The Licensing Department will be open Monday – Thursday 9:00-3:00 by appointment only.

Click here to schedule your appointment.  For more information call 360-486-3441.

 

Applicants for a gambling license undergo criminal and financial background investigations to help ensure only qualified persons operate gambling activities. Licensing investigations for organizations typically take about 120 - 150 days to complete.

Important reminders for licensees

Online Applications

You can apply online, through your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account, for the following activities:

• Raffle

• Electronic Raffle

• Fund-Raising Event (FRE)

• Recreational Gaming Activity (RGA)

How the Licensing Process Works

See Gambling License Certification Program (GC5-139) brochure.

After we receive your application, a licensing file is created and a Licensing Specialist is assigned to review and evaluate your application. A Special Agent may be assigned to conduct a criminal background check and to investigate the source of the money used in your gambling business. Investigations may involve local police as well as state, federal, national and international authorities to ensure all person that have a substantial interest in a gambling business are qualified to be licensed.

A copy of your application may be forwarded to the Special Agent assigned to your area. The agent may contact you to inspect your business site.

You may also be contacted during the licensing process to determine you eligibility to hold a license. We may request additional information such as leases, corporate papers, by-laws, purchase agreements, financial statements, criminal history statements, personal information forms, fingerprints, etc.

Once the investigative process is complete, your application will be reviewed to determine if you qualify for a license.

If your application is approved, a license will be mailed to you within one to two days of approval.

If your application is denied, you will be provided with an explanation. The most common reasons for denial are insufficient information, failure to pay the proper fees or issues discovered during the criminal or financial background investigations.

You may supply additional information to prove your suitability or you may voluntarily withdraw your application. If you do not respond to requests from staff for additional information, we may close your file. If you do not pass our criminal or financial backgrounds checks, you may request an administrative hearing to explain your circumstances to an administrative law judge.

Training Requirements

State gambling rules require you to complete our training course within 30 days if you signed a licensing application, are a manager, or are responsible for conducting gambling activities or completing the records.

Please select your license type:

• Profit-Seeking Business
• Nonprofit Organization
• Employee

Fingerprinting Information

Along with your application, you are required to submit a fingerprint card. You may be fingerprinted at our Lacey office or you may go to your local law enforcement agency (city police or county sheriff).

Printable pdf of Fingerprint Instructions

Fingerprinting At Our Office

The Licensing Department will be open Monday – Thursday 9:00 - 3:00 by appointment only.

Click here to schedule your appointment. For more information call 360-486-3441.

• We only fingerprint gambling license applicants and/or substantial interest holders.
• Only the person being fingerprinted is allowed. Children must be supervised at all times.
• Animals are not allowed, except those covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Make sure your hands are clean and dry prior to being fingerprinted (no lotion). If your hands are bleeding, have open wounds, or any fingers are bandaged, we are unable to roll your prints.
• Valid identification is required at the time of printing.
• It takes approximately 20 minutes and there is a $16 fee. This fee is non-refundable and paid prior to being printed. We do not accept credit or debit cards.
• Neither the fingerprints nor the results will be returned to you.

Fingerprinting At Your Local Law Enforcement Office

• Make sure that the top portion of the card is filled in correctly.
• The fingerprint card must be submitted by mail with your completed application along with the appropriate fee(s).
• Once received, the fingerprint card is sent to the Washington State Identification Section of the Washington State Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington D.C., and any other jurisdiction deemed necessary to determine the qualification of each applicant.

Applicant Notification and Record Challenge

Your fingerprints will be used to check the criminal history records of the FBI. You will be given reasonable time to complete or challenge the accuracy of the information contained in the FBI identification record, if needed. The procedure for obtaining a change, correction, or updating a FBI identification record are set forth in Title 28, CFR, 16.34. Please contact us at the number below to discuss a reasonable timeframe.

FBI Privacy Act Statement

If you have any questions or would like to obtain your fingerprint card, please contact us at 1-800-345-2529 (toll-free) or 360-486-3440.

License Reporting Requirements

This information is to be used only as a reference to assist applicants and licensees with the reporting timelines for records relating to gambling license applications as they pertain to WAC 230-03 and 230-06 only. This document should not be used in place of the WACs cited below. Licensees are responsible for knowing and following all WACs and RCWs.

Pre-Licensing or Application Process

	WAC Reference	10 Days	30 Days	Other
FRE Equipment Distributors	WAC 230-03-010			Monthly schedule of RGA contracts
Incomplete application	WAC 230-03-035		X
Additional information required from applicants for licensing	WAC 230-03-050		X	Or within the timeframe we provide
Changes to information required on application or provided during application process	WAC 230-03-055	X
Complete training	WAC 230-03-070		X
Information required under commission rules	WAC 230-03-085(8)		X	Or within the timeframe we provide
Service Supplier Representative must report conflicts of interest	WAC 230-03-340			See rule

 

Post-Licensure

	WAC Reference	10 Days	30 Days	Other
Information required under commission rules	WAC 230-03-085(8)		X	Or within the timeframe we provide
Conducting underage compliance test programs with minors	WAC 230-06-012			Before conducting the test
Changes to any information filed with application (original or renewal)	WAC 230-06-080(1)		X
Changes to information on original or renewal application, to include but not limited to:
Articles of incorporation or bylaws, or any other documents which set out the organizational structure and purposes; and	WAC 230-06-080(2)		X
Oral and written contracts and agreements which relate to gambling activities or alter the organizational structure of the licensee’s organization or business activities in Washington; and	WAC 230-06-080(2)		X
All cash or asset contributions, draws from lines of credit, and loans (except those from recognized financial institutions) during any calendar year which by themselves or totaled together are more than $10,000. Cash or asset contributions do not include donations to licensed charitable or nonprofit organizations; and	WAC 230-06-080(2)		X
Internal Revenue Service tax deductible status of contributions for charitable and nonprofit organizations.	WAC 230-06-080(2)		X
Termination of employees	WAC 230-06-082 WAC 230-06-083	X
Criminal actions	WAC 230-06-085		X
Civil and administrative actions to include, but not limited to:
Actions filed against them by other gambling regulatory agencies, including those from other countries and Indian Tribes, and	WAC 230-06-090		X
Divorces, and	WAC 230-06-090		X
Bankruptcy, and	WAC 230-06-090		X
Tax liens, and	WAC 230-06-090		X
Business dissolutions, and	WAC 230-06-090		X
Patent infringement on gambling equipment.	WAC 230-06-090		X
Name change Organizations changing their trade name or corporate name report at least 30 days prior to change; Individuals report at least 30 days after the change	WAC 230-06-095		X
Changing the business location	WAC 230-06-100			X
Changes made to management, directors, officers, or any other position that makes management decisions	WAC 230-06-105		X	Nonprofit only reports at renewal time.
Changing of In-state Resident Agent	WAC 230-03-052		X
Change of stock	WAC 230-06-107		X
New Games/Equipment	WAC 230-06-050 WAC 230-15-040		X	Or within the timeframe we provide
Transfers of gambling equipment as part of a sale of a business	WAC 230-06-110(6)			X
Transferring gambling equipment when no longer licensed	WAC 230-06-120(2)	X
Service Supplier: Changing gambling related services	WAC 230-06-080(2)		X
File Quarterly License Report at the end of each quarter for each licensed gambling activity even if there was no gambling activity	WAC 230-05-124		X
Pay a Quarterly License Fee at the end of each quarter based on a percentage of gross gambling receipts	WAC 230-05-124 WAC 230-05-106 WAC 230-05-160 WAC 230-05-165 WAC 230-05-170 WAC 230-05-112		X