Washington State Targeted by Fake Online Casino Ads Impersonating Tribal Casinos

• What’s happening?
  Washington residents are being targeted by fraudulent online gambling ads on social media, especially Instagram. These ads impersonate legitimate tribal casinos, falsely suggesting that regulated online gambling exists in the state.

• Why is this a problem?
  Washington State currently has no legal online casino framework—only land-based tribal casinos operate legally. These scams misuse tribal casino branding and even the Washington State Gambling Commission’s logo to deceive people.

• How are fraudsters operating?
  They create fake apps and websites that look professional and authentic, using stolen intellectual property from tribes and regulators to lure victims into betting money on unregulated, illegal platforms.

• Industry response:
  Jerry Allen, CEO of 7 Cedars Casino in Sequim, stated the scams have been ongoing for at least a month and highlighted the use of Instagram as a major distribution channel.

• Broader context:
  Well-known figures and brands like YouTuber MrBeast have also been impersonated in similar casino scams, showing that no matter how prominent the name, these fraudsters continue to exploit trusted brands to mislead customers.