Sports betting arrives at this Whatcom resort just in time for football season

Just in time for football season, sports betting has arrived at the Silver Reef Casino Resort.

Betfred USA Sports and the Lummi Nation announced the sportsbook facility is open in the space formerly occupied by the Portage Bay Bar. The official opening was on Wednesday, Aug. 31, with Warren Moon, Hall of Fame quarterback who once played for the Seattle Seahawks, placing the honorary first bet.

Having a sportsbook in Washington state is relatively new, with Gov. Jay Inslee signing a bill in March 2020 to allow it to become part of the tribal gaming compact.

The regulatory process was very cumbersome, but Silver Reef is excited to be to have it ready for the football season, said Eric Larsen, director of marketing at Silver Reef.

Larsen said guests will be able to place wagers on professional and college sports other than Washington schools, including the University of Washington, Gonzaga University and Washington State University.

The sportsbook includes multiple high-resolution video walls, sportsbook seating, multiple betting stations and self-serve kiosks all with sports pub food and beverages. The sportsbook window is open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The self-serve kiosks are open all hours the casino is open.

Along with the sportsbook, Silver Reef Casino Resort has more than 1,000 slots, 16 table games, 206 hotel rooms and a full-service spa. It also has ties to the 18-hole Loomis Trail golf course near Blaine.