Rules & Laws
Rule Making Schedule
Washington State Gambling Commission
P.O. Box 42400
Olympia, WA 98504
360-486-3440
360-486-3629 (fax)
Our Mission
Protect the Public by Ensuring that Gambling is Legal and Honest.Our Vision
We will maintain public confidence by:- Conducting a fair and effective gambling regulatory and enforcement program
- Investigating illegal activities
- Building positive partnerships and relationships
- Providing a workplace that allows employees to excel at their jobs
- Anticipating and responding to the evolving gambling industry
Our Values
We Value Integrity, Professionalism, Respect and Diversity.Report A Violation
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Doing Business in Washington
National Indian Gaming Commission
Governor's Office of Indian Affairs
Underage Problem Gambling
Rules and Laws
During the Commission’s review process, all proposed rule changes are published in the Washington State Register.
Rule-Making Process and How You Can Comment
Agency staff review all proposed rule changes before they are
discussed by the Commissioners. Staff prepares a rule summary, which
includes a history of the rule, previous changes made to the rule, and
resource/regulatory impacts the change could have. Rule summaries are
posted on our website about ten days before the Commission Meeting they
will be discussed at. Go to
Public Meetings and
select the Commission meeting they will be discussed at.
Sign-up to have
Commission meeting agendas and rule summaries e-mailed to you each month
after they are posted.
Below is the typical process proposed rule changes follow after staff
review a proposal and it moves forward for public discussion:
Proposed rule changes are generally discussed at one or two informal
study sessions and two or more formal Commission meetings. Study
Sessions and Commission meetings are open to the public. You are invited
to attend to share your comments on proposed rule changes.
Formal Commission meetings are usually held the second
Thursday and Friday of each month (meetings are not held in June and
December). Check Public
Meetings on our website as meeting dates get closer, as meetings are
sometimes changed to a one-day meeting.
Study Sessions are typically held 10:30 a.m. to noon
Thursday mornings before Commission meetings. Study Sessions are
informal meetings that provide an opportunity for you to meet with staff
and discuss current issues, proposed rule changes, enforcement
questions, and legislative bills.
• Proposed changes are discussed at Study Sessions (first month), before
they are Up for Filing by the Gambling Commissioners at a formal
Commission meeting.
• The following month (second month), proposed rule changes are Up for
Filing at a Commission meeting and are generally filed for discussion.
• The following month (third month), proposed rule changes are discussed
at Study Session again.
• At the following Commission meeting (fourth month), the rule is Up for
Final Action and the Commission will decide whether to adopt the change
or not. Any additional comments from staff and the public can be
discussed at this meeting. If additional time is needed to determine
Final Action, the Commission, staff, a petitioner, or the public can
request the rules be held over to the next meeting.
Send Us Your Comments:
If you are unable to attend a meeting and would like to comment on a
proposed rule change, please send your comments to:
Washington State
Gambling Commission
Attention: Rules Coordinator
P.O. Box 42400
Olympia, WA 98504
or by e-mail
For questions, please call the agency’s Rules Coordinator at (360) 486-3466 or by e-mail
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