A bill allowing Washington tribal casinos to offer to bet on sporting events is moving forward in the Legislature. The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on Monday approved the measure without amendment and sent it to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The bill, which has already passed the House, permits people to place bets on professional and college sporting events at the 29 tribal casinos in the state, though no wagering on games involving public or private colleges based in Washington. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 struck down a 1992 federal law prohibiting sports betting in most states, leaving the decision to allow betting up to individual states. More than a dozen states, including Oregon, have legalized sports betting and more are working through legislation to do so. The Senate committee declined to amend the bill to include card rooms and horse racing tracks, but members say they could look at possible expansion down the road. It takes a 60 percent majority in both the House and the Senate to pass gambling-expansion bills. The measure passed the House 83-14. (AP)
