Is online casino legal in Washington?
No. Washington law prohibits online gambling. RCW 9.46.240 makes knowingly transmitting or receiving gambling information by the internet a class C felony outside authorized activity.
Answer first
90s| Question people search | Washington reality | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Is online casino legal in Washington? | No — prohibited | RCW 9.46.240 |
| What is the criminal hook? | Class C felony for internet gambling info | RCW 9A.20.021 penalties |
| WSGC position? | Online gambling prohibited | WSGC Online gambling FAQ |
| Authorized exceptions? | Narrow — e.g. compact sports rules | RCW 9.46.0364 / .0368 |
| Offshore “legal in WA” banner? | Not a Washington authorization | WSGC tip line |
What RCW 9.46.240 says in plain terms
| Element | Statute text (compressed) | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Conduct | Knowingly transmit or receive gambling information | Covers placing/accepting online wagers |
| Means | Internet, phone, telecom, similar systems | Explicitly includes the internet |
| Equipment | Install or maintain transmission gear | Hardware/software facilitation |
| Penalty class | Class C felony (RCW 9A.20.021) | Criminal — not a civil grey zone |
| Exception | Authorized chapter 9.46 activity + compact rules | Must be specifically authorized |
2006 legislative findings reaffirm a policy against gambling that exploits internet technologies except where carefully authorized.
Progress
Washington online casino claim → stop test
- 1
Is it authorized in ch. 9.46?
WSGC / compact text — not an ad
- 2
Casino games over the internet?
WSGC FAQ: online gambling prohibited
- 3
No authorization
RCW 9.46.240 felony path applies
The Washington State Gambling Commission’s FAQ answers “Can I gamble online in Washington?” with No — and points to the class C felony.
Sequence
How to verify a Washington “legal online casino” claim
Step 01
Read RCW 9.46.240 on the Legislature site
Confirm the internet transmission offence and the narrow exception for authorized activity. Do not stop at a blog paraphrase.
Step 02
Open the WSGC Online gambling FAQ
The Commission states Washington law prohibits online gambling and explains that wagering value on an online game of chance for a prize is unlawful online.
Step 03
Do not confuse compact sports rules with online casino
Chapter 9.46 includes specific sports-wagering authorizations tied to tribal facilities and compact compliance. That is not a commercial online casino licence for home play.
Step 04
Skip affiliate “legal in Washington” lists
WSGC warns that many sites misrepresent Washington law to push illegal internet gambling. CasinoList names no operators and links to none.
Floor rules
Washington words that block soft framing
Know before you sit
- Gambling information
- WSGC FAQ: includes any wager made, information as to wagers, betting odds, and changes in odds — so placing an online bet transmits gambling information.
- Class C felony
- Criminal classification for a 9.46.240 violation, with penalties under RCW 9A.20.021. Not a “state has not licensed yet” shrug.
- Authorized activity exception
- Subsection (2) carves out information and equipment for activities authorized by chapter 9.46 and conducted under rules and tribal-state compacts — not self-declared .com licences.
- Not legal advice
- Orientation from the Revised Code and WSGC public FAQ. Personal exposure needs counsel or the Commission.
Catalog fields
Status labels for Washington
FEL
Felony statute
RCW 9.46.240 — internet gambling information as a class C felony.
Tip: Primary stamp
FAQ
WSGC FAQ
Commission plain-language “No” to online gambling in Washington.
EXC
Authorized exception
Only activity authorized under chapter 9.46 / compact rules — read the statute, not marketing.
TIP
Anonymous tip
WSGC invites tips on websites promoting online gambling.
US
National map
Seven states license online casino; Washington is cited on our US guide as the hard felony example.
No brands, no exits, no “almost legal” framing.
Watch outs
Common Washington mistakes
01Calling it “unregulated” instead of prohibited
Washington did not merely omit an iGaming licence. The Legislature wrote a felony for internet transmission of gambling information.
02Reading tribal sports authorizations as online casino
Compact and chapter provisions about sports wagering are specific. They do not legalize remote online casino games statewide.
03Believing a VPN or offshore licence changes RCW 9.46.240
This page is not advice on personal liability. The statute addresses transmitting or receiving gambling information by the internet — marketing claims do not rewrite it.
04Using national “legal states” lists that include Washington
Washington is not one of the seven licensed commercial iGaming states on our national guide. Treat any list that says otherwise as wrong.
Related White Gambling pages
National map: Is online casino legal in the US? (cites RCW 9.46.240). Licence claim: Licensed vs unlicensed online casino. Trust: Online casino trust checklist. Sweepstakes mechanism: What is a sweepstakes casino? Land meaning: What are land-based casinos? CasinoList has no Washington online casino exits. Not legal advice.
Ranked lists
Open a shortlist that matches this guide
Same intent, inventory first — tap through for the places we already publish for Las Vegas.
Online catalogue
Licensed online in WA
State matrix, active licences, and RG links from regulator files — no affiliate exits.
Open state online pageAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Is online casino legal in Washington?
Is online casino legal in Washington?
No. The Washington State Gambling Commission’s Online gambling FAQ states that Washington law prohibits online gambling and that it is a class C felony to knowingly transmit or receive gambling information by telephone, internet, or similar means. RCW 9.46.240 is the statute behind that answer. This page is orientation, not legal advice.
What does RCW 9.46.240 say?
Whoever knowingly transmits or receives gambling information by the internet or similar means, or knowingly installs or maintains equipment for that transmission or receipt, is guilty of a class C felony, subject to penalties in RCW 9A.20.021. The section does not apply to information or equipment for activities authorized under chapter 9.46 when conducted under the chapter, Commission rules, and tribal-state compacts.
Are there any legal online wagers in Washington?
Only where chapter 9.46 and applicable compact rules specifically authorize the activity. For example, sports wagering provisions in RCW 9.46.0364 and 9.46.0368 are narrow and facility-tied. They are not a commercial online casino licence for home play. Read the statute and WSGC materials; do not trust affiliate charts.
Can I get in trouble for using an online casino in Washington?
This guide is not legal advice. RCW 9.46.240 is written against transmitting or receiving gambling information by the internet, and WSGC tells the public that knowingly gambling through an online gambling website violates Washington law. For your own situation, read the statute or ask qualified counsel.
02How this fits the US map
How is Washington different from states with licensed iGaming?
Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia have statutes and regulator pages for licensed online casino games. Washington’s published posture is prohibition plus a felony statute for internet gambling information, with narrow authorized exceptions — not a licensed iGaming roster.
Does CasinoList list online casinos for Washington?
No. CasinoList does not catalog, rank, or link online casino operators in any state. This page exists to answer the legality search with official Washington sources only.
Is this page legal advice?
No. It summarizes the Revised Code of Washington and Washington State Gambling Commission public materials as of the review date. Laws and compact details change. For personal risk, contact WSGC or ask counsel.
Sources
- Revised Code of Washington § 9.46.240 — Gambling information · accessed Oct 12, 2026Class C felony for knowingly transmitting or receiving gambling information by the internet; exception for authorized chapter 9.46 / compact activity.
- Washington State Gambling Commission — Online gambling FAQ · accessed Oct 12, 2026Plain-language “No” to online gambling; class C felony; definition of gambling information.
- WSGC — Illegal Gambling Activities (Dec 2025 PDF) · accessed Oct 12, 2026Internet gambling called illegal; tribal sports wagering noted as a specific exception.
- RCW 9.46.0368 — Sports wagering over the internet authorized · accessed Oct 12, 2026Narrow authorization example: transmission for sports wagering under stated facility-presence rules — not online casino.
- UIGEA — 31 U.S.C. § 5361(b) · accessed Oct 12, 2026Federal deferral; does not override Washington’s felony statute.