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WSGC discusses prediction markets, advertising concerns and proposed collegiate wagering bill
Summary
Commissioners heard staff and legal perspectives saying prediction markets are currently unauthorized in Washington, discussed consumer-protection and advertising issues with the attorney general’s office, and reviewed a proposed bill to allow in-state collegiate sports wagering with a ban on athlete prop bets.
Commissioners and staff at the Jan. 8 Washington State Gambling Commission meeting discussed prediction markets and advertising enforcement, possible next steps for policy work, and a newly introduced legislative bill on collegiate sports wagering.
Director Tina Griffin summarized the commission’s Dec. 9 guidance that prediction markets are not authorized in Washington, and noted ongoing litigation nationally could change the legal landscape. Griffin said the commission would present additional materials at a future meeting and advised tribal partners and licensees to prepare for the commission’s Polaris IT rollout in 2026.
Representative Clovis raised consumer-protection concerns, saying some prediction markets present as investments and have prompted complaints. Assistant Attorney General Suzanne Becker told the commission the attorney general’s office has not issued an advisory opinion on prediction markets and that legislators can request formal or informal opinions; she also noted the AGO’s consumer protection division regularly handles deceptive-practice inquiries.
Commissioners discussed forming a work group or holding a presentation at the next meeting to gather more information before deciding on a policy approach. Chair Levy and multiple commissioners supported more information and a presentation in February before considering a formal work group.
Legislative update: Trisha Gullion, legislative and rules manager, briefed commissioners on House Bill 2205, which would authorize in-state collegiate sports wagering and include a prohibition on athletic prop bets targeted at Washington college athletes; the bill also contains provisions allowing wagering servers or hubs to be located at a tribal facility while play occurs at another tribal site. Commissioners expressed concern about harassment of student athletes if in-state prop betting were allowed and did not take a formal commission position at the meeting.
Policy note: staff flagged prior enforcement action — a March 2025 cease-and-desist to Meta for fraudulent real-money wagering advertising — as an example of advertising enforcement tied to these discussions. The commission accepted there is ongoing litigation and regulatory uncertainty and will revisit the topic at a future meeting with further information.
