SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6137
As of January 21, 2026
Title: An act relating to bolstering the regulated sports wagering industry.
Brief Description: Concerning the regulated sports wagering industry.
Sponsors: Senators Cortes, Nobles, Saldaña, Stanford and Wellman.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Business, Trade & Economic Development: 1/22/26.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Permits wagering on a collegiate sport or athletic event that involves a college located within Washington in tribal casinos. 
  • Prohibits wagering on the performance or nonperformance of an athlete enrolled in a college located in Washington.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Staff: William Bridges (786-7312)
Background:

Class III Gaming and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.  Class III gaming includes banking card games, slot machines, pari-mutuel lotteries, electronic games of chance, and sports wagering. The federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) 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 the 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. 

 

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. 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; and
  • 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.
Summary of Bill:

Permitting Sports Wagering on College Sports with Limitations.  Wagering on a collegiate sport or athletic event that involves a post-secondary educational institution located within Washington is permitted.  Wagers on the performance or nonperformance of an individual athlete that is enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution that is located within Washington are prohibited.

 

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.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 19, 2026. Fiscal note on House companion HB 2205 requested on January 5, 2026.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.