Should Washington state allow sports betting?

The Washington state Legislature takes up two measures this week that would potentially legalize sports gambling, and would allow sports betting at tribal casinos in the state.

Eric Perrson is with Maverick Gaming, a company that runs private card rooms. He’s lobbying for the bills and says he wants to make sure non-tribal-gambling operations could also get a cut of the action.

“We think that we’ve created a legislation that has partners with the Native Americans, it allows all of us to provide a product that Washingtonians clearly demand, and we’re hopeful that we’ll work the legislature and get a law passed and bring sports wagering to our state.”

Sports betting is now legal in more than a dozen states, including Oregon.

“First of all, you can go right now to a 7-11 and gamble your weekly paycheck away. And that is money that goes to the state. So the state is already operating a gambling operation, and I get that argument why make it even easier? But essentially, anyone who already has a propensity to gamble — this is going be an attraction here and is going to open up a lot of revenue for the state of Washington,” said Gee and Ursula Show co-host Ursula Reutin.

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“I believe that the people that are the most effected by these gambling deals aren’t people that make enough money to take care of their families,” co-host Gee Scott added. “These are the folks who I believe that it hurts the most.”

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