Washington: Betfred and Lummi Nation open new retail sportsbook in Silver Reef Casino Resort

Betfred USA Sports and Lummi Nation announced Wednesday the opening of a new sportsbook at the Silver Reef Casino Resort in the Northwest. The betting space opened August 31, adding a new retail betting option to Washington. The honorary first bet was placed by football Hall of Famer Warren Moon. 

Pro Football Hall of Famer, @WMoon1, just placed the first bet at the Betfred Sportsbook @SRCResort! 💰#Washington | #GamblingTwitter pic.twitter.com/JU3N10hgaU

— Betfred Sportsbook (@BetfredSports) August 31, 2022

CEO of Silver Reef Casino Resort, Marty Sauvage, said: “We are extremely excited about opening and operating the sportsbook with our partner Betfred. The sportsbook will be a fantastic new amenity for our guests and will enable us to continue delivering the premier gaming and resort experience in the Northwest."

Bryan Bennett, Betfred USA Sports Chief Operating Officer, commented: “We look forward to utilizing our 50 years of bookmaking experience to make the Betfred Sportsbook at Silver Reef Casino Resort the go-to destination for sports wagering in the state. We’ve long been eyeing the state of Washington and are excited to enter the market in partnership with Lummi Nation and the team at Silver Reef Casino."

We are so excited to announce that our Sportsbook is now open! We had the pleasure of having Warren Moon make the first bet for us! Place your bets now at Portage Bay Sports Bar & Book! https://t.co/kntyhREf6s pic.twitter.com/LbcheKg6zg

— Silver Reef Casino Resort (@SRCResort) August 31, 2022

The sportsbook occupies the space of the former Portage Bay Bar. It includes multiple high-resolution video walls, seating, multiple betting stations, and self-serve kiosks, all with sports pub food and beverages. 

The opening of this new space comes about a year after the Lummi tribe amended its compact with the state to include sports betting. The first nine approved Washington tribes also included Tulalip, Stillaguamish, Suquamish, Snoqualmie, Puyallup, Squaxin, Cowlitz and Spokane. 

Shortly after the first tribes launched, Washington-based Maverick Gaming decided to sue the sports betting market in its home state, challenging what the business claims is an “erroneous” application of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to give tribal interests a monopoly on types of gaming that are not allowed in non-tribal gaming properties. A D.C. federal judge granted Washington's motion to pause the suit from the operator back in March.

Despite Maverick's challenge, sportsbooks continued to open in the state with operators such as FanDuel at Suquamish Clearwater Casino; Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton with its sports betting lounge; Caesars Sportsbook at Muckleshoot Casino; and more. 

A research conducted by the Washington State University last year found that sports betting on tribal casinos is on track to become a $94 million industry in the state within the next five years. According to the study, sports wagering at tribal casinos will also lead to an estimated 273 direct jobs.