Washington Tribal Sportsbooks On Pace To Be A $100m Industry

• Washington’s tribal sportsbooks are on pace to become a near-$100 million industry, according to a new study by Washington State University’s School of Hospitality Business Management.
• The study also indicated that an impressive 14% of the population is expected to participate in the budding sports betting industry, a very good sign for future revenue figures.

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Sports betting at tribal facilities in Washington is rapidly growing, with a Washington State University study showing that sports betting at tribal casinos in Washington is on track to grow to a $94 million business within the next five years.

The study, which was released on Tuesday, found that nearly 14% of Washington residents are likely to participate in the emerging sports betting industry.

According to Kahlil Philander, the principal investigator of the study and assistant professor at Washington State’s School of Hospitality Business Management, that participation rate is impressive.

“When you think about recreational activities, participation from 14% of the population is significant,” Philander said.

Washington was the first state to legalize sports betting in 2020, when the state passed HB 2638. The bill legalized sports betting at in-person venues, such as on-site facilities at casinos or betting windows and kiosks. All sports betting activity is tied to Washington’s tribal entities, with a total of nine tribes approved to offer sports betting services.

Washington has not yet regulated the online sports betting industry, however.

According to the same Washington State University study, the state may be missing out on a huge potential windfall, as the legalization of online sports betting in Washington would lead to substantial growth for the industry.

The study estimated that a Washington sports betting industry with a legal online gambling facet would more than triple its current size, growing to over $320 million in annual revenue.

On top of the huge financial benefits to Washington, it has also brought work to residents of the state. Philander says that the industry will lead to over 270 new jobs being created.