New Real Money Mobile Gambling App with a Twist

Mobile casino app developers strike jackpot with Muckleshoot Tribe?

Online gambling laws vary greatly between jurisdictions. In much of Europe, it’s perfectly legal and strictly regulated. In Canada, it’s perfectly legal, too, but regulations are more lax. In the US, it’s a mishmash of state-by-state choice. Washington State, in particular, has very strict laws prohibiting online casino gambling.

That’s what makes the new real money mobile gambling app from Playport Gaming Systems so intriguing. According to last week’s press release, the app developers struck a deal with the tribal owners of Muckleshoot Casino in Washington to launch a new form of mobile betting, with a very specific twist; one that could make or break the venture’s odds of success.

Introducing the Muckleshoot Mobile Casino App

What these two parties have conceived may be the first casino app in a non-regulated US state that’s actually legal to play for real money. But there’s one catch. In order to deposit money onto an account, or withdraw any winnings, you must be physically present at the Muckleshoot Casino.

Once the account is funded, players will be able to use their mobile device to play the available games, for real money, from anywhere in the world. To cash out winnings, or reload their balance, however, they’ll need to return to the casino.

The game variety will also be somewhat limited; unlikely to include the most popular gambling titles like slot machines and blackjack. Playport will only install ‘Class II‘ games that are not house banked. According to the Washington State Gambling Commission‘s statement on Tribal Gaming:

“Class II gaming includes bingo, pull-tabs, punch boards, tip jars and other games similar to bingo. Card games that are not banked by the house are considered Class II. Regulation of these games is within tribal jurisdiction, subject to oversight by the National Indian Gaming Commission.”

Have they Developed a Truly Legal Mobile Gambling App?

Anyone who follows the iGaming news headlines should remember several major social casino app developers in hot water in Washington State recently. They weren’t even offering real money mobile gambling apps, and yet their services were deemed “illegal gambling” by the state, based primarily on optional in-app purchases.

Playport Gaming and the Muckleshoot Tribe believe they’ve found a way to circumvent those laws. First of all, being a federally recognized tribe, Muckleshoot doesn’t have to abide entirely by Washington’s legal system, but rather past agreements between the federal government and National Indian Gaming Association. Secondly, by enforcing an on-property rule for all monetary transactions, the act of gambling is, technically, taking place on tribal land.

The only problem with this plan is that they’ll be limited in their clientele. The vast majority of users will be locals; specifically those in reasonable driving distance of the Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn, WA. It’s unlikely too many players will fly in from other US states, Canada, or beyond, just to facilitate a transfer of funds.

And, of course, there’s always the chance the Washington State government will step in with an injunction order once the Muckleshoot mobile casino app goes live. Whether such legal action would hold any water remains to be seen—if it even happens. If not, chances are we’ll see a lot more tribal casinos across the US and Canada following in their footsteps.