Maverick Gaming Offers Boost to Washington State Gambling Bill

Currently, twenty US states have already passed bills to legalize online sports betting access for its residents. Of that number, at least a dozen states are already accepting bets with five of them already offering online wagering options.

In Washington state, state bills HB 2478 and SB 6277 are sports gambling bills being sponsored in the State House by Representative Brandon Vick and in the State Senate by Senators Curtis King and Ann Rivers. In a effort to help the bill sponsors gain the support they will need for bill passage, Maverick Gaming has stepped in with an offer to help legislators. The company is offering its expertise to help further develop a viable sports and online gambling bill that addresses implementation and taxation related to sports and online casino gambling in the state. The new bills are currently designed to authorize Tribal casinos, racetracks, and licensed card rooms in Washington State to serve as sports betting licencees.

Maverick Gaming is currently involved with ongoing gaming operations in Northern Nevada, Colorado and parts of the Pacific Northwest. The company has more recently announced its intention to purchase the Eldorado Casino and Resort in Shreveport, Louisiana from Eldorado Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERI). The purchase price has been set at $230 million.

As a fairly new entrant into the US gambling market, it looks like the company principles are determined to keep the company growing at an aggressive upward trajectory well into the future. It's worth noting the Maverick Gaming currently employs over 2,000 people and owns and operates 19 land based casino and card rooms collectively in the aforementioned areas.

On the state of sports gambling in the US, Maverick Gaming co-founder and CEO Eric Persson has this to say in a press release: “Legal sports betting will give lawmakers the opportunity to create a regulated system that collects tax revenues that should be used to address community needs, supports a strong sustainable workforce, and provides economic opportunity in this growing global market. Critically, regulated, legal sports betting has the dual benefit of undermining offshore criminal networks which currently profit from the unregulated and unsafe system."

He went on to further add: "I look forward to working with Washington’s elected leaders, Tribal Government Leaders, community stakeholders, and all interested parties regarding the merits of this proposed legislation.”

At this point, it's not clear if and when sports betting legislation in Washington will get passed. What is clear in the current bills going through the House and Senate are gaining support.