Report changes to your license or permit

Adding a new activity to your current gambling license

If you already have an active gambling license with us and would like to add a new activity, learn how to add a new activity.

What changes you must report

Visit the Washington State Legislature site to see all the rules that govern reporting changes (apps.leg.wa.gov) or see chart below.

How to report changes

To report changes to us, you must have a MyAccount.

Learn how to register for MyAccount 

How you report changes to us depends on which change you're reporting.

Changes you can do yourself

You can make the following changes to your profile in MyAccount:

• Phone number
• Mailing address

To report changes to your license or permit, follow the steps below

1. Use your SAW username and password to log in to MyAccount 
2. Depending on what you are changing, you would submit an application, form, submission, or a secure message.

Applications

As an organization, you would submit an application to re-link a past employee or add a new employee who has an active license.

1. In the Application tab, select Application, then 'Employee Changes'
2. Complete the application
3. Pay any applicable fees in Billing and Payment
4. Submit the application. 

Forms

To see a list of forms available, go to the Application tab and select 'Forms'. Examples include:

• Organization or individual name change
• Change of ownership (under 50%)
• Change of manager, management, officers, or directors
• Changes due to death, incapacity, receivership, bankruptcy, or assignment for the benefit of creditors
• Change of premises location
• Fund-Raising Event (FRE) / Recreational Gaming Activity (RGA) date, time, or location change (requires 10 days advance notice)
• Additional location for amusement games
• One bingo occasion change
• Change of business classification

1. Download the necessary form
2. Complete the form
3. Using the Secure Message Center, upload the form and any required documents and send us a secure message
4. If there is a fee, you will receive an invoice.

Submission

To see a list of submissions available, go to the Submission tab. Examples include:

• Personnel Termination Notification (PTN)
• New loans or capital contributions
• New criminal history, civil, or administrative actions
• New contracts or premises lease agreements
• Internal control changes

1. Under the Submission tab, select 'Create a New Submission'
2. In the submission type, select 'Other Submission'
3. Select the applicable submission
4. Complete the required fields and upload required documents
5. Click 'Submit'.

Secure Message

You can report the following changes by sending us a Secure Message in MyAccount:

• Additional warehouses
• New or amended Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws
• Divorce, marital status for substantial interest holders
• IRS tax deductible status.

1. From the Secure Message Center, select 'Create Secure Message'
2. Complete the required fields
3. Upload any applicable documents 
4. Click 'Send'.

Changes in ownership structure

You cannot sell or transfer your license to any person or entity. No one can operate under your license, even temporarily.

If any of the following occur without our approval, your license is void and you must immediately stop all gambling activities:

• The business is sold
• A sole proprietorship brings in a new person and forms a partnership, LLC, or corporation
• A partnership takes another partner or changes partners
• A corporation or LLC sells over 50% of its stock or membership shares to a person or business, which has not held at least 10% previously.

You may structure a sale so there is no break in gambling activity through a “contingency” sale contract, where the sale is contingent on new owners getting a gambling license. The potential new owners will need to apply for their own license.

Learn how to apply for a license

Ownership changes that are allowed

The following changes must be reported to us when

• A person or organization becomes a substantial interest holder when they were not a substantial interest holder immediately before the transaction
• A substantial interest holder purchases any additional stock
• A person or organization becomes a substantial interest holder purchases up to 50% of the shares in the business.

1. Download the 'Change Ownership Application'
2. Complete the form
3. Using the Secure Message Center, upload the form and any required documents and send us a secure message
4. You will receive an invoice for the application fee.

Only some transfers of ownership are allowed

Licensees may request to transfer a gambling license under the following conditions:

Commercial businesses

• The ownership is exactly the same for both businesses, for example a partnership becomes an LLC and
• The licensed gambling activity will be conducted at the same business premises.

Charitable or nonprofit organizations

• When you merge or consolidate with another bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization.

Partnerships

• If one partner in the partnership leaves and is not replaced.

Sole proprietorship

• A sole proprietor may request to transfer their license to a partnership, corporation or LLC, which is solely owned by the same person.

Death, bankruptcy, and other special circumstances

A licensed operator may transfer their license when the following occurs

• Incapacity
• Death
• Receivership
• Bankruptcy
• Assignment for benefit of creditors to a court-appointed or court-confirmed guardian, executor or administrator, receiver, trustee, or assignee for the benefit of creditors.

1. Download the applicable form
2. Complete the form
3. Using the Secure Message Center, upload the form and any required documents and send us a secure message
4. You will receive an invoice for the application fee.

License reporting requirements

Use this information to assist with your reporting timelines. Do not use this table in place of the Washington Administrative Codes (WAC) cited below. Remember, applicants are responsible for knowing and following all WAC and Revised Codes of Washington (RCW).

Post-licensure

Helpful rules

Learn what changes to report (app.leg.wa.gov)

Learn what limited transfers of ownership are allowed (app.leg.wa.gov)

Learn which ownership changes are allowed (app.leg.wa.gov)

Learn which ownership changes are prohibited (app.leg.wa.gov)