Play Online Poker in Washington state + how to get away w/ it
Washington is a very interesting state when it comes to talking about online poker. While they have laws on the books that can make playing poker up to a Class C felony, the state has NEVER enforced this law. Thus, no one has ever been prosecuted, arrested, or indicted for playing online poker. We should also note that it is not just WA state, but no state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States has ever arrested, indicted, or prosecuted a citizen for online gambling.
Offshore providers for online poker in Washington, however, don't suffer from these limitations. Each offers something different, and they all offer great opportunities for poker players! We think Ignition Poker is the best one overall, but there are others with excellent reputations as well.
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2. Online Poker Legal? 3. Best WA Poker Sites 4. How to Play Online Poker
5.1. Game Selection 5.2. Cashier Methods 5.3. Bonuses & Promos 5.4. Rakeback
6.1. Ignition 6.2. SB Poker/BOL 6.3. Bovada 6.4. CoinPoker 6.5. SwCPoker 6.6. Nitrobetting
7.1. Offshore Sites Operation7.2. B&M Poker 7.3. Gambling History 7.4. Famous Poker Players 7.5. Alternatives to WA Online Poker
Top Online Poker Sites
Here are our top recommended poker sites for Washingtonians. We've taken a look at cashout speeds, player traffic, promotions, and other relevant factors to bring you only the best. Click below to sign up directly or keep reading the rest of our article for a detailed description of each site.
Is Online Poker Legal in Washington?
This is one of the more frustrating sections to write for any of the states because Washington has, at least legislatively, gone after poker players. Before we go any further though, it is very important to note that these poker-unfriendly actions have only been legislative in nature, and no player has actually been charged with playing online poker. So having issued that preamble, remember that Washington has made it a felony to play online poker within the state borders.
These laws hav drawn the ire of poker players who have attempted to have it overturned but without success. A case challenging the law even went all the way to the state's Supreme Court (Rousso v. State) in 2009, but that body upheld the validity of the legislation.
Interestingly, but perhaps not altogether surprisingly, players from Washington don’t have to worry about home games getting invaded as long as what is happening can be proven as social gambling. This generally means that the house can’t be taking a cut of the action, but this is a rather generous law in regard to home games that many states don’t actually have. Overall Washington has a much friendlier view of live gambling than most states, and this sits in stark contrast to where WA sits with regard to online poker.
Best Online Poker Sites
While you do have only a small list of poker rooms to register for due to the harsh legal climate in The Evergreen State, it wouldn't do to just sign up at the first one you stumble across. We've done the work of evaluating all of the sites that serve WA, and we've presented them below so that you won't have to take any risks with sites you don't trust. All of the organizations on our list are honest, dependable, and focused on creating an excellent playing experience. They're also renowned for their short payout waiting times, so if you happen to win a lot of money, you'll have it in your hands before you know it.
- Ignition Casino - Best overall room because of large traffic and good Mac + mobile software.
- Sportsbetting.ag - Our second place pick has a superb mobile client and multi-crypto support.
- BetOnline - Excellent poker, sports, and casino site with multiiple crypto options.
- Bovada - The same poker action as Ignition but with a sportsbook and racebook too.
- CoinPoker - Crypto only poker site with cash games across all stake levels.
- SWC Poker - The only destination for mixed games, like HORSE and 8-game, OFC, Badugi, et cetera.
- Nitrobetting - Bitcoin-denominated games with complete anonymity and a lucrative rewards program.
How to Play Online Poker in Washington – Detailed Instructions
Signing up for an online poker site is trivially easy. We've included instructions below for getting started at our #1 recommended site for Washintonians, but the steps should be similar no matter which room you choose.
- Click on this link to visit Ignition Casino Poker.
- A registration form will appear in your browser. Fill out all the required fields with your true and accurate personal details. This is important because later on, when you have to complete account verification, any discrepancies could lead to the suspension or termination of your account.
- Hit the “Register” button near the bottom of the page.
- Ignition might send an SMS to your mobile. Enter the code sent to verify your phone number.
- Once your new account is initiated, you should browse over to the cashier and make your first deposit via your chosen payment method (we recommend Bitcoin).
How We Evaluate Washington Online Poker Sites – Choosing the Best Internet Poker Room
The poker sites for WA residents are not all identical. Rather, they each have their own wrinkles, and some are better in certain areas than others. We use a set of criteria to evaluate them all and determine which ones are the best.
Game Variety and Selection
Some poker sites stick to the basics, like NL Hold'em and PLO, but others have an extensive menu of niche poker variants, like Stud, Razz, and Mixed games. Furthermore, the blind levels spread differ from site to site.
In the realm of SNGs and tournaments too, there's a great variety in the games offered between different sites. Some rooms host lottery-style sit n' gos, satellites to major events, step tourneys to bigger tourneys, and other special formats.
Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
Most poker sites let you fund your account via credit card and receive your winnings through checks or money transfer. However, these are not the best methods to use. Crypto-currency, which is supported by every site on our recommended list, tends to have lower fees and faster transaction speeds than legacy payment providers.
If you aren't yet comfortable using cryptos, then you can read this guide on how to use Bitcoin for online gaming purposes.
Bonuses + Promotions
Internet poker providers offer incentives to entice new players and retain existing customers. Among these special deals are bonuses, which are additional funds that will be released to your account when you meet the conditions of the bonus. Besides bonuses, you might encounter leaderboards, rake races, freerolls, comp/VIP point programs, and more.
Online Poker Rakeback
Rakeback is a type of promotion that can have such a positive impact on a player's profitability that we have incorporated it into the name of our site: ProfessionalRakeback. Rakeback is an ongoing percentage refund of the rake you pay while at the tables.
Only a few online poker rooms for Washington players provide rakeback. If you're interested in this beneficial feature, then check out the sites below:
Reviews of Online Poker Sites for Washington
For more details on the poker sites Washington players can enjoy, read the reviews below. Our experts have played at them all and will give you true, verifiable facts about them so that you can make an informed decision about where to play.
Ignition Casino Poker
Deposit Methods
Credit Card, Voucher Code, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, MatchPay
Pros
- Most simultaneously active games
- Easy bonus earning
- Soft games
Cons
- Few reloads or promos for winners
Review
Ignition Poker is the largest online poker site for Washington players, so you'll probably have no trouble finding a game. All gaming here is anonymous, so you won't be able to track your opponents over time, but this has its benefits because it makes novice players feel comfortable and thus makes for easier tables.
You can enjoy NL Hold'em, PLO, PLO/8, and Limit Hold'em cash games as well as fast-fold Zone Poker, Sit-and-gos, Jackpot SNGs, and multi-table tournaments. The weekly major is the $162 Sunday $150,000 guaranteed, and there are frequent MTT series with eight figures in guaranteed prizes.
Ignition's first deposit bonus for crypto users is a 150% up to $1,500 deal that clears remarkably fast. However, Ignition reserves many of its reloads and other promotions for losing players, so you won't get much recurring promo value if you're a winner.
Ignition Poker offers a downloadable poker client for Windows and Mac. Other hardware, like phones and tablets, works with the fully functional, browser-based interface.
SB Poker/BetOnline
Deposit Methods
Credit Cards, Person to Person, Money Orders, Bank Wire, Cashiers Check, Bitcoin, Avalanche, Binance, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polygon, Ripple, Shiba Inu, Solana, Stellar, Tether, Tron, USD Coin
Pros
- Rapid crypto-currency payouts
- Comprehensive gaming portfolio, including poker, casino, live dealer, sportsbook, racebook
- Many promos
Cons
- Slow bonus clearance
- High rake
Review
SB Poker and its virtually identical sister site, BetOnline, offer a wide selection of cash games, including NL Hold'em, PLO, and PLO/8, featuring blinds up to $5/$10. Fast-fold Boost Poker, sit-and-gos, randomized Windfall SNGs, and numerous MTTs are also present.
SB Poker boasts many promotions, like Bad Beat Jackpots, leaderboards, contests, and the RISE rewards program, which promise to give you some extra money to pad your bankroll. On the other hand, the first deposit bonus clears slowly, and the rake is a on the higher side.
The SB Poker and BetOnline downloads run on any Windows or Mac system. Mobile users on Android or iOS can also utilize an excellent mobile application. You can receive a first deposit bonus worth 100% up to $1,000 to play poker, and be sure to check out the attached casino and sportsbook for additional promotional offers.
Bovada
Deposit Methods
Credit Card, Voucher Code, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, MatchPay
Pros
- Comprehensive gaming lineup (sports, casino, poker, racebook)
- In business 10+ years
Cons
- Relatively small poker bonus
Review
As a member of the same network that Ignition Poker is on, Bovada boasts all the same games and tournaments as its partner site. In addition, Bovada lets you bet on sports and races: not possible at Ignition. All major sports, including MLB baseball, NFL football, NBA basketball, and soccer, are listed at Bovada. Bovada also covers over 100 horse tracks around the world.
The Bovada Poker client is available to download on Windows and Mac devices, and an excellent web-based version allows players to play on virtually any tablet or mobile device. The poker bonus at Bovada is worth 100% of your first deposit up to $500. The attached casino and sportsbook also offer promotions worth up to $3,750!
Coin Poker
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, CHP, Polygon, BNB
Pros
- Highest trafficked crypto poker site
- Possible to earn 33% rakeback
Cons
- Few poker formats offered
- No standard SNGs
Review
CoinPoker is currently the busiest crypto-only poker room available online. The tables are denominated only utilizing USDT, or Tether. You also can use a few other cryptos for deposits and withdrawals.
NL Hold'em, PL Omaha, and 5 Card Omaha are present, but PLO/8 and LHE are lacking. There are no non-lottery Sit & Gos either although three-player Cosmic Spins with a randomized multiplier are present.
You can play at CoinPoker from any Mac, PC, Android, or iOS device. You'll be able to benefit from a generous deposit bonus of 150% up to $2,000. You will also have the option of earning 33% rakeback weekly if you're willing to invest a little into the proprietary CHP coin.
SwCPoker
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin
Pros
- Many poker variants available
- Up to 50% rakeback through Krill rewards
Cons
- Low player volume
Review
SwCPoker is a crypto poker room online that is highly regarded for its wide range of poker formats supported. One major selling point of SwC is that you can play at micro-stakes tables without paying any rake whatsoever, so you can increase your profits as you learn. You won't get any bonuses here, but you'll be able to receive up to 50% rakeback based on your play at the tables.
Nitrobetting
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, USD Coin, BNB
Pros
- No download required
- Nitro rewards grants up to 35% rakeback monthly
Cons
- Only NL Hold'em and PLO offered
- Very low player traffic
Review
Nitrobetting's cashier is Bitcoin-only, which results in impressively fast payouts, oftentimes taking less than an hour. There are only two types of poker here: NL Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha.
Facts About Washington's Poker Industry
The section below will aim to provide detailed information regarding the legality of online poker, online poker operators, live gambling options, state regulation prospects, the history involving gambling and poker, and famous poker players from the state of Washington.
How Do Offshore Gambling Sites Operate in Washington?
When we consider how diligent Washington has been in pursuing entities that it believes are facilitating online gambling, it's no wonder that many of the leading poker firms have avoided serving Washingtonians. In addition to concerns about their own assets being seized and their personnel being subject to criminal prosecution, there's also the players to worry about. If any players suffer legal repercussions from partaking in the games, it would be a public relations disaster. There are still a few great sites available to players in the state of Washington though, and players will not want for a good game if they desire to play.
History of Gambling in Washington
By the time Washington became the 42nd state in 1889, the authorities had had enough of this, and all types of wagering with real money were banned. Illicit bookmaking on horse races continued, leading the state to prohibit the racing of horses within Washington altogether. However, this must have been a much-demanded entertainment; for pari-mutuel racetrack betting was legalized in 1933. A few years later, slot machine gaming became OK for charitable groups, but the Washington Supreme Court struck down this provision in 1952.
Despite these decisions, all the evidence points to the fact that underground gambling was taking place on a massive scale. In 1973, the Washington State Gambling Commission was formed to oversee all authorized gaming activities.
Since then, more and more permitted types of games have been continuously added, such as fundraising “Reno Nights” in 1974 and the Washington Lottery in 1982. An abortive attempt at tribal gambling appeared in 1976 when the Puyallup Tribe opened up a casino, but it was shut down by the federal government a couple of years later. Fully legal tribal casinos began to appear in the early '90s and non-tribal, commercial card rooms in 1997.
The law prohibiting online betting was enacted in 2006. In 2011, it became evident that even Daily Fantasy Sports was against the law when a man was charged and plead guilty to offenses related to the DFS site Fantasy Thunder. Play chip social casinos were even found to be in violation of Washington law in March 2018.
Famous Poker Players From Washington
Though The Evergreen State has a number of venues for playing card games, it hasn't really become known as a renowned center of top-flight poker play. Nevertheless, there are a number of Washingtonians who have made their mark on the game.
Scott Clements is one of the more successful online poker players to emerge from Washington State. In all, Scott Clements has booked more than $8.1 million in live tournament earnings. This places him #1 among all players from the State of Washington.
Other well-known Washington poker players include Brandon Cantu of Vancouver, Washington, Lee Watkinson, who was born in Long Branch, and Lee Markholt from Tacoma. Each of them has won more than $4 million in offline tourneys.
Alternatives to Registering Your Poker Account in Washington
Folks who are lucky enough to have another address in a nearby state, be it a business address, summer home, second apartment, family home, etc, may have other online poker options available. Here is a list of the states that border Washington and Professional Rakeback's review on each of them: Alaska, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and California. If you're the type that keeps another address far away from your native Washington, then our Online Poker USA Player's Guide will be helpful to you since it contains information on all 50 states.
Many people are ignorant of the legal status of online poker as well as their options to participate in the games. Please consider sharing this information with your friends and family. Sharing this info helps keep the games going and our favorite pastime from meeting an untimely demise!
Summary of Online Poker in Washington
Although the laws on the books for online poker in Washington are among the strongest in the U.S.A, they're never targeted toward individual players. After you pick a real money Washington online poker site and make a deposit, you'll be able to play the card games you enjoy without fear or worry.
Responsible Gaming
Poker is an engaging and stimulating hobby, but it is just that: a hobby. If you find yourself playing for such extended periods of time or for such stakes that it interferes with the rest of your life, then it might be time to explore problem gambling resources. If you think this might apply to you, then you can check out the following:
- Gamblers Anonymous
- National Problem Gambling Helpline
- WA Healthcare Authority Problem Gambling Info
- Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to be as informed as possible before diving into Washington online poker, then read our FAQ below for additional answers on questions pertaining to this topic.
No, there are no laws that permit state-regulated internet poker in Washington. This sets it apart from New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, and Pennsylvania: the only four states to have thus far established explicitly legal online poker sites.
No, according to the letter of the law, online poker in WA is illegal. But the track record of actual enforcement makes the pastime effectively legal.
Although the statutes on the books make WA online poker against the law, these provisions have never been used to go after players. It's only the sites and their managers/owners who face any risk of prosecution.
You, as an ordinary citizen who wants to play cards on his or her computer, are completely safe. Thus, online poker in Washington is legal to play for all intents and purposes.
Yes, PokerStars is probably legal in Washington. Unfortunately, this isn't really a relevant point because the firm elected to exit the U.S. market following the Black Friday crackdown in 2011.
Even though 'Stars still allows Americans to enjoy play chip poker games, Washingtonians are excluded. Because the state law considers even social casinos that don't use real money to be a type of gambling, practice chip card games are widely viewed as illegal by state leaders and courts.
Yes, Ignition is more or less a legal Washington online cardroom although we suppose a few prosecutors and politicians may disagree with us. Nobody has ever been charged with a crime for playing at Ignition, and the location of the corporation's headquarters in an offshore jurisdiction means that no one is going to bring them to court either. You're totally fine, from a legal perspective, if you plan on logging in and taking a seat at the Ignition Casino Poker tables.
Many Washington residents have turned to Global Poker, lured in by the firm's promise of fully legal internet card games. We're not so sure that the company's legal justifications hold up under close scrutiny. The explanations as to why we believe this are too involved to go into in this FAQ. You can browse over to our Global Poker review for more info on this subject.
In any case, the company decided in 2019 to stop serving the state, so the question of whether or not Global is legal in Washington State is a moot one.
Yes, you can play online poker on your phone or tablet. At one time, about a decade ago, mobile support was spotty, but nowadays, there are many internet gaming companies that cater to the mobile crowd.
Of our list of preferred Washington online poker rooms, all of them work on smart devices. Almost all the games offered are accessible from either desktop or mobile although a few of the more obscure or thinly populated variants might not be supported for mobile.
Some mobile-friendly poker rooms provide dedicated apps for you to install on your system, but others simply offer poker hosted on the web. With these web-based poker solutions, you can actually play from any computer that has modern browser software: a BlackBerry, Windows Phone, Linux Box, Mac, et cetera.
Additional Resources
Washington has a bustling real money gaming scene, and you can learn more:
We strive to maintain this information and update it frequently with our research. However, we are not immune to making mistakes or omitting information that you, dear reader, may find of use. If you have any further questions not addressed in this guide or have noted any discrepancies or inaccuracies we urge you to contact us with your questions and concerns so that we may swiftly address them!