Bill > SB6137

This bill, known as the Sports Wagering Integrity Act, aims to strengthen Washington's regulated sports wagering industry, which is currently exclusively offered by tribal casinos under gaming compacts. It clarifies that "sports wagering" includes bets on professional, collegiate, Olympic, and esports events, but excludes horse racing. Importantly, it prohibits wagering on specific individual participants in collegiate sports if they are enrolled in a Washington state educational institution, as well as on in-game decisions made by coaches or officiating decisions within Washington collegiate sports. The bill also allows for amendments to tribal gaming compacts to authorize sports wagering on tribal lands, with specific provisions for licensing, regulation, and responsible gambling. It further clarifies that bets can only be placed and accepted within a tribe's gaming facility. Finally, the bill introduces new criminal penalties for attempting to influence the outcome of sporting events through bribery or by obtaining insider information, and also makes it a gross misdemeanor to threaten sports officials, coaches, or participants in connection with wagers, with convicted individuals being barred from placing future sports wagers.