Washington college sports betting bill passes Senate, awaits House hearing
Washington state Senators passed a bill last week that would allow players in the state to bet on in-state college teams at tribal casinos , with the final vote reading 41-8 in favor of the measure.
The motion, SB 6137, seeks to unwind an existing limit preventing local users from placing wagers on state-based teams, such as the Washington Huskies, Gonzaga Bulldogs and Washington State University Cougars.
The proposal is set to be discussed by the House Committee at 8:00am on February 20, where representatives will debate whether the bill requires certain amendments before advancing to the House Floor.
What does SB 6137 propose?
As college sports betting is already allowed under state law, SB 6137 targets specific elements of the existing framework.
Right now, players in the Evergreen State can only bet on college teams in other states while physically located at a tribal casino establishment. This motion would permit players to wager on local collegiate-level teams.
One key stipulation applies, however: if SB 6137 is passed, player performance props on in-state college athletes would remain banned. In turn, visitors to tribal casinos would still not be capable of betting on player-only markets and outcomes.
This is dissimilar to sportsbook options for professional sports, where Washington users may bet on player outcomes throughout the NBA, NFL and NHL seasons, among other leagues.
Player welfare a key concern
While this Bill has been introduced to tackle black market sports betting operators by offering regulated in-state college wagering, Washington lawmakers will not unlock player prop markets.
Citing player mental health concerns and competitive integrity – both relevant amid major domestic NCAA sports betting scandals – lawmakers opted to omit player props from SB 6137. One bill sponsor, Sen. Adrian Cortes, explained the importance of player protection in a modernized college betting industry:
"We need to ensure that we protect student athletes and properly regulate sports betting on in-state college teams."
On the other side of the aisle is Sen. Jesse Salomon, who was one of eight senators to vote against SB 6137:
"I look at what kids are facing these days. We all made mistakes when we were young, they didn't live on the internet forever. We didn't have to deal with cyberbullying. We didn't have to deal with AI and how that's going to shape our future.
"And now, what we're saying is, our 18- and 19-year-old sons and daughters, when they play basketball for school, there's going to be this whole community of people looking at their every move."
Sen. Salomon's sentiment is shared by those backing this proposal, and is precisely the reason SB 6137 does not deliver a regulated structure for player prop betting.
But major worries persist – last week, the Big Ten Conference Student-Athlete Issues Commission penned a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker, laying out player prop concerns and their potential impact on player health, as well as ethical commitments. Frank Kepnang, a Huskies basketball player, was one of 22 player signees.
Washington battling "illicit" sports betting market, say Senators
Senators supporting the bill argue that its integration is necessary to combat the growing unregulated offshore market. Sen. Cortes is one such backer, stating ahead of its Senate passage that SB 6137 would join one of the "strongest regulatory standards in the country" should it be signed into law.
Another bill supporter, Sen. Jeff Holy, expressed that although anti-gambling groups might not be in favor of collegiate sports betting, this proposition provides a safer framework for Washington residents than "illicit" platforms:
"This is the first step in an attempt to address something that's an illicit market out there. You might not like the optics on this, but this really is the only game in town. And I think it's a proper structure to apply."
Meanwhile, Rep. Sharlett Mena – who championed a companion bill (HB 2205) in the House during January – said that the existing omission of in-state college betting has simply encouraged Washington-based players to join the black market:
"In the absence of a legal option, it hasn't stopped sports betting; it's simply pushed it into the shadows where college sports wagering already happens through offshore and illegal markets. This bill would bring this activity into our regulatory structure."
Prediction platforms a driving force in bill development
The rise of prediction platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket has forced a nationwide rethink as to what constitutes sports gambling.
During a committee meeting in January, officials told legislators that prediction platforms regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) already allow for in-state college betting.
Kevin Zenishek, Casino Operators Executive Director at Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Airway Heights, told the committee:
"With the current state of the CFTC, which you've heard about in previous testimony, and with apps like Kalshi at the federal level, you can place a wager now in Washington state on the Huskies, the Cougs or the Zags."
Jamestown S'klallam Tribe Chair, Ron Allen, spelled out that college sports betting is "already legal" through prediction platforms.
But college representatives remain cautious of a possible overcorrection. Although certain CFTC-regulated websites support collegiate options, university members do not believe that adding additional markets will benefit athletes.
University of Washington Director of State Relations, Morgan Hickel, opposed player prop markets, asserting that his team's focus is "on the safety of our students".
Chris Mullick, Washington State University Director of State Relations, took a harder line: "Unfortunately, there's nothing in this bill but trouble for WSU and our student athletes, who are incredibly accessible, both on campus and online."
What's next for SB 6137?
With dwindling influence from college representatives and an increasing willingness from state legislators to garner revenue being lost to offshore and derivatives platforms, it is now up to the House to decide on an adequate path forward.
SB 6137 is scheduled for public hearing in the Committee on State Governmental and Tribal Relations on Friday, February 20. If the motion progresses through the House Floor and Chamber, it will be sent to Governor Bob Ferguson's desk for signing.
However, if successful, SB 6137 will not become active until 90 days after the legislature adjourns on March 12 – meaning players at tribal casinos cannot bet on NCAA Washington basketball teams during this year's March Madness.
