One of the most adversarial states for gambling is looking to expand the activity. A Washington state sports betting bill has been approved by a House appropriations committee which would allow tribal casinos to offer wagers on sporting events.

The committee voted 25-7 on Tuesday to send the bill to the full House for a vote before the session ends on March 13. The proposal would also have to pass the Senate and be signed by Gov. Jay Inslee. The House bill is sponsored by state Rep. Strom Peterson, D-Edmonds, who told The Seattle Times on Tuesday evening that he hoped to move forward quickly. Floor votes in both branches of the Legislature require a 60% majority to pass gambling-expansion laws.

Rep. Drew Stokesbary, the committee’s top Republican, voted in favor of the proposal. “This is a reasonable middle ground,” Stokesbary said. “It permits adults who are responsible to engage in an activity that doesn’t harm other people. But it doesn’t make it so prevalent or so pervasive in our society that we as a legislature have to worry about the morality and ethics of that.”

You can read more on the possibility of Washington state sports betting at Yakima Herald.