Maverick Gaming has detailed its support for legislation to create a fully regulated and taxed land-based and mobile sports betting system in the US state of Washington.
That proposal makes land-based and mobile sports betting available to tribal casinos, racetracks and licensed card rooms in the state. The legislation is sponsored in the State House by Representative Vick and in the State Senate by Senators King and Rivers.
“Maverick Gaming employs 2,200 people in 19 licensed card rooms across Washington and we are committed to creating an environment that is fun and safe for our guests, while also implementing systemwide self-exclusion policies to reduce problem gambling,” said Maverick Gaming co-founder and CEO Eric Persson.
“Legal sports betting will give lawmakers the opportunity to create a regulated system that collects tax revenues that should be used to address community needs, supports a strong sustainable workforce and provides economic opportunity in this growing global market. Critically, regulated, legal sports betting has the dual benefit of undermining offshore criminal networks which currently profit from the unregulated and unsafe system. I look forward to working with Washington’s elected leaders, tribal government leaders, community stakeholders and all interested parties regarding the merits of this proposed legislation.”
Sports betting is currently illegal in Washington. But 20 states and Washington DC have acted to legalise sports betting following a 2018 US Supreme Court finding that federal law banning sports betting was unconstitutional.
The legislation - modelled after the legal system in New Jersey - would create a strict framework of regulations for a legal sports betting marketplace. Only people aged 18 or over could participate in sports betting.
