Executive director reports enforcement figures and warns of brief My Account blackout ahead of May cutover

Executive Director Griffin updated the Washington State Gambling Commission on enforcement activity and an upcoming information-technology cutover at the commission’s April 9 meeting.

Griffin said the agency’s regulatory and enforcement unit received 125 reports of possible gambling violations in 2026; staff closed 103 of those reports (about 82%) as unfounded or informational. Staff issued 24 verbal warnings, one notice of infraction (a written notice of a WAC violation to a licensee), one notice of violation and settlement, and one criminal citation related to alleged cheating/theft and fraud by a card-room employee, Griffin said.

Griffin described how reports are assigned to investigators and outcomes depend on whether the subject is a licensee and that licensees’ administrative history affects whether staff pursues fines, suspensions or other remedies. On the criminal citation, he said the matter has been referred to the prosecutor.

Griffin also announced a technology cutover for the agency’s My Account system. He said My Account will not be available starting at 11:59 p.m. April 30 and will be unavailable through the morning of May 11 while data migration and testing occur; during the blackout period, the agency will not accept certain online or over-the-counter transactions and advised licensees and tribal partners to submit items by mail if needed between May 1 and May 11. Griffin urged licensees to consult posted timelines on the agency website and noted the agency has provided webinars and short instructional videos for external users.

Senator Conway asked whether the agency had been involved in recent media coverage and an attorney general lawsuit related to alleged sports-betting abuses; Griffin said he would need more details and offered to follow up privately with the senator. Griffin also reiterated outreach efforts to notify users about the My Account blackout, including emails and in-person visits by regulatory staff.

What’s next: The commission did not take formal action on enforcement items at the meeting; staff will proceed with the IT cutover and said it will report back on how the transition performs in subsequent meetings. The commission scheduled its next meeting for May (date not specified in the transcript), to be held at the Liquor and Cannabis Board facilities.