Arranging any of its financial or recording phases or any other phase of its operationĬriminal charges for professional gambling range from a gross misdemeanor to a class B felony.

Soliciting or inducing persons to participate in the activities.Acquiring or maintaining the premises, paraphernalia, equipment, or apparatus.Creating or establishing the game, contest, scheme, or device.Accept or receive money or other property from participation in a gambling activityĬonduct may include activity directed toward:.Pay a fee to participate in a card game, a contest of chance, a lottery, or other gambling activity.Engage in conduct which materially aids any form of gambling activity.You are engaged in professional gambling if, acting other than as a player, you are knowingly: If you have a substantial interest in or other control over any premises, you will be held responsible and could be charged with professional gambling if you knowingly allow unauthorized gambling activity on your premises.

Only licensed card rooms can collect a fee or percentage of wagers from card games.Ĭharitable and nonprofit organizations may let their members play unlicensed card and dice games under restricted conditions. It is illegal for individuals to offer cards, dice games, or any gambling activity for profit. Slot machines, video poker and video pull-tabs, pachinko and pachislo machines, and other electronic games of chance are illegal in Washington.

State law prohibits anyone from training animals to fight, fighting animals, or being present at fights, whether professional gambling is taking place. Professional gambling is illegal and is usually connected to animal fights. Bookmakingīookmaking means taking bets or wagers on the outcome of a future event, typically sporting events, when you conduct the activity as a business and accept a fee from the bettor for the chance to place a bet. You can learn more about sports wagering licensing or about the rules that govern sports wagering in Washington state. Sports wagering is illegal in Washington state except at tribal casinos with amended Class III compacts following the passage of House Bill 2638 in March 2020.ġ00-square sports pool boards are also permitted under restricted conditions. You can report illegal gambling activity to us at any time.

Gambling involves three elements: prize, chance, and consideration (wager or anything of value).Ĭonducting illegal gambling activities may result in criminal charges being filed against you, your organization, and/or its officers, and forfeiture of all property or money associated with illegal gambling. Gambling in Washington state is illegal unless the activity is specifically authorized by state law.

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