The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

The federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (1988) (IGRA) affirmed tribal gaming rights and provides a framework for Indian tribes and states to negotiate, on a government-to-government basis, for how class III gaming will be conducted within a state and on tribal lands.  Under IGRA, class III gaming is only authorized on tribal land if the governing body of the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over that land adopts an ordinance or resolution authorizing such activities.  Class III gaming includes banking card games, slot machines, pari-mutuel lotteries, electronic games of chance, and sports wagering. 

Sports Wagering in Washington.

In Washington, sports wagering is permitted only at a tribal gaming facility of a federally recognized Indian tribe that amends its class III gaming compact to authorize the tribe to conduct sports wagering on its land.  Gambling information may be transmitted over the internet for sports wagering, however, a wager may be placed and accepted at a tribe's gaming facility only while the customer placing the wager is physically present on the premises of that tribe's gaming facility. 

With exceptions, wagers may be placed on any of the following sporting events, athletic events, or competitions:

• a professional sport or athletic event;
• a collegiate sport or athletic event;
• an Olympic or international sports competition or event;
• an electronic sports or esports competition or event;
• a combination of the above sporting events, athletic events, or competitions; or
• a portion of any of the above sporting events, athletic events, or competitions. 

Wagers may not be placed on a collegiate sport or athletic event that is offered or sponsored by, or played in connection with, a public or private post-secondary educational institution located within Washington.  Wagering on any minor league sport is also prohibited.

The following criminal prohibitions are class C felonies:

• No person may offer, promise, give, or attempt to give any thing of value to any person for the purpose of influencing the outcome of a sporting event, athletic event, or competition upon which a wager may be made. 
• No person may place, increase, or decrease a wager after acquiring knowledge unavailable to the general public that anyone has been offered, promised, or given any thing of value for the purpose of influencing the outcome of a sporting event, athletic event, or competition upon which the wager is placed, increased, or decreased.
• No person may offer, promise, give, or attempt to give any thing of value to obtain confidential or insider information not available to the public with intent to use the information to gain a wagering advantage on a sporting event, athletic event, or competition.
• No person may accept or agree to accept any thing of value for the purpose of wrongfully influencing his or her play, action, decision-making, or conduct in any sporting event, athletic event, or competition upon which a wager may be made. 

Proposition Bets.

A proposition bet, or prop bet, is a wager placed on an individual player or specific event in a game or match that is not directly connected to the final outcome of the game or match. 

Sports wagering on a collegiate sport or athletic event that involves a post-secondary educational institution located within Washington is permitted.  Sports wagering may not be conducted on:

• the performance or nonperformance of an individual athlete that is enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution that is located within Washington;
• an in-game decision made by a coach who is employed by a post-secondary educational institution that is located within Washington; or
• an officiating decision in a collegiate sport or athletic event offered or sponsored by, or played in connection with, an educational institution that is located within Washington.

"In-game decision" is defined as a player substitution; a call for a timeout; a request or challenge for replay review; or an appeal of an officiating decision.  An "officiating decision" includes an officiating assignment; a call or ruling for a penalty, foul, violation, or replay; or any other decision by a sports official, referee, or umpire that involves the individual's judgment.

A person who threatens a sports official, coach, or participant involved in a sporting event, athletic event, or competition upon which a wager may be placed where the threat is related to a wager on an act or occurrence in that event or competition is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.  A person commits this offense if the person: 

• threatens immediate or future bodily harm to the person threatened; 
• threatens immediate or future physical damage to the property of the person threatened; or
• by words or conduct, places the person threatened in reasonable fear that the threat will be carried out.

A person who is convicted of the gross misdemeanor is prohibited from placing any sports wagers.

A tribe's class III gaming compact may be amended pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to authorize the tribe to conduct and operate sports wagering on any Indian lands.  For gambling information transmitted over the internet, a wager may be placed and accepted at a tribe's gaming facility if the customer placing the wager is physically present on the premises of any tribe's gaming facility. 

(In support) In-state collegiate betting is already happening through illegal or unregulated platforms that do not provide regulatory oversight or safeguards for problem gambling.  This proposal does not create new markets; it just brings existing markets into a regulated space.  When there is oversight of the sports betting market, irregularities and suspicious or illegal activity can be detected.  Tribal gaming has an established regulatory system with oversight.  This system ensures that participants are engaging in a system that is fair, legal, and transparent.  The ban on prop bets for college athletes is not symbolic:  it is enforceable and critical to ensuring the safety of the game. 

(Opposed) This proposal exposes student athletes to more harassment; the ban on prop bets does not change this as other types of bets still create problems.  When an activity is legalized, the amount of the activity will increase.  The anti-harassment language will not be enforced. 

(Other) The University of Washington has a number of measures related to sports wagering to support student safety.  The ban on prop betting needs to stay in the bill because it protects athletes.  The ban on props bets is consistent with NCAA recommendations.

(In support) Yale Rowe, Emerald Queen Casino, GM.