WIGA Executive Director Rebecca George welcomes fourth Washington sportsbook

BetMGM has announced that legalized sports betting is now live in the state of Washington at the BetMGM Sportsbook at the Emerald Queen Casino (EQC).
Image source: BetMGM

Rebecca George, Executive Director of the Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA), has welcomed the opening this week of Washington State’s latest sportsbook. 

On Monday, the Puyallup Tribe’s Emerald Queen Casino opened its sportsbook for business, making it the fourth tribal casino in Washington State to offer sports betting. Sixteen tribes in Washington have received approval to add sports betting, with more announcements from tribal casinos expected soon.  

Said George: “The option to place a legal bet on sporting betting at a tribal casino has now been available to responsible Washington State adults for more than three months. The Puyallup Tribe’s BetMGM at EQC Sportsbook lounge became the largest sportsbook in the Pacific Northwest when it opened on Monday.

“Four tribal casinos across the state now offer sports betting, and 12 more are in the works. The benefits of these operations for Washington State’s tribes can not be overstated. Tribal communities across Washington count on revenues from tribal gaming to fund a broad range of services for their local communities. The benefits extend beyond reservation borders, adding good jobs and boosting local economic activity.” 

She added: “Tribal sports betting, like all tribal gaming, is subject to multiple layers of regulatory oversight, and tribal gaming has a proven track record over three decades of conducting gaming in a safe, fair, and responsible manner. 

“The success of our tribal casinos and the major economic benefits they provide is a testament to the strong partnership that Washington State tribes have forged with the State of Washington and federal authorities. 

“At a time when COVID and other challenges have impacted tribal governments, this new amenity and the revenues it will generate are all the more important in the efforts of Washington’s tribes to strengthen their self-reliance.”