- 1889: Pioneer farmers and native Americans wagered on horse races informally, but the state Constitution, adopted in 1889, forbade lotteries.
- 1907: Battles ensued over illegal bookmaking at a horseracing track in Seattle, leading to anti-gambling legislation in 1909. No gambling was legal in any form for nearly 30 years except for pari-mutuel wagering, which was authorized at Longacres in 1933.
- 1937: The Legislature outlawed slot machines but exempted private or nonprofit clubs registered with the State Patrol.
- 1952: The state Supreme Court found the slots law unconstitutional, saying it violated a constitutional prohibition on gambling.
- 1972: Senate Joint Resolution amended the Constitution to allow gambling activities if approved by 60 percent of the Legislature or people.
- 1973: Legislators authorized charitable and social gambling including bingo, punchboards and pull-tabs, raffles and amusement games. Gov. Dan Evans vetoed card rooms and social card games.
- 1974: Social card games and card rooms were approved.
- 1976: Tribal bingo began with the Squaxin Island Indians, and a casino opened on the Puyallup reservation.
- 1977: Lawmakers let charitable and nonprofit groups hold "Reno nights," which opened the door to future tribal casinos under the later, federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
- 1978: The federal government shut down a Puyallup tribal casino.
- 1980: Two state legislators were convicted of racketeering activities in the "Gamscam" case.
- 1982: The Legislature authorized a state lottery. Lotto began two years later.
- 1987: Lawmakers approved off-site satellite broadcasts of live, in-state horse races to off-track sites.
- 1988: Congress approved the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
- 1990: The state Gambling Commission authorized "Washington blackjack," and Longacres' site was sold to Boeing. The Washington State Council on Problem Gambling was created.
- 1992: The Tulalip Indian tribe opened the first Class III casino, and more than a dozen other tribes followed suit. Live horse racing ended with the closure of Longacres. The state began offering Keno.
- 1994: The Legislature authorized taverns and restaurants to engage in gambling as a primary source of revenue.
- 1995: Legislators increased the raffle ticket price cap to $25 from $5. Tribes and the state entered into a "friendly lawsuit" over whether slot machines were banned for tribes. The Squaxin Island Tribe and Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis opened casinos in South Sound.
- 1996: The Legislature allowed new card room activity, increasing tables to 15 from 5 and allowing player-supported jackpots. Emerald Downs opened for horse racing at Auburn. Voters rejected Initiative 671 to let 19 tribes operate slot machines.
- 1997: Lawmakers authorized house banking for card rooms, opening the door to enhanced card rooms or mini-casinos. They also approved simulcasts of in- and out-of-state horse races. A federal judge also ruled that Las Vegas-style slot machines were illegal in Washington, but he allowed some electronic games, which tribes later developed as video slot machines, or video lottery terminals. The Nisqually Tribe opened Red Wind Casino near Yelm.
- 1999: Tribal lottery systems, or video slot machines, were approved for the Chehalis, Squaxin Island, Muckleshoot, Puyallup, Yakama and seven other tribal casinos.
- 2000: By this time, 50 cities and three counties had prohibited certain gambling activities including card rooms. Those included Lacey (which allowed one mini-casino), Tumwater and Thurston County.
- 2001: The Skokomish Tribe opened its casino north of Shelton. Other tribes negotiated contracts, and the Muckleshoot Tribe was authorized to have a second casino.
- 2003-04: Lawmakers rejected Entertainment Industry Coalition proposals to allow 18,225 video slot machines in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys and nonprofit clubs.
- 2004: Tim Eyman filed I-892, based on the EIC proposal. It goes on the Nov. 2 ballot. state lottery winning numbers

A panel representing academia, industry, advertising and media concluded that online gambling could operate legally and safely in this country so long as federal regulations are enacted to protect consumers, according to a press release issued by BETonSPORTS plc, the largest online wagering service and sponsor of the event.

The Ontario Racing Commission suggests a rule change quietly made last year by former agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief exceeded his legal authority.

Under the bills, each of the state's seven tracks would feature 500 to 2,000 video terminals. The profits from these ventures would go back into agricultural programs and bolster the general budget.

Legal betting would boost attendance at the steeplechase, said Roger Secrist, chairman of the board of the Carolina Horse Park Foundation. He said the region is losing an estimated $25 million because the Nextel Cup series will no longer hold a NASCAR race at the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham.

200.01 Bingo, Lottery, Raffle and Lottery by Pickle Card Regulations 35‑200 through 35‑222 are adopted to carry out the provisions of the Nebraska Bingo Act.