Steve Sisolak has not set a date for a possible reopening, Las Vegas-based Screaming Images has started developing a safety shield that could be used on table games and slot machines.
Introduction to Washington Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Washington slot machine casino gambling consists of 31 tribal casinos with a unique type of electronic player terminal based on scratch tickets controlled by a state-wide Tribal Lottery System (TLS).
All state-tribal compacts set a minimum theoretical payout limit. However, no return statistics are publicly available.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Washington*
The minimum legal gambling age in Washington depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 18/21 depending upon the casino
- Poker Rooms: 18
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
Washington’s player terminals at tribal casinos are based on the lottery’s scratch ticket games in electronic form. This unique form of slot machines makes Washington slot machines unique in the U.S. All other U.S.-based lottery terminals are based on draw lotteries, not from lotteries other game: scratch tickets.
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Twenty-nine tribes originally negotiated tribal-state compacts to offer gambling at tribal casinos. However, the state and these tribes could not agree whether Vegas-style slot machines should be legal in Washington.
Scratch-based gaming machines resulted from early negotiations of these gaming compacts. This impasse resolution led to creating a secondary lottery system for player terminals at tribal casinos. The state lottery was a model for the TLS.
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Draw-based terminals create tickets at the time of the bet using random number generators (RNGs). However, scratch-based terminals know in advance the result of each wager. Put another way, the outcome of each bet is pre-determined and do not require an RNG.
Another technical difference between lottery draw tickets and scratch tickets is how many of them can exist. For example, there are as many draw tickets as players are willing to buy. However, lotteries create only a limited number of scratch tickets but, hopefully, enough for a busy night at a Washington tribal casino.
All negotiated tribal-state compacts also have other legal restrictions for their scratch-based terminal-style slot machines. These limits have been expanding over time as part of this state’s dynamic gaming industry. The requirements are:
- Allows replaying of credits won
- No handles
- No mechanical spinning wheels
- A minimum payout return (see below)
- $5 maximum wager on 85% on VLTs
- $20 maximum wager on 15% of VLTs
- Cap of 2,500 VLT machines per tribe
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Washington
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in the state of Washington if it is 25 years old or older.
Gaming Control Board in Washington
The gaming control board is the Washington State Gambling Commission offering licensing, regulation, and enforcement of certain aspects of the gaming industry in Washington. Their regulatory responsibilities primarily include testing and approving new electronic gaming machines.
Further, each tribe with a casino in Washington has a tribal gaming agency (TGA). Agents of a TGA are the primary regulators at tribal casinos. At all times, at least one TGA agent must be on duty at a tribal casino.
Casinos in Washington
There are 31 American Indian tribal casinos and multiple cruise ships based in the state of Washington.
The largest casino in Washington is Muckleshoot Casino with 3,125 electronic gaming terminals.
The second-largest casino is Ilani Casino Resort with 2,500 electronic gaming terminals.
Commercial Casinos in Washington
The state of Washington has no commercial casinos with slot machines.
Tribal Casinos in Washington
The state of Washington has 31 tribal casinos:
- Angel of the Winds Casino Resort in Arlington, 50 miles north of Seattle
- BJ’s Bingo & Gaming in Fife near Tacoma
- Chewelah Casino in Chewelah, 50 miles north of Spokane
- Coulee Dam Casino in Coulee Dam, 40 miles north of Seattle, owned by 12 Tribes Colville Casinos
- Elwha River Casino in Port Angeles, 70 miles northwest of Seattle
- Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel (EQC) in Fife near Tacoma
- Emerald Queen Casino (EQC) I-5 in Tacoma
- Ilani Casino Resort in Ridgefield, 25 miles north of Portland near the border to Oregon
- Kalispel Casino in Cusick, 53 miles north of Spokane
- Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton, 23 miles north of Olympia
- Lucky Dog Casino in Skokomish, 23 miles north of Olympia
- Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel in Rochester, 26 miles south of Olympia
- Mill Bay Casino in Manson, 200 miles northeast of Seattle on the north shore of Lake Chelan, owned by 12 Tribes Colville Casinos
- Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn, 20 miles south of Seattle
- Nooksack Northwood Casino in Lynden, 14 miles north of Bellingham
- Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Airway Heights, 10 miles west of Spokane
- The Point Casino in Kingston, 18 miles west of Seattle via Bainbridge Ferry
- Quil Ceda Creek Nightclub & Casino in Quil Ceda Village, 30 miles north of Seattle
- Quinault Beach Resort and Casino in Ocean Shores, 90 miles west of Tacoma
- Red Wind Casino in Olympia
- 7 Cedars Casino in Sequim, 70 miles northwest of Seattle by ferry
- Shoalwater Bay Casino in Tokeland, 75 miles southwest of Olympia
- Silver Reef Casino Resort in Ferndale, 17 miles north of Bellingham
- Skagit Valley Casino Resort in Bow, 75 miles north of Seattle
- Snoqualmie Casino in Snoqualmie, 30 miles east of Seattle
- Spokane Tribe Casino in Airway Heights, 9 miles west of Spokane
- Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort in Suquamish, 15 miles west of Seattle via Bainbridge Ferry
- Swinomish Casino & Lodge in Anacortes, 70 miles north of Seattle
- Tulalip Casino in Quil Ceda Village, 30 miles north of Seattle
- 12 Tribes Casino in Omak, 165 miles northeast of Seattle, owned by 12 Tribes Colville Casinos
- Yakama Legends Casino in Toppenish, 20 miles south of Yakama
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Washington slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Washington is:
- North: The Canadian Province of British Columbia
- East: Idaho Slots
- South: Oregon Slots
- West: The Pacific Ocean
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Washington.
Our Washington Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Washington? If so, join our Washington slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Washington. Join us!
Payout Returns in Washington
The TLS directly controls the results of Washington’s unique terminal-style slot machines. TLS’ central computer system provides the outcome of each bet made on each terminal at the time of the wager. This off-site control extends to any bonus rounds.

All tribal-state compacts in Washington established a minimum theoretical payout of 75% for slot machines. Further, no return statistics for slots are available to the public.
A Slot Machine At A Hotel Is Configured So That There Is A 1/1200 Probability
Summary of Washington Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Washington slot machine casino gambling consists of 31 tribal casinos with electronic scratch ticket video player terminal slot machines. The state-run Tribal Lottery System (TLS) controls the results of all bets offsite from the tribal casinos.
Tribal-state compacts have set a minimum theoretical payout of 75% for their unique terminal-style electronic slot machines. No return statistics are available to the public.
Annual Progress in Washington Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Over the last year, Tulalip Resort Casino with its 2,400 gaming machines has dropped from second largest casino to third largest, replaced by Ilani Casino Resort with its 2,500 gaming machines.
Further, two tribal casinos have opened within the last year, including Kalispel Casino in Cusick located 53 miles north of Spokane and Spokane Tribe Casino located in Airway Heights a few miles west of Spokane.
Related Articles from Professor Slots
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling
- Next: West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC
Slot machines are everywhere in Las Vegas, but in downtown Las Vegas, there are some that truly stand out. We’ve gathered a few we consider must-sees during a visit to downtown and Fremont Street Experience.
SlotZilla Zip Line
Not surprisingly, we’re starting with the biggest, baddest slot machine anywhere. The SlotZilla zip line is the world’s largest slot machine, standing a towering 128 feet tall. Guests can fly down the Fremont Street Experience on two levels, the upper Zoomline (114 feet up) or lower Zipline (77 feet up). This one-of-a-kind slot machine has video screen “reels” and a massive, animated arm, simulating a true slot machine experience. Only in Vegas, baby!
Vintage Slots at Main Street Casino
The Main Street hotel houses surprises at every turn, including rare antiques and art from around the world. There’s even a slab of the Berlin Wall in one of the hotel’s restrooms! The hotel also has a collection of classic slot machines on display, just a few feet from the hotel’s registration area. These gorgeous relics of a bygone era are art in their own right.
Oversized Slot at The D Las Vegas
Unless you know where to look, you might just miss this one. The second level of The D Las Vegas, formerly Fitzgerald’s, is dedicated to classic slot machines. You know, the kind that take and pay coins, rather than paper. On the exterior of the casino’s second floor is a larger-than-life slot machine, complete with a moving “arm.” Get a closer look by taking the escalator up to the second floor. You’ll notice the escalator only goes up, into The D. Hey, Las Vegas casinos know what they’re doing! (Don’t freak out, there’s a down escalator inside. Besides, once you’re inside The D, you may never want to leave.)

Related: Five Ways to Improve Your Mojo Before Gambling in a Las Vegas Casino
Sigma Derby at The D
While you’re at The D, make sure to check out a truly distinctive slot machine, Sigma Derby. This throwback machine is one of only two still operating in Las Vegas (the other is at MGM Grand). Sigma Derby machines made their debut in 1985, and up to 10 players can place bets on their favorite mechanical horses. When the Sigma Derby machine fills up with players, it’s one of the most exciting games in any Las Vegas casino.
Humongous Slot Machine at Golden Nugget
It’s one of the biggest functioning slot machines in Las Vegas, and it’s right inside the door at Golden Nugget. Playing this machine isn’t just fun because you’re winning–it’s so large and eye-catching, it often attracts a crowd. The machine’s roughly eight feet tall and has four reels. In Vegas, it’s either go big or go home, and Golden Nugget’s giant slot machine is a great way to go big.
Silver Strike at Four Queens
Silver Strike slot machines add some surprises to the typical slot machine experience. On these machines at Four Queens Las Vegas, you can win not only money, but also souvenir tokens containing, you guessed it, silver.
Silver Strike machines pay out coins of different values, from $10 in value to $300. While they can be redeemed for cash at the casino cage, we tend to hold onto ours. The coins come in a variety of styles, and often come out in plastic cases to protect them. (The blue ones are called “bluecaps.”) Give the Silver Strike slot machines a try when you’re at Four Queens.
Golden Gate Classics
The Golden Gate casino opened in 1906, making it the oldest casino in Las Vegas, so it’s no surprise the casino has its own collection of antique slot machines. The bank of classic machines are near the casino’s valet entrance and loyalty club desk. Included in the collection are machines from the earliest days of Las Vegas casinos, back when slot machines were primarily to keep the wives of table game players occupied. How things have changed!
Las Vegas slot machines come in just about every shape or size you can imagine. Make sure to take a look at these weird and wonderful slot machines during your next visit to downtown Las Vegas.