Washington State To Expand Gambling

Within the next two years Washington State and its localities stand to gain approximately $500 million in revenues from online gambling by expanding the market beyond the tribal sector. Currently, the law allows for gambling activities owned by Indian tribes.

The expansion would allow for video gambling machines in other locations, such as in "restaurants, lounges, taverns, bars, mini-casinos, private clubs, and charitable organizations.

The Entertainment Industry Coalition, an umbrella for several advocacy groups, proposes a 25% tax on the net revenues from the expansion.

They want the majority of revenues, approximately $206 million/yr. from gambling machines to go to the state, and the remainder of approx. $51 million to be allocated to local governments.

State legislators for the most part seem to be in support of this expansion.

The proposal, if passed as is, would allow for the operation of mini-casinos and other gambling activities along with tribal gambling operations. An estimated 19,000 new video slot machines are expected to crop up as well.