And just like that, the Seattle area became home to two DraftKings sportsbooks on Sept. 20.
Tulalip Tribes own both of the Washington state casinos that now feature the retail sportsbooks:
- Tulalip Resort Casino in Marysville, WA
- Quil Ceda Creek Casino in Tulalip, WA
Now Oregon gamblers and sports fans near the Washington state border or traveling to the Seattle area will have a couple of new casinos to visit.
Guests celebrated the simultaneous openings with ceremonial ribbon cuttings, celebrity athletes and inaugural sports bets.
Brandon Jones, DraftKings Sportsbook manager at Tulalip, said:
“These new retail sportsbooks will take our existing world-class gaming experience to a new level.”
The Tulalip-DraftKings partnership was announced in January. Tulalip joined 18 other tribes that are now federally recognized and able to offer sports betting in Washington state.
In a press release, Teri Gobin, the chairwoman of Tulalip Tribes, had positive things to say as well. Referring to the casinos’ step forward in partnering with DraftKings, she said:
“We’re ready to take our gaming experience to the next level. Like Tulalip, DraftKings is committed to excellence, and together, we’re going to give sports fans a one-of-a-kind experience.”
Drumming up sports betting at Tulalip, Washington casino
It took several smiling notable guests to cut the red ribbon at the Tulalip DraftKings Sportsbook. Besides Gobin, they included legendary Seattle Mariners pitcher and Baseball Hall-of-Famer Randy Johnson, aka the Big Unit.
Then followed an even more traditional celebration, one with live Indigenous drum beats and vocals. Serving as a reminder that the casino sits on native lands, according to Tulalipnews.com.
Fittingly, Chair Gobin placed the sportsbook’s first bet and her first sports bet ever. She bet $10 on a Seahawks-over-Broncos win.
The 5,005-square-foot Tulalip sportsbook is currently open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and features:
- In-game sports betting
- 800-square-foot LED TV screen that allows guests to watch up to 10 live sports events simultaneously
- 20 touchscreen betting kiosks in the lounge
- 10 more 24/7 kiosks throughout the gaming floor
- 4 over-the-counter ticket windows
- Cash-only wagering
- Cocktail service
- Menu choices
- Odds boards
- Tickers showing live-score updates, plus statistics and player info
Johnson added his thoughts to the news release, calling DraftKings “a household name when it comes to sports and entertainment. It’s an honor to be celebrating this moment as sports betting expands to an area that meant so much to me during my playing career.”
Q-ing up DraftKings sports betting
At the same time, over at 1 ½-year-old “the Q,” another DraftKings Sportsbook opening, got the red-ribbon treatment. Former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver and Hall-of-Famer Steve Largent was on hand for the festivities.
The Q’s new DraftKings Sportsbook is currently open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and features:
- 20 sports-betting kiosks, some open 24/7
- 3 over-the-counter ticket windows
- Cash-only wagering
- 4 video walls totaling almost 900 square feet. Guests can watch up to 10 games simultaneously.
- Odds boards
- Tickers with live-score updates, statistics, and player info
- Beer and wine bar
- Food choices
Meet the Tulalip sportsbook manager
Jones, the Tulalip sportsbook manager, has worked in the casino business for 17 years — and he’s only 35. That lets him look at things with experience combined with a fresh eye.
He explained that the company designed the sportsbook with the new generation in mind. According to TulalipNews.com, he said:
“A lot of people my age and younger aren’t interested in bingo or keno, but are super engaged in all forms of sports entertainment, whether it be professional or college level.”
Jones added that the Tulalip Tribes expect to keep evolving their sports betting offerings. They’re already moving ahead with facilitating e-game betting.
Jones started his casino career working in the cage.
“It means so much to be a Tulalip tribal member and be able to build something all-new from scratch that adds so much value to the reservation, from both a business and community perspective.”
He added that the sportsbook offers tribal members somewhere to gather. And enjoy Washington teams’ games — pro and collegiate — “with all the high energy of a local crowd.”
