Washington is one of the only states to explicitly prohibit all types of online gambling, poker included, having passed an amendment to its criminal code in 2006 to include any type of placing or receiving bets over the internet. The future of online poker in Washington looks fairly promising and the state could feel the need to introduce regulation in order to compete with other states over the next several years. This graph monitors the current rise or fall of expected legalization. It is currently already legal on a Federal level. The following graph tracks our expected legislation of online poker in Washington on a state law level. Future of Online Poker in Washington: Estimated date of legalization: 2020-2021 Poker players in Washington play online at licensed offshore websites legally as a player at the Federal level. There are plans being worked on to establish a regulatory authority to introduce online poker to Washington in the near future. Players can be charged for anything from gross misdemeanors to even Class C Felonies for playing online poker in Washington (neither of which have ever happened or been pursued). State laws explicitly prohibit the act of making a bet over the internet, with stiff penalties, for anyone caught contravening the laws.

The state of Washington has some of the toughest laws in the United States pertaining to online gambling and poker websites, but that could easily change in the near future. “Reviewed by Chuck Humphrey – 50 year Gaming Law Practitioner”

States with legal online poker