Washington State Gaming
Can I play slots online in Washington?
GAMBLING - GAMBLING COMMISSION - Authority of gambling commission to define pull-tabs to include video pull-tabs. The state gambling commission has delegated authority to define what is including in the term “pull-tabs”, but this authority does not extend to define “video pull-tabs” as “pull-tabs”, because a paper ticket or folder is a fundamental element of a pull tab. Pathological gambling behavior — Warning. 9.46.075: Gambling commission — Denial, suspension, or revocation of license, permit — Other provisions not applicable. 9.46.077: Gambling commission — Vacation of certain suspensions upon payment of monetary penalty. 9.46.080: Gambling commission — Administrator — Staff — Rules. In a vote that expands gambling in this state beyond anything in more than a decade, the Washington Senate late Thursday night approved an emergency bill authorizing sports betting in Native. Washington State offers thoroughbred horseracing, bingo parlors, pool halls, billiard rooms, card rooms and a wide range of Washington State casino resorts, from the laidback to the luxurious. The state's larger casinos not only offer gaming, but a chance to win big on entertainment and dining options.
Unfortunately, no. Washington has one of the strictest laws when it comes to online gaming, including slots online. Slots and online gambling is outright banned in Washington state.
What are the chances that we get full-fledged Washington online casinos?
Odds are not good. So far, any attempts to legalize online casinos or online gambling of any kind have died in the Washington State Legislature.
I heard that New Jersey has legal online casinos. Can I play at those from Washington?
No. Legal online casinos in New Jersey employ geolocation software to keep players from other states from playing.
I see casinos accepting Washington players when I Google the topic. Should I trust them?
Please don’t. In Washington, online gambling is considered a felony. Best to leave any kind of online slots, casino games and online gambling alone.
Washington State Gambling Laws
Quite simply, these apps operate outside of the US and are not subject to its laws. So, a player might find themselves out of options in case of a dispute with one of these “grey market” sites.
Thanks for taking a moment to learn more about us.
Maverick Gaming is the new owner and operator of 19 cardrooms in Washington State and a handful of other properties in Nevada and Colorado. We hope to establish and re-imagine what cardrooms can be as an entertainment option, employer and community contributor.
As we expand our investment in Washington, we are committed to being good neighbors and members of the community.
Learn more about Maverick Gaming by downloading our fact sheet here:
Responsible Gaming
“Self-exclusion” gives problem gamblers the opportunity to identify themselves and avoid risking their wallets and their well-being. The Washington State Gambling Commission – following passage of Representative Shelley Kloba’s HB 1302 in 2019 – must adopt rules establishing a self-exclusion policy by June 30, 2021.
As a part of its core responsible gaming philosophy, Maverick Gaming is the first in the state to implement and activate its centralized self-exclusion system in all 19 of our properties statewide, barring problem gamblers from all of our card rooms. We are happy to provide a safe place for the 97% of people who can place bets responsibly and for fun. For those who cannot, centralized self-exclusion will help us to prohibit self-harm while gambling in our facilities.
Good-Paying Jobs
As we expand our investment in Washington, we know that our employees are the heart of our business and on the front lines of providing a first-class experience to our guests. Part of being good neighbors and members of the community is being a good employer. We are confident enough in our commitment to our employees that we’ve worked with local labor organizations to ensure we’re working together on sustainable, family wage jobs.
Community
Maverick Gaming wants to participate as a good corporate citizen and a good neighbor. We want to redefine what a casino is for our guests, providing a local neighborhood option where you can come together with friends after work or to watch the game.
Maverick Gaming is a proud partner and member of local organizations across Washington.
Local Businesses:
Connie's Donuts & Espresso, Tacoma
Happy Donuts, Puyallup
Black Bear Diner, Lakewood
Hong's Restaurant, Lakewood
Empire Coffee, Normandy Park
Salmon Creek Cafe, Burien
Famous Daves BBQ, Tukwila
Taste To Go, Kent
Classic Eats, Burien
Mercury's Coffee Company, Kirkland/Bellevue
FastSigns, Kirkland
Orange Twist, Bellevue
Jersey Mikes Sub, Kirkland
SuperCuts, Statewide
Focus Foods (Jamba Juice), Statewide
Chambers of Commerce:
Edmonds Chamber of Commerce
Greater Renton Chamber of Commerce
Kirkland Chamber of Commerce
Lakewood Chamber of Commerce
Tri City Regional Chamber of Commerce
Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce
Mill Creek Chamber of Commerce
Public Policy
The ownership and senior management of Maverick Gaming believes their company has an obligation and responsibility to actively participate in civic and political life. In 2019, Maverick Gaming established a political action committee (PAC) to advocate for and on behalf of its employees and company priorities. Maverick’s corporate culture is to participate in the political process, in a non-partisan way, for our employees and the communities where we do business. We are proud of being a part of the civic and political process in every jurisdiction where we do business and want all of our positions and contributions to be transparent.
In 2021, we are supporting legislation that will include commercial cardrooms like ours in the opportunity to offer legal sports betting in Washington State. Sports betting is legal in 25 states and D.C. and as of January 2021, had generated upwards of $350 million in taxes/jurisdiction revenue. Read more about the broad, bipartisan support for this proposal.
What is sports betting?
Sports betting is the ability for a person to predict an outcome of a sporting event, put money on it, and then watch the game or match to enhance their overall experience. If you put $20 on a Seahawks game, you cheer that much louder. Of course, you’re a fan first, and Seahawks fans are known for how hard they cheer to begin with. But if they win, and YOU win also, it’s even better.
Should Washington allow sports betting?
The 2019-2020 State Legislature gave Washington Tribes the ability to offer sports betting, and sports books in tribal properties will be available soon. We support legislation that would include commercial cardrooms like ours in the ability to offer this popular pastime to our customers. The opportunity doesn’t just stabilize and increase jobs at our locations and others who would like to offer it but would generate 35% more revenue from gambling taxes for local and state budgets strained by COVID-19. In particular, we believe that sport betting can be offered responsibly, with strict limitations that safeguard against widespread unmonitored betting, while also creating economic opportunity that helps rebuild and move forward beyond the impacts of the pandemic.
+ Who is Maverick Gaming?
Maverick Gaming was founded by long-time gambling executives Eric Persson and Justin Beltram in 2017. It currently operates 19 cardrooms in Washington State as well as casino/hotels in Nevada and Colorado. When Eric was growing up in Hoquiam, Washington, he knew he wanted to own casinos. His company is named for his first-grade son, Maverick.
+ I've Never Been In A Card Room, What Should I Expect?
At Maverick Gaming cardrooms you can expect clean, bright, safe facilities where you can have a drink and a bite to eat while you have a fun time. We try to take care of our employees so they are happy in their jobs, and thus providing great service to our guests. And because we are committed to being part of our communities, we hope you’ll feel at home.
+ Why Did Maverick Gaming Come To Washington?
Co-founder and majority owner Eric Persson was raised in Hoquiam, Washington. His lifelong passion for gaming and his decades in the industry have come full circle with Maverick Gaming’s growth and investment here in Eric’s home state. Washington also hosts a healthy gambling industry and a devoted and enthusiastic fan base for sports as well as national championships for several teams in recent years from the Seattle Storm (women’s basketball) and Seattle Sounders (major league soccer) to the Seattle Seahawks (professional football) and the Seattle Seawolves (major league rugby). As sports wagering increases in popularity across the country, Maverick Gaming hopes to support its legalization and regulation in Washington, a business opportunity that generates tax revenue to be used in local communities.
+ What Makes Maverick Gaming Different Than Other Casinos?
Maverick Gaming is a company, but it also represents a lifelong dream come to life. We hope to establish a presence in Washington to be proud of, that has a legacy fitting of our families and for the people on our team who want to be a part of offering another option for gambling and entertainment in Washington. No one takes more pride in their work or cares more about their guest experience than we do.
+ What's The Difference Between Maverick Gaming Cardrooms and Tribal Casinos?
Washington’s Tribal casinos are beautiful properties that are frequently destination resorts that offer a great experience. Maverick offers an experience that is smaller and more neighborly. Our guests can park 20 feet from the door, meet co-workers for happy hour, and have a more intimate, social experience. We are another option for people to come together that is also committed to participating as a member of the local community who knows you and what is going on in the neighborhood.As required by federal law, Washington’s Tribal casinos are exclusively operated on Tribal Lands following agreed-upon compacts negotiated directly between Tribal and state governments. Cardrooms are non-Tribal gaming options and are licensed and regulated by state government following an extensive criminal background check and other due diligence regulations before approving prospective operators.
Under current law, sports wagering is legal for Washington Tribes but not yet in commercial cardrooms like ours.
+ Where else do you have operations and where else do you plan to grow?
Maverick Gaming owns 19 card rooms in Washington State and a handful of other properties in Colorado and Nevada.
+ How many employees do you have and what kinds of jobs do you provide? What’s the average salary and benefits package?
Maverick Gaming employs 2,000 Washingtonians with average salary of $70,000 and a competitive benefits package. We were proud to support our team members when they joined the ranks of Teamsters 117. Over half of the cardrooms in Washington State are represented by Teamsters 117, which represents real benefits including access to healthcare and a secure retirement. At Maverick Gaming, our goal is not only to be a good employer, but a good neighbor and an active member in the communities where we operate. It's why our CEO created our Maverick Cares initiative, which is employee-led and in the last year engaged with community partners across the state to provide tens of thousands of meals for families struggling during the pandemic.
+ I’m worried that sports betting is just another opportunity for people to lose their money?
The vast majority of people who gamble do so safely and responsibly and we hope to offer them a fun time that does not threaten their well-being or risk their personal finances. Maverick Gaming is the first company in Washington to implement a socially responsible self-exclusion policy across all of our properties.
Eric is a native Washingtonian, raised in Hoquiam, Washington, and from a young age, he knew he wanted to work in casinos. The first in his family to go to college, Eric attended the University of Nevada in Las Vegas and completed five degrees, spending time away from his considerable class load interning for former U.S. Senator Richard H. Bryan (D-NV) and in the Crimes Against Women and Children Unit of the District Attorney's office. He went on to graduate from Georgetown Law, and returned to Nevada to begin building a career in the gaming industry.
Since then Eric has held every position from blackjack dealer to general manager and every job in between. Together with co-owner Justin Beltram, former Vice President of Slots at Bellagio and Marina Bay Sands, Maverick’s founders have over 40 years of gaming experience spanning gaming markets around the world including the Las Vegas Strip (Venetian, Palazzo, Bellagio), Macau (Sands China Limited), Singapore (Marina Bay Sands), and many regional markets in North America.
Eric and his wife Ann have four children ranging in ages from one to 17 years old. His company is named for his six-year-old son, Maverick.
Justin Beltram
Chief Operating Officer
Prior to his position as COO, Mr. Beltram was the Corporate Vice President of Slot Operations for Las Vegas Sands Corporation from 2014 through 2017 and the Vice President of Slots for the Marina Bay Sands Casino in Singapore from 2011 through 2014.
Previous to those roles, Mr. Beltram was with MGM Resorts International for 11 years and held various positions including Vice President of Slots and Marketing at the Bellagio, Vice President of Slots and Marketing at the Treasure Island Casino, and numerous positions within the casino and financial departments at the Mirage.
Mr. Beltram has excelled at managing all levels of the casino business while driving incremental revenue at every property he has been employed. Several revenue records have been set by taking a creative approach to casino operations and marketing. Mr. Beltram has also been involved in creating new electronic casino games and innovations for the casino industry.
Washington State Gaming Commission
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