As of January 20, Washington lawmakers are advancing a proposal that would loosen some of the nation’s strictest sports-betting rules while keeping the state’s ban on statewide mobile wagering intact. The measure, House Bill 2205, is framed as a “sports wagering integrity” update aimed at strengthening the regulated market that currently operates exclusively through tribal gaming compacts.
The biggest headline is college sports. HB 2205 would remove language that effectively barred wagering tied to Washington-based colleges, opening the door to bets on in-state teams. At the same time, it draws a bright line on athlete integrity: the bill would prohibit wagers on the performance or nonperformance of any specifically named individual participant enrolled at a Washington institution—effectively blocking player-prop style bets on local college athletes.
The bill also clarifies how digital betting can function on tribal properties. Washington already permits transmission of wagering information over the internet only when a bettor is physically present on a tribal casino premises. HB 2205 tweaks the statutory wording in a way supporters say could enable more flexible app-based wagering experiences on-site, without creating statewide online betting. HB 2205 received a public hearing on January 16 in the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee, with an executive session scheduled for January 23.
