Washington State is one of the top travel destinations for Canadian tourists visiting the United States. And with close to 110 casinos in the Evergreen State, Washington is journey’s end for many Canadians who like to gamble.
Washington Casinos
NEXUS membership (a pre-screened expedited border process) is over one million people, and close to 40% of these members live in Washington or British Columbia—the largest percentage of any region across the shared border.1
Each year, 3.57 million Canadians visit Washington State, where they spend close to $875 million. Some of the top things to do and see in Washington include Olympic National Park, the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Mount St. Helens, the Grand Coulee Dam, the Experience Music Project (EPM) Museum, Puget Sound, and Chihuly Garden and Glass.
There is also roughly 110 casinos. Washington State does not have any commercial casinos; all of the casinos are located on Native American reservations. In all, gamblers in Washington can play at more than 33,100 slots and gaming machines and 1,350 table games. The minimum bet you can play is $0.01 while the maximum bet is $500.2
Snoqualmie Casino
Snoqualmie Casino is located just half an hour east of Seattle and set in the small town of Snoqualmie. The first-class casino is just minutes from Seattle and only 10 minutes east of Issaquah, making it Seattle’s closest casino.
Owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe, the large 51,000-square-foot Snoqualmie Casino has 1,700 state-of-the-art slot machines. It also has an exclusive five-table poker room and 55 classic gaming tables where you can play blackjack, craps, Spanish 21, roulette, baccarat, or fortune pai gow. It also has two entertainment venues and offers fine dining and casual dining along with four different lounges.3
7 Cedars Casino
The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe opened 7 Cedars Casino in 1995 and has seen a wide variety of improvements and expansions over the years. The 63,000-square-foot casino is located on 14 acres bordering highway 101 in Sequim, Washington, on the Olympic Peninsula. The casino is located 3.5 hours south of the Canadian/U.S. border in Blaine, Washington and 2 hours Northwest of Seattle.4
At 7 Cedars Casino, you can enjoy playing over 500 slot machines on the 39,000-square-foot casino floor. There are also a large number of table games, 3 poker tables, and a 600-seat bingo room. There is a variety of dining options, shopping, and entertainment.
The casino is also close to The Cedars at Dungeness, voted the Best Golf Course for three years in a row in Evening Magazine’s “Best Northwest Escapes”.
Tulalip Resort Casino
Tulalip Resort Casino (pronounced Tuh-lay-lup) is one hour south of the Canadian/U.S. border in Blaine and just half an hour north of Seattle on Interstate 5. Owned by the Tulalip Tribes, the full-service AAA Four Diamond Resort Casino is among the top destinations in Washington States, offering luxurious accommodations, award-winning dining, a spa, a casino, and world-class shopping.5
At the Tulalip Resort Casino you’ll find a 370-room hotel with 18 two-room suites and five specialty suites. You can also book an appointment at the 14,000-square-foot T-Spa.
The actual Tulalip Resort Casino rivals almost anything in Las Vegas. With 200,000 square feet of gaming space, the Tulalip Casino has more than 2,200 slots and 50 tables for players of every level. Popular games include blackjack, Spanish 21, three-card poker, four-card poker progressive, ultimate Texas hold’em, fortune pai gow, EZ baccarat, let it ride progressive, free bet, roulette, craps fire, and craps. There is also a designated poker room and bingo.
Swinomish Casino and Lodge
Located on the Washington coast in Anacortes and just two hours south of Vancouver, the Swinomish Casino & Lodge is owned and operated by the Swinomish, a community of Coast Salish peoples. With its beautiful location overlooking Padilla Bay, the Swinomish Casino offers 98 exceptionally appointed hotel rooms and suites to make your stay unforgettable.6
On the 73,000-square-foot casino floor you’ll find 800 of the latest slots, poker tables, blackjack, roulette, and craps. The main game you’ll find in tournament or live action cash games is no limit Texas hold’em. Daily tournaments start at 12:15 with buy-ins ranging from $10 to $25.
Yakima Legends Casino
Yakama Legends Casino is owned and operated by the Yakama Nation and is just half an hour south of Yakima, Washington, which is 2 hours east of Seattle. While Yakima Legends Casino is a popular destination for gamblers, it will be even more so after it completes its $90 million renovation by the end of 2016.7
The new resort will include a six-story, 200-room hotel and conference center, a 5,000-square-foot spa and an expansion of the casino’s gaming floor by more than 50,000 square feet.
If you don’t mind a little construction, you’ll find 1,400 gaming machines, 24 table and poker games, and keno on the 70,000-square-foot casino floor. The property has four restaurants and a gift shop.8
U.S. Casino Winnings Subject to 30% Withholding Tax
If you are a non-U.S. resident and you visit Washington State and win a significant amount of money (usually over $1,200) your gaming winnings could be subject to a 30% withholding tax.
But if you live in a country like Canada, that has signed a U.S. tax treaty, you may be eligible for a refund.
Some of the countries that do not have a U.S. tax treaty but may still be eligible for a refund include: Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kuwait, Mexico, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. Based on a recent court case, winners from these countries may qualify for a refund if they meet certain criteria. Contact us for further information to find out if you are eligible to get your withholding taxes back!
If you win a substantial amount gambling, your winnings are subject to a 30% withholding tax by the IRS. If you win $2,500 playing the slots, the casino will pay you $1,750. The IRS keeps the rest.
RMS is the Easiest, Fastest Way to Get Your Money Back
If you’ve been to the U.S. and had 30% of your winnings held back by the IRS, Refund Management Services can help you reclaim a portion or all of your taxable winnings.
Founded by a Canadian Chartered Accountant in 1998, RMS is the most reliable and experienced gaming and casino tax refund provider for non-U.S. residents. Only RMS has the One Simple StepTM process. Our customer service agents take care of the rest. Once you provide us with complete documentation, your claim will be processed and we will submit it to the IRS.
We’ve never been refused for an eligible refund. Contact us today!
Sources:
1. “Washington,” Government of Canada website; http://can-am.gc.ca/business-affaires/fact_sheets-fiches_documentaires/wa.aspx?lang=eng.
2.“Washington Casinos,” World Casino Directory, website; http://www.worldcasinodirectory.com/washington.
3.“Snoqualmie Casino,” Snoqualmie Casino website; http://www.snocasino.com/.
4.“7 Cedars Casino Resort,” 7 Cedars Casino Resort website; http://www.7cedarsresort.com/
5.“Tulalip Resort Casino” Tulalip Resort Casino web site; http://www.tulalipresortcasino.com/.
6.“Swinomish Casino and Lodge,” Swinomish Casino & Lodge website; http://www.swinomishcasinoandlodge.com/.
7.“$90 million Legends Casino expansion expected to be completed by end of 2016,” Daily Sun News website; http://www.dailysunnews.com/news/2014/aug/15/90-million-legends-casino-expansion-expected-be-co/.
8.“Legends Casino,” Legends Casino website; http://legendscasino.com/.