Senate Bill Report - SB 6137, Regulated Sports Wagering Industry (January 21, 2026)

Summary

Senate Bill Report on SB 6137, as of January 21, 2026, for the Senate Committee on Business, Trade & Economic Development, with committee activity listed for 1/22/26. The bill is an act relating to bolstering the regulated sports wagering industry, with sponsors Senators Cortes, Nobles, Saldaña, Stanford and Wellman. The brief summary says the bill permits wagering in tribal casinos on a collegiate sport or athletic event that involves a college located within Washington, and prohibits wagering on the performance or nonperformance of an athlete enrolled in a college located in Washington. The report lists Appropriation: None and a fiscal note requested on January 19, 2026.

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                            SENATE BILL REPORT
                                  SB 6137

                                      As of January 21, 2026

Title: An act relating to bolstering the regulated sports wagering industry.

Brief Description: Concerning the regulated sports wagering industry.

Sponsors: Senators Cortes, Nobles, Saldaña, Stanford and Wellman.

Brief History:
     Committee Activity: Business, Trade & Economic Development: 1/22/26.


                                     Brief Summary of Bill
           • Permits wagering on a collegiate sport or athletic event that involves a
             college located within Washington in tribal casinos.
           • Prohibits wagering on the performance or nonperformance of an athlete
             enrolled in a college located in Washington.


SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

     Staff: William Bridges (786-7312)

     Background: Class III Gaming and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Class III gaming
     includes banking card games, slot machines, pari-mutuel lotteries, electronic games of
     chance, and sports wagering. The federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) provides a
     framework for Indian tribes and states to negotiate, on a government-to-government basis,
     for how class III gaming will be conducted within a state and on tribal lands. Under the
     IGRA, class III gaming is only authorized on tribal land if the governing body of the Indian
     tribe that has jurisdiction over that land adopts an ordinance or resolution authorizing such
     activities.

     Sports Wagering in Washington. In Washington, sports wagering is permitted only at a




     This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
     members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
     constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Senate Bill Report                              -1-                                             SB 6137
     tribal gaming facility of a federally recognized Indian tribe that amends its class III gaming
     compact to authorize the tribe to conduct sports wagering on its land. Gambling
     information may be transmitted over the internet for sports wagering. A wager may be
     placed and accepted at a tribe's gaming facility only while the customer placing the wager is
     physically present on the premises of that tribe's gaming facility.

     With exceptions, wagers may be placed on any of the following sporting events, athletic
     events, or competitions:
        • a professional sport or athletic event;
        • a collegiate sport or athletic event;
        • an Olympic or international sports competition or event;
        • an electronic sports or esports competition or event;
        • a combination of the above sporting events, athletic events, or competitions; and
        • a portion of any of the above sporting events, athletic events, or competitions.

     Wagers may not be placed on a collegiate sport or athletic event that is offered or sponsored
     by, or played in connection with, a public or private post-secondary educational institution
     located within Washington. Wagering on any minor league sport is also prohibited.

     Summary of Bill: Permitting Sports Wagering on College Sports with Limitations.
     Wagering on a collegiate sport or athletic event that involves a post-secondary educational
     institution located within Washington is permitted. Wagers on the performance or
     nonperformance of an individual athlete that is enrolled in a post-secondary educational
     institution that is located within Washington are prohibited.

     A tribe's class III gaming compact may be amended pursuant to the Indian Gaming
     Regulatory Act to authorize the tribe to conduct and operate sports wagering on any Indian
     lands. For gambling information transmitted over the internet, a wager may be placed and
     accepted at a tribe's gaming facility if the customer placing the wager is physically present
     on the premises of any tribe's gaming facility.

     Appropriation: None.

     Fiscal Note: Requested on January 19, 2026. Fiscal note on House companion HB 2205
     requested on January 5, 2026.

     Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

     Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.




Senate Bill Report                             -2-                                         SB 6137


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