Is It Legal to Bet on The Super Bowl Online From Washington State?

Sadly it is illegal to place a bet on Super Bowl over the Internet from within the state of Washington.  This is the only state that for the past ten years has made doing so a Class C felony.  Nonetheless, the state has never enforced this action and the idea that any sports bettor acting on their own is going to be apprehended for placing a bet on the Super Bowl is pretty absurd. Scroll Down For More

Bets will be placed amongst friends at parties, amongst co-workers, and - yes - even in High Schools and Colleges across America.  Online gambling sites at least have protective mechanisms in place to prevent those under the age of 18 from opening an online wagering account.  If not for folks betting on the big game, it would probably have half the viewership.  It's no secret Super Bowl weekend is the busiest of the year in Las Vegas and all the sportsbooks make a killing there.

Should you decide to place a bet online from Washington State, it is important to do so with sites such as those endorsed by Gambling911.com and other well established industry monitoring websites.  MANY DO NOT ACCEPT CUSTOMERS FROM WASHINGTON.  You will never be asked to provide your full social security number to any of these websites (some will only ask for the last four digits) and, while these companies are not obligated to report tax information to your state or federal government, Gambling911.com strongly encourages you to do so.

It should be noted that some credit card-issuing banks prohibit gambling so do not be scared if your credit card happens to be declined when attempting to open an online wagering account (it does not mean you were late paying or that your card has been compromised).  Most online gambling websites offer live chat online or via the phone to guide you through the process.  Today, the use of cryptocurrency wallets (i.e. Bitcoin) linked to your personal bank account has made placing a deposit and requesting a withdrawal nearly seamless.  Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are easily converted into U.S. dollars for the same amount you are trying to send and receive with only a small fluctuation in price either way possible (similar to the currency exchange rate you experience when traveling overseas).  Again, most Web gambling firms have invested heavily in hiring professionals who can guide you through the process.  

When it comes to bookmaking in the state of Washington, the use of Pay Per Head businesses has helped reduce much of the exposures that have gotten bookies in trouble in the past.  These include the use of wire rooms, betting receipts and the actual acceptance of wagers.  Today, everything is handled via outsourcing.  The world's second oldest professional now primarily entails marketing, a little bit of customer service and ensuring all clients are paid in a timely matter.  They are essentially super affiliates, capable of making signficant more money than in the past thanks to the ability to offer such features as LIVE IN-PLAY WAGERING and a live dealer online casino.  Cryptocurrencies remove that last remaining exposure - overseeing payments - as bookies and agents no longer have to physically pay their customers from within the state of Washington. 

Due to Washington's archaic laws, the environment has become conducive for bookmakers and agents in which to operate.

- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com