Online Poker in Washington: Legal Background 2025

Best online poker sites to play in Washington

• 

  4.7

  #1

  4.7

  BetOnline

  Chico Poker Network

  

  Bonus

  100% up to $1,000

  

  Rakeback

  VIP

  ReviewSign up

  

  United States is accepted

  • Bitcoins accepted

  GambleAware.org

  Details
• 

  4.7

  #2

  4.7

  Americas Cardroom

  Winning Poker Network

  

  Bonus

  up to $2,000

  

  Rakeback

  up to 65%

  Code

  WPD27

  

  ReviewSign up

  

  United States is accepted

  • Bitcoins accepted

  GambleAware.org

  Details
• 

  4.5

  #3

  4.5

  CoinPoker

  Independent

  

  Bonus

  150% up to $2,000

  

  Rakeback

  33%+

  Code

  WPD

  

  ReviewSign up

  

  United States is accepted

  • Bitcoins accepted

  GambleAware.org

  Details
• 

  4.2

  #4

  4.2

  Everygame

  Horizon Poker Network

  

  Bonus

  200% up to $1,000

  

  Rakeback

  36%

  ReviewSign up

  

  United States is accepted

  • Network's best skin
  • Bitcoins accepted

  GambleAware.org

  Details
• 

  4.3

  #5

  4.3

  Ignition Casino

  Paiwangluo Poker Network

  

  Bonus

  150% up to $1,500

  

  Rakeback

  Not available

  ReviewSign up

  

  United States is accepted

  • Bitcoins accepted

  GambleAware.org

  Details

Unlike Arizona or Wyoming, which ban online poker but don’t prosecute players who play at offshore online rooms, Washington is very strict about online poker. Sure, you can get access to several websites like BetOnline, which accept players from the US. However, the state may prosecute you, as it’s illegal not only to organize but also to play online poker. We’ve selected the safest options for you to check out.

BetOnline Poker

Online poker is officially banned in Washington, but BetOnline operates under a Panama license and accepts players from this state without restrictions. This is a reliable poker room from the Chico network, operating since the early 2000s.

The site offers a large tournament grid with a total monthly guarantee of several million dollars. For fans of ring games, NLH / PLO tables up to limits of $ 1K are available. A surprisingly large amount of action is collected by the 9-max format - which is a rarity in modern online poker.

A good addition to the profit is given by:

• First deposit bonus 100% up to $ 1,000
• Regular rake races
• VIP deal with rakeback from WPD

Players from Washington can deposit and withdraw funds using 19 different cryptocurrencies.

CoinPoker

CoinPoker is the best way to play poker online for Washington State residents with the highest level of anonymity and security. The poker room achieves this by:

• No verification. Registration can be done through a cryptocurrency web wallet.
• All transactions are made in cryptocurrencies.
• The RNG works on the blockchain.
• All player funds are stored in separate wallets, inaccessible to CoinPoker employees.

Coinpoker app has dozens of active tables for NLH, PLO and PLO5, and the main traffic is concentrated at 7-max tables with stakes up to $200/$400. The maximum guarantees in tournaments are $100,000.

New players receive a bonus of 150% up to $2,000 with rakeback up to 50%. Other permanent bonuses of the poker room: weekly 33% fixed rakeback, leaderboards and deals from WPD.

Ignition Poker

Ignition Poker remains available to players in Washington State thanks to its offshore license. The platform provides a safe and stable game for its users.

This is the largest poker room of the PaiWangLuo network, focused exclusively on users from the USA. You can play anonymously - nicknames are not displayed at the tables, HUD and trackers are not supported, which makes the platform especially attractive to recreational players.

The lobby offers cash tables for NLH and PLO up to limits of $10/$20, daily tournaments with a guarantee of up to $150K and large series (for example, Super Millions Poker Open with a guarantee of up to $10M).

There are games in the following formats:

• Zone Poker (Fast poker up to NL500).
• Sit&Go and Spins Jackpot with buy-ins up to $100.

Newcomers receive a bonus of 150% up to $1500 (with a Bitcoin deposit). Of the other poker bonuses, only a jackpot of 100BB is available. The small number of bonuses is more than compensated by the large amount of play at any time of the day and the weak compositions at the tables of the poker room.

Can you play online poker in Washington?

Online poker in Washington is strictly illegal under state law, making it one of the most restrictive jurisdictions in the US. To tell the truth, there aren’t many cases of enforcement against ordinary players, but they exist.

Washington poker players must rely either on brick-and-mortar card rooms or offshore websites. While the first option is legal, but requires you to leave your house, the second one is in a gray zone. You won’t be able to rely on the state protection by any means, as you’d be violating the law yourself.

You can get access to several sweepstakes poker sites, but with great caution. There’s also an option to change the location of your residence as a final solution.

Is online poker legal in Washington?

As we mention above, Online poker in Washington is strictly illegal and is classified as a Class C felony. The punishment is up to 5 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine, as stated in Washington's criminal code, specifically RCW 9.46.240. Online poker was banned in 2006, and there are no signs of it becoming legal in the near future.

The most unpleasant fact for Washington residents is that this article applies not only to sites that offer online poker but also to the players themselves. Sweepstakes poker sites are also banned in the state.

Despite this, offshore poker sites still accept players from Washington, especially those who use cryptocurrency. However, since these sites are unregulated and offer no consumer protection, you should always remember the risks.

Washington stands apart as one of the few states with an outright online poker ban. However, unlike other states, players get variety in offline poker. In addition to tribal casinos, the state also offers licensed card rooms, which we’ll talk more about later.

Sweepstakes poker - not in WA anymore

Sweepstakes poker sites became a loophole in many states for online poker fans. They offer a specific system of playing with two types of tokens: Gold Coins that can be bought but can’t be redeemed (they’re used solely to play for fun) and Sweeps Coins that later can be redeemed for gift cards or cash. You use Sweeps Coins for tournaments and cash games instead of real money.

Washington bans sweepstakes poker sites as well. Platforms like Global Poker, Lucky Land, and ClubWPT Gold block access for local residents.

Will Washington ever regulate online poker?

There were a couple of attempts to legalize online poker in the state, but none of them were successful. The latest attempt was in 2016 when the act that offered to allow licensed online poker never received a hearing and quickly died in committee due to insufficient support.

There have been no hints of a possible change in the situation in the last couple of years, so don't expect the ban to be lifted or even the attitude towards ordinary players to be softened.

Payment methods

As online poker websites are prohibited in Washington, there’s always a big risk that the payment method might be declined. So, this is a short table that will show you which methods you could use.

Land-based card rooms in Washington

All poker fans can fulfill their dreams and play some poker, but only offline. Some people may have to travel a bit to get to the nearest poker table, but this can be combined with a short vacation or a day off. There are only two types of offline poker venues legal in the state.

The first option is tribal casinos. They are authorized under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (1988) and operated under state-tribal compacts. There are around 30 venues to choose from, including places like Tulalip, Lakewood, and Emerald Queen. Commonly, they offer 14-20 poker tables.

The second option is visiting one of the licensed card rooms that are regulated under the Washington State Gambling Act and licensed by the Washington State Gambling Commission. These are privately operated rooms that are typically attached to restaurants or bars. You could also play at home, but only if this is a private event with non-profit conditions.

Washington's poker and gambling history

The history of poker in Washington largely follows the situation in the neighboring states, but it also has its unexpected twists. The first memories and attempts to legalize the game date back to the 19th and early 20th centuries, when card rooms were mostly banned in the state.

Later, in 1973, the State Act legalized social card rooms, while they were still banned almost all over the US. Such rooms could only operate with a social disclaimer, that is, operators couldn’t take a percentage of the rake.

In the late 80's, tribal casinos gained legality and, therefore, popularity, and were able to open as offline establishments. They still operate legally in Washington and are almost the only legal options to get to the poker table in the state.

In 2006, the online poker situation took a harsh turn when the state passed a law banning all online poker platforms. Unlike many other states where you can technically play from your own home at offshore sites, in Washington, this will be classified as a crime. It’s still the same to our day, which leaves poker players with very limited options.

Most famous poker players from Washington

• Scott Clements - $8.25 million
• Adam Walton - $5.3 million
• Brandon Cantu - $4.9 million
• Lee Markholt - $4.9 million
• Lee Watkinson - $4.3 million

Scott Clements is the undisputed leader of the Washington All-Time Money List, with more than $8M in live tournament winnings. $1,500,000 of this amount was earned in 2027 for winning 1st place in the Championship Event of the North American Poker series from the WPT brand.

But Scott's favorite series is the WSOP. Since 2005, Clements has been in the money more than 50 times in World Series tournaments. The player won three events:

• In 2006 in $3,000 Omaha Hi/Lo ($301,175)
• In 2007 in $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha ($194,206)
• In 2019 in $1,500 Dealers Choice ($144,957).

Scott's best performance in the WSOP Main Event was in 2010. Clements finished 18th in the tournament and earned $396,967.

In 2015, Jonathan Little included Scott Clements among the top 18 coaches in his book “Excelling at No Limit Hold’em.”

The second place in Washington state in terms of prize money is Adam Walton with a sum of over 5 million. Interestingly, from 3rd to 7th place in the state rankings there are five players with prize money from $4M to $5M. This indicates a high level of professionalism of Washington state players.

Conclusion

Overall, if you’re a fan of online poker, you have very few options in Washington, and all of them are in a gray zone of the law. Both organizing and playing are considered felonies under the state’s law. As an alternative, you can use offshore sites at your risk or visit licensed offline casinos and card rooms.

Responsible gambling

Online gambling, including poker, is banned for a reason, as it can become a problem for many players. You not only need to know the basic rules of responsible gambling, but also to follow them. There is a line that you can reach 24/7 (1‑800‑547‑6133 - Washington State Health Care Authority) to help anyone with signs of addiction.

FAQ