Tulalip opens sports betting at casinos

The Tulalip Tribes held the grand opening to their two sports gambling venues with guest appearances from local sports icons Randy Johnson and Steve Largent on Sept. 20.

The two sportsbook operations are at the Tulalip Resort Casino and Quil Ceda Creek Opening and have been operating since early September.

DraftKings, a popular U.S. sports betting company, is helping to run the two operations.

The Tulalip Resort Casino’s facility features an 800-square-foot screen which displays sports games, kiosks to make sports bets, and seating and booths which can be reserved.

“I think people really love it. Down at the Q we have a smaller venue,” said Teri Gobin, Tulalip Tribal chairwoman.

The venues have already hosted people during some recent football games.

“The first live NFL game was packed. It was awesome just to see that big of a turnout,” said Brandon Jones, sportsbook manager at the Tulalip Tribes’ casinos.

He said the first Seahawks game also brought in a crowd.

“The Seahawks-Bronco game was loud and rowdy, and everyone was having a good time,” he said.

The in-person experience offers an exciting time, said Johnny Avello, director of race and sports operations for DraftKings.

“At a sportsbook you can enter a brick-and-mortar location, there’s a lot to be said for that,” he said. “There’s a lot to enjoy when you're together with others, having a good time and rooting for the same team.”

The DraftKings options allow for a wide variety of bets as well.

“It’s interesting on placing a bet. I never knew how many sports there were and that you can bet on anything. You can bet on the flip of a coin or that no runs will be in the first inning,” said Gobin.

Staff are also available to assist individuals in placing bets if they are needed.

Individuals will be able to use their phones to place bets as well.

“Eventually, we will get so that you will be able to do it on your phone and geo-fence the parking lot so you can do it outside the building,” said Gobin.

Former Seattle Mariners pitcher and Hall of Famer Randy Johnson greeted the crowd at the Tulalip Resort Casino to celebrate the opening of the facility.

“Seattle has always had a place in my heart because I really played the first parts of my career there,” said Johnson. “It’s only fitting that it would be a matter of time that sportsbooks would open across the country and what better place than this area with all the great sports that are here, like the Seahawks and Mariners."

Sports betting has only been allowed in Washington state for about a year and was approved by the state legislature for tribal facilities.

“We went and testified in Olympia to assist in getting that legislative fix,” said Gobin.

Native tribes in the state already had the structure in place for gambling regulation and oversight with other areas of gambling, said Gobin.

Avello, who is from Las Vegas, said he has been surprised at how much gambling options have spread over the past decade.

“Being from Las Vegas I always thought Vegas was the only place that would ever get a sportsbook and it’s exciting to watch other states have what we have had for 50 years,” Avello said.