Gambling in the USA
Maverick Gaming Offers Support to Washington Legal Sports Betting Bill
Maverick Gaming has offered its support for formulating a law for a fully regulated and taxed land-based and mobile sports betting system. The company pledged to support the law that covers land-based and mobile sports betting available to Tribal casinos, racetracks, and licensed card rooms in Washington State. The legislation, HB 2478 and SB 6277, 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 system-wide 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 not legal in Washington at present. But 20 states and Washington D.C. have acted to legalize sports betting following a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court finding that federal law banning sports betting was unconstitutional. Flourishing illegal offshore sports betting websites support organized crime, money laundering and a variety of dangerous criminal enterprises. By legalizing sports betting in Washington, state regulators would be empowered to regulate the industry, collect tax revenue for community needs and help support public safety by providing a vetted, monitored, licensed and responsible option for those interested in sports betting.
