets, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, etc.). 

Helpful Customer Service 

Bet on sports often enough and the day may come when you have a need to dispute the way a sports bet was settled. Maybe because a player was injured or a surprise scratch before game time. You should be able to inquire about this or any other issue with a variety of customer service methods, including online forms, emails, phone calls, and video chat. Most do offer this support 24/7, but some sites are inevitably going to be more helpful than others with their customer service team.

History of Gambling in Washington State

The history of gambling in Washington is a contentious one. Let this following timeline of historical events serve as a guide for the struggle to get any forms of gambling legalized in the Evergreen State: 

• 1889 – Washington is established as a state, and its original constitution declares lotteries and all forms of gambling to be prohibited activities.
• 1902 – The Meadows opens, becoming Seattle’s first popular racetrack. Track betting starts to occur.
• 1909 – Gambling is banned by the Washington State Legislature, leading to the end of Seattle’s first racetrack.
• 1933 – The Washington Horse Racing Commission (WHRC) is formed to regulate horse races and betting on horse racing across the state.
• 1933 – Following an impressive five-month construction, the Longacres racetrack is quickly opened in Renton.
• 1971 – Bingo and raffles are legalized in the state.
• 1974 – Card rooms are accepted and begin hosting poker games.
• 1980 – Two legislative leaders, John Bagnariol and Gordon Walgren, are charged with conspiring with undercover FBI agents to allow illegal gambling in Washington State in exchange for a share of the profits. This became known as the “Gamscam” scandal.
• 1982 – Washington introduces a state-sanctioned lottery game during a state budget crisis.
• 1988 – Congress authorizes the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, allowing Native American tribes to build casinos in the country.
• 1992 – The Lummi and Tulalip tribes open the first tribal casinos in Washington.
• 1992 – The racetrack at Longacres closes, ending the West Coast’s longest-running Thoroughbred track.
• 1996 – Emerald Downs, still the go-to spot for Washington horse racing today, opens in Auburn.
• 1997 – Card rooms offering blackjack and other table games are allowed to operate in the state off of tribal grounds.
• 1999 – Electronic slot machines are put into use in tribal casinos.
• 2004 – The WHRC approves advance deposit wagering on horse racing, which allows bettors from off-track locations to wager.
• 2006 – State lawmakers pass an amendment to make online gambling illegal and a Class C felony, punishable by 5-to-10 years in prison and a fine of $10,000.
• 2010 – The 2006 law to make online gambling illegal is upheld by a judge.
• 2018 – The Supreme Court overturns the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a 1992 ruling that essentially banned sports betting in the country. This reversal opens the doors for states to legalize sports betting.
• 2020 – A bill is passed in Washington to legalize sports betting at tribal casinos. Betting on in-state collegiate teams is still illegal.
• 2021 – Snoqualmie Casino introduces the state’s first sportsbook for in-person bets and also begins accepting online bets from those using the casino’s app while on tribal ground.
• 2022 – More than 10 tribal casinos in the state – with more expected to join – have retail sportsbooks deals with partners such as FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, and Caesars.

What are the differences between Washington-regulated sportsbooks and offshore sportsbooks?

A regulated sportsbook in Washington would be one that has to follow all the rules and regulations set forth by the state to legally operate within state lines. If a sportsbook is offshore, then it is located in another country and only has to follow the rules in its jurisdiction. This is why offshore sportsbooks and offshore mobile sportsbooks are allowed to accept Washington users even if they can only access in-person sports betting locally.

This does not mean the online betting sites are breaking any laws, because they do not have to follow the laws of any U.S. territory. Offshore sites like the ones in our guide are all legitimate companies. Users still must be at least 18 years old to join them.

One of the other key differences between regulated sportsbooks and offshore sports betting sites is the fact that offshore sites offer a wide selection of different gambling markets. Their sports betting markets are broader and more varied, and you can enjoy casino gambling and online wagering on niche betting markets with them. Regulated legal sportsbooks simply can’t compete with the number of gambling options that you can find with offshore sportsbooks.

Washington Betting Guides

• Sports Betting Apps
• Horse Racing
• Gambling Sites
• Online Casinos
• Seattle Casinos
• Online Poker

FAQs – Washington State Online Sports Betting Legality