Sports betting opens in Lower Columbia with the ilani's new sportsbook counter, kiosks
Ilani Casino in Ridgefield, Washington, is one of 10 casinos where people can bet on sports. Washington legalized sports wagering in 2020. The state's 29 federally recognized tribes can offer sports betting at their casinos. People can start building their bets online before entering the casino and go to a kiosk to place the bet when they arrive.
The first sportsbook in Washington state opened in September 2021 at the Snoqualmie Casino near Seattle. In Ilani, the casino located on the Cowlitz Reservation, a new sports betting section has opened. Ilani offers 3,000 slots, 75 gaming tables and 18 different restaurants. The section is called Stadium Sports Bar and Grill. It has a bar and three large screens with games and odds from Vegas.
The opening of ilani in 2017 coincided with a landmark case in the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2018 the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was ruled unconstitutional. Before 2018 a person would have to travel to Las Vegas or find a bookie to make a wager. The future of sports gambling is everywhere thanks to the internet and mobile phones. Only 22 states and the District of Columbia have legalized online sports betting so far. Ilani's next focus is its luxury 300-room-hotel, which is currently under construction and set to open in 2023.
