Washington governor approves legislation legalizing college sports betting within the state

(AsiaGameHub) –   Governor Bob Ferguson has signed SB 6137.

US.- Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has signed SB 6137, legislation authorizing tribal casinos to provide wagering on college sports. Betting on professional and Olympic-level sports was already authorized.

Wagers on the performance of specific athletes are prohibited, and betting on minor league sports continues to be banned. The legislation also extends legal safeguards to participants in athletic events, such as players, coaches, and referees.

The bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Adrian Cortes, had cautioned that residents were using illegal or unregulated channels to place bets.

According to The Seattle Times, he stated: “During a time when online hate and harassment are on the rise, it’s more important than ever that we protect student athletes by properly regulating sports betting on college sports in our state.”

Washington State AG files lawsuit against unlicensed online casino apps

In February, Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown initiated legal action against several firms running unlicensed online casino applications. The filing accuses them of breaching the Gambling Act and the Consumer Protection Act and aims to recoup financial losses incurred by residents.

As reported by the Office of the Attorney General, these apps have extracted over $225 million from residents since September 2020. The lawsuit names suppliers like Playtika and Aristocrat, asserting they are accountable for 16 applications utilized by more than 150,000 residents monthly for gambling through the acquisition of virtual currency.