Gambling activities in Washington State are regulated by the Washington State Gambling Commission, the second-oldest gambling regulatory body in the U.S. Online gambling activities are illegal throughout the U.S. and the state of Washington.
Definition
For an activity to be considered gambling over the Internet in Washington, three elements must be present: prize, chance and consideration. If an online activity does not require an entry fee for playing it is not considered gambling in Washington.
Penalties
In 2006, taking part in online gambling activities was upgraded from a gross misdemeanor to a class C felony. The penalty for online gambling in Washington can range from zero days to one year in county jail, a first offence usually carries a jail term of between zero and 90 days, according to the Washington State Gambling Commission.
International
As of 2010, gambling over the Internet was legal in such countries as the U.K., New Zealand and Sweden. Residents of Washington cannot gamble legally on Internet sites located in foreign countries. The owners of online gambling websites registered in foreign countries are not legally allowed to solicit customers in Washington or anywhere within the U.S.
Tags: Washington State, considered gambling, foreign countries, Gambling Commission, gambling over, gambling over Internet