BetMGM Gains Market Access into Washington Sports Betting

• BetMGM announced a market access partnership with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
• BetMGM will operate the Puyallup Tribe of Indians retail sportsbook at the Emerald Queen Casino.
• Emerald Queen Casino operates two properties in Fife and Tacoma in Washington.

BetMGM successfully made a push to enter the suddenly expansive Washington sports betting landscape.

The sportsbook operator announced a market access agreement with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians to operate in-person sports betting at the Emerald Queen Casino (EQC) in Washington state.

“Today’s announcement marks another key moment in the expansion of BetMGM as we extend our western footprint into Washington,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt, in a release. “The Puyallup Tribe and Emerald Queen Casino are ideal partners for us as they represent the same high-level of service, amenities and experiences that is built into our DNA at BetMGM.”

BetMGM will operate Tacoma sportsbook

Emerald Queen Casino operates two properties in Fife and Tacoma. Pending approval, sports betting will be available at both locations in the near future.

BetMGM will operate the sportsbook at EQC’s Tacoma location. Guests will be able to place bets at any of six ticket windows and 30 sports betting kiosks.

“We are very excited to be working with BetMGM to bring legal sports betting to sports fans in the Pacific Northwest. As industry leaders, EQC and BetMGM are two entertainment powerhouses, and combined we will deliver the ultimate fan experience in sports betting,” said Frank Wright Jr., general manager of Emerald Queen Casino, in a release.

Twelve Total Tribes Can Offer Sports Betting

Twelve Washington tribes have received approvals for their gaming compacts from the U.S. Department of the Interior to offer in-person sports betting. The tribes that can currently offer in-person sports betting are as follows:

• Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
• Tulalip Tribe of Washington.
• Spokane Tribe.
• Snoqualmie Indian Tribe.
• Lummi Nation.
• Cowlitz Indian Tribe.
• Squaxin Island Tribe.
• Suquamish Tribe.
• Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians.
• Colville Tribe.
• Muckleshoot Tribe.
• Shoalwater Tribe.

Washington began accepting sports bets on Thursday, Sept. 9, the opening day of the NFL season. The Snoqualmie Casino, which bills itself as the closest casino to Seattle, was the first casino in the state to begin taking sports bets from the public.

Last week, FanDuel announced it had also agreed to a partnership to gain market access for Washington in-person sports betting.

The sportsbook operator has partnered with the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort to operate the facility’s retail sportsbook. The FanDuel sportsbook will open its door later this fall and will feature three live betting windows and twelve self-service betting terminal kiosks