Washington’s gaming regulator warned in January 2025 that coin-based virtual casino games are likely illegal, even when players earn the coins free. All five partner sweepstakes sites whose Terms Clovr opened on October 27, 2026, exclude Washington.
RCW 9.46.240 is the governing statute. It makes knowingly sending or receiving information about play for value over the internet a class C felony. Verify current laws in your jurisdiction before playing.
The legal options inside the state are tribal casinos, Washington’s Lottery, house-banked card rooms and authorized horse racing accounts. Online sweepstakes casinos are not among them.
Legal Alternatives for Washington Residents
Four options rest on a state law or a tribal compact, and two are independent review sites for collectibles products. The table shows each option, its age rule and the source Clovr checked.
| Option | What it offers | Minimum age | Source checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribal casinos | 28 casinos run by 22 tribes; sportsbooks on tribal lands | Confirm with each casino | WSGC casino list, Oct 27, 2026; RCW 9.46.0364 |
| Washington’s Lottery | Scratch and Draw games; official app scans tickets | 18 plus | Lottery app listing, Oct 27, 2026 |
| House-banked card rooms | Privately owned card rooms with a statewide self-exclusion program | Confirm with each card room | WSGC self-exclusion page, Oct 27, 2026 |
| Horse racing accounts | Online accounts with commission-authorized entities only | 21 plus | RCW 67.16.260 |
| mistery-boxes.com | Independent ranking of 9 mystery box sites | 18 plus (site notice) | mistery-boxes.com, Oct 2026 |
| mycardrips.com | Independent reviews of card-rip apps; 7 rated, 33 tracked | 18 plus (site notice) | mycardrips.com, Oct 27, 2026 |
1. Tribal Casinos
All 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington hold Class III gaming compacts with the state. According to the WSGC casino list opened October 27, 2026, 22 tribes operate 28 casinos.
Sportsbooks operate only on tribal lands, under compact amendments that RCW 9.46.0364 authorizes. A 2026 sports integrity law (2026 c 246) states that tribal casinos are the only sportsbook operators in Washington.
Tribal casinos do not take part in the state self-exclusion program, according to the WSGC. Confirm the minimum age and any self-exclusion option with each casino before you visit.
2. Washington’s Lottery
Washington’s Lottery offers Scratch and Draw games. Its official app scans both ticket types to check results, and eligible non-winning tickets earn My Lottery 360 points. The app listing states that buyers must be 18 or older.
3. House-Banked Card Rooms
RCW 9.46.0325 lets food and drink businesses run social card games when they hold a license. The WSGC also runs a self-exclusion program for privately owned house-banked card rooms.
Since May 2022, one WSGC form excludes a player from every house-banked card room in the state. Once enrolled, a player cannot ask for early removal.
4. Horse Racing Accounts
Washington permits online horse racing accounts only with entities the state horse racing commission authorizes, under RCW 67.16.260. Residents may not use any other online racing account provider.
The same statute bars anyone under 21 from opening, owning or using one of these accounts. Check that a provider holds commission approval before you sign up.
5. Mystery Box Rankings at mistery-boxes.com
Mistery-boxes.com is an independent ranking of 9 mystery box sites, last updated October 2026. The site carries an 18 plus notice.
Its October 2026 notes show at least two ranked sites that block Washington. Check each site’s Terms for Washington before you buy a box.
6. Card-Rip Apps at mycardrips.com
Mycardrips.com reviews card-rip apps, where users open digital packs and receive real graded Pokémon or sports cards. On October 27, 2026, it rated 7 apps and tracked 33.
The homepage gave no Washington availability details that day, and it carries an 18 plus notice. Check each app’s Terms for Washington before you open a pack.
Crush-cards.com is not listed on this page. That site reports that CardCrush’s Terms of Service (v1.3, §5.1, effective August 5, 2026) name Washington as a restricted state.
How to Pick an Alternative
The right option depends on the format you want and the rules that apply to you.
- Choose the format first: in-person casino play, lottery tickets, horse racing accounts or collectibles products.
- Confirm the minimum age, which is 18 plus for the Lottery and 21 plus for horse racing accounts.
- Use only options that a state law, a tribal compact or the provider’s own Terms place in Washington.
- Set a spending limit before you start, and note how to self-exclude from that option.
What to Check Before You Buy
Run through these points before you pay for any ticket, pack or box.
- The provider’s Terms list the states it serves, and Washington is not excluded.
- Your age meets both the provider’s rule and any state rule for that product.
- A pack or box site publishes its odds or item values before you open anything.
- The limit and self-exclusion tools you would use are available for that option.
Washington Law on Sweepstakes Casinos
Washington allows prize play only where state law specifically authorizes it. The legislature restated that policy in 2006 (2006 c 290), and the WSGC repeated it in January 2025.
Clovr treats Washington, Idaho and Michigan as blocked under existing law rather than a new ban. For other states, see the sweepstakes casinos by state index.
What the Statutes Say
RCW 9.46.240 covers anyone who knowingly sends or receives information about play for value by internet. Activities that chapter 9.46 RCW authorizes, such as compacted tribal sports, are exempt.
Under RCW 9A.20.021, a class C felony carries up to 5 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. The statute names the person who receives the information as well as the sender.
RCW 9.46.0285 defines a “thing of value” to include “a privilege of playing at a game or scheme without charge.” A Washington appeals court has applied that wording to play points earned from a free daily voucher.
Why a Free Entry Route Does Not Settle the Question
Washington does allow promotional contests of chance with no consideration, under RCW 9.46.0356. A business may give extra entries with a purchase only if it also offers a free alternate method of entry.
The statute adds two limits. The contest must run solely to promote the business’s own goods or services. Equipment made for prize play is barred unless the commission authorizes it.
The WSGC’s Sweepstakes FAQ addresses online “sweepstakes” sold as a raffle alternative. It says they combine raffle and promotional contest features into a third type of contest Washington does not authorize.
The same FAQ states that Washington law uses “sweepstakes” for two activities only: golfing sweepstakes and bowling sweepstakes. It says the term, as online businesses use it, meets the criteria for neither. Verify current laws in your jurisdiction before playing.
The Kater Ruling
Kater v. Churchill Downs is a federal ruling that applies Washington’s definition to virtual casino coins. On March 28, 2018, the Ninth Circuit held that Big Fish Casino’s chips were things of value.
The court found that the chips extended the privilege of playing the game. Cheryl Kater had filed suit in 2015 after buying and losing over $1,000 of chips.
The court relied on Bullseye Distributing, a 2005 Washington Court of Appeals case. There, play points from purchases, a free daily voucher or wins counted as things of value despite lacking cash value.
The $155 Million Settlement
Churchill Downs and Aristocrat announced on May 24, 2020, an agreement to pay $155 million to settle Kater and a related case. Churchill Downs agreed to pay $124 million, and Aristocrat agreed to pay $31 million.
The settlement covered Big Fish Casino, Jackpot Magic Slots and Epic Diamond Slots. Court approval of the settlement was reported on March 2, 2021.
The WSGC Statement of January 2025
The WSGC applied Kater to virtual casino games in a statement dated January 21, 2025. It described games where players could earn the coins with or without a purchase.
The WSGC concluded that games asking players to stake virtual currency to win more virtual currency are “likely” illegal. It urged every company offering virtual casino games to Washington residents to review them for compliance. Verify current laws in your jurisdiction before playing.
Washington Legal Timeline
Washington’s position comes from older statutes, two court rulings and regulator guidance, not from a new sweepstakes ban.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Bullseye Distributing: the Court of Appeals treats play points, including free voucher points, as things of value |
| 2006 | The legislature restates its policy against unauthorized prize play (2006 c 290) |
| 2015 | Cheryl Kater files a class action in federal court in Washington |
| March 28, 2018 | The Ninth Circuit holds that Big Fish Casino chips are things of value |
| March 25, 2020 | The tribal sports law (2020 c 127) takes effect |
| May 24, 2020 | Churchill Downs and Aristocrat announce a $155 million settlement agreement |
| March 2, 2021 | Court approval of the settlement is reported |
| January 21, 2025 | The WSGC says coin-based virtual casino games are likely illegal |
| 2026 | The sports integrity law (2026 c 246) states that tribal casinos are the only sportsbook operators |
| October 27, 2026 | Clovr confirms five partner sites exclude Washington in their Terms |
What It Means for Washington Players
The Terms of the five partner sites Clovr checked exclude Washington residents. Clovr lists no sweepstakes site for Washington.
RCW 9.46.240 applies to whoever “receives” the covered information, not only to operators. Under RCW 4.24.070, a person who loses money or anything of value at an illegal game can recover it from the proprietor.
Kater relied on that recovery right in the case that ended in the $155 million settlement. A player with a dispute should speak to a Washington attorney. For the national picture, see the sweepstakes legal guide.
Operator Status From Partner Terms
Clovr opened the Terms of Service of five of its 20 partner sites on October 27, 2026. All five name Washington as a state where the service is not offered.
| Source checked | Partner sites | Terms versions | Washington status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terms of Service, one operator group, opened Oct 27, 2026 | 5 | 2.1 to 2.9 | Excluded |
| Terms of Service, remaining partners, attempted Oct 27, 2026 | 15 | Not retrieved | Not confirmed; none listed for Washington |
The other 15 partner sites load their Terms in a form Clovr could not open that day. Clovr lists no sweepstakes site for Washington while that check is open.
Taxes and Age Rules
Federal tax rules treat prizes from lotteries, raffles, horse races and casinos as taxable income, according to IRS Topic 419. Players must report that income on their tax return.
Minimum ages differ by option. Washington’s Lottery requires buyers to be 18 or older, and RCW 67.16.260 sets 21 for horse racing accounts. Confirm the age rule directly with a tribal casino or card room.
Responsible Gaming Resources
The Washington State Problem Gambling Helpline answers at 1-800-547-6133 by call or text, 24 hours a day. The state Health Care Authority lists it as the route to local treatment providers.
For a mental health crisis, call or text 988. Card room players can enroll in the WSGC self-exclusion program, while each tribal casino handles its own program.
Sources
Clovr re-opened every source below on October 27, 2026. Dates shown are each document’s own date.
- RCW 9.46.240, RCW 9.46.0285, RCW 9.46.0356, RCW 9.46.0364, RCW 9.46.0325, RCW 9A.20.021, RCW 4.24.070 and RCW 67.16.260, app.leg.wa.gov.
- WSGC, “Regarding Virtual Casinos,” dated January 21, 2025, wsgc.wa.gov.
- Kater v. Churchill Downs Inc., 886 F.3d 784 (9th Cir. 2018), decided March 28, 2018.
- WSGC, Sweepstakes FAQ, wsgc.wa.gov.
- Churchill Downs press release filed with the SEC, May 24, 2020.
- WSGC, tribal casino locations and self-exclusion pages, wsgc.wa.gov.
- AsGam report on court approval of the settlement, March 2, 2021.
- Washington State Health Care Authority, problem gambling page, hca.wa.gov.
- IRS Tax Topic 419, irs.gov.
- Washington’s Lottery app listing, Apple App Store.
- Partner Terms of Service for five partner sites, versions 2.1 to 2.9.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Washington?
No. RCW 9.46.240 makes transmitting or receiving gambling information online a class C felony, and Chapter 9.46 RCW prohibits any gambling activity not explicitly authorised by statute. The WSGC has confirmed no Washington law authorises the model.
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What did Kater v. Churchill Downs actually decide?
The Ninth Circuit held in March 2018 that Big Fish Casino’s virtual chips are a thing of value under RCW 9.46.0285, bringing the platform within Washington’s definition of an illegal gambling game.
It is a federal appellate decision applying Washington law. The Washington Supreme Court authority on the online gambling ban itself is Rousso v. State. The related class actions settled for $155 million.
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Why doesn't no purchase necessary work in Washington?
Because Washington asks a different question. Under Bullseye, a coin is a thing of value if it extends the privilege of playing, whether it was bought, won, or given away free.
Removing consideration does not help when the free coins themselves satisfy the test.
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Can a Washington player be prosecuted?
RCW 9.46.240 technically reaches players, with a class C felony maximum of five years and a $10,000 fine, but no public record shows an individual player prosecuted under it.
The more common legal posture is the reverse. RCW 4.24.070 lets players sue operators to recover gambling losses, which is what produced the Big Fish settlement.
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Does a VPN help?
No. The statute addresses transmitting and receiving gambling information rather than IP presentation, and VPN use voids your balance under every major platform’s terms.
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What can Washington residents play instead?
More than 30 tribal casinos operate under compact, with sportsbook apps geofenced to on-premises use. The state lottery is available statewide, pari-mutuel horse racing is authorised online, and the WSGC licenses house-banked card rooms.
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Could Washington legalise sweepstakes casinos?
Not without amending the definition of a thing of value. The position comes from judicial interpretation rather than a statutory gap, so a simple carve-out would not resolve it. No such legislation is pending.
These Clovr guides cover the sweepstakes model, its coins and player support.
- Are sweepstakes casinos legal explains the legal test sweepstakes casinos rely on in other states.
- How sweepstakes casinos work walks through the two currencies, the free entry route and redemption.
- Sweeps Coins explained covers what each coin is worth and how players earn them.
- Responsible gaming at Clovr lists tools, resources and support for safe play.
Clovr.com may earn a commission when you sign up through affiliate links on this page. This never affects our reviews, which stay independent and unbiased.
Sweepstakes play should stay fun. If you or someone you know needs support, visit the National Council on Problem Gambling at ncpgambling.org or call 1-800-GAMBLER.
