What are the responsibilities and job description for the Special Agent - Tribal Gaming Unit position at State of Washington?
Want to love your job but be able to retire at age 60 instead of the typical retirement age of 65 like most other state employees! WSGC Special Agents are participants in the Public Safety Employees Retirement System (PSERS) plan 2
Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, with initial screening beginning May 6, 2026. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their materials by this date.
We are seeking a qualified and motivated professional to join the Washington State Gambling Commission as a certified Special Agent in our Tribal Gaming Unit.
In this position, you’ll work directly with tribal nations to ensure compliance with tribal-state compacts and state laws.
Who We Are
The Washington State Gambling Commission is a state accredited; limited-jurisdiction law enforcement agency whose mission is to protect the public by ensuring that gambling is legal and honest. We are the second oldest gambling agency in the country and the only statewide agency that licenses and regulates an estimated $3.5 billion gambling industry comprised of Tribal, commercial, and nonprofit businesses.
This position is responsible for enforcing gambling laws and the regulation of tribal-state compacts through onsite visits to tribal casinos throughout the state. This position will be assigned to a home office in one of the following counties: Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Chelan, Douglas, Lincoln, Spokane, Kittitas, Grant, Adams, Whitman, Yakima, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla.
Duties of a certified Special Agent in our Tribal Gaming Unit:
- Using exceptional communication and relationship building skills, work with Tribal Gaming Agencies to ensure that tribal casinos operate in compliance with tribal-state compacts and applicable gambling laws.
- Conduct onsite regulatory inspections, audits and investigations, reviewing record-keeping systems, and evaluating internal controls and game rules.
- Review tribal submissions to include internal controls, game rules, etc. to ensure they are following the tribal-state compact.
- Investigate all complaints, criminal and administrative in nature, as they relate to gambling. Take appropriate criminal and administrative action.
- Testify in administrative and criminal proceedings to present facts and evidence regarding investigations and to restate facts documented in case reports.
- Know understand and follow agency policies and procedures, to include tribal relations, handling and processing of evidence, dissemination of information, use of force, seizure, and intended forfeiture, etc.
Required Quals
Be a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident
High school diploma, GED, or equivalent education
Desired Work Experience- Verifiable professional experience in business, auditing, accounting, law.
- Verifiable professional experience conducting complex law enforcement investigations.
- Verifiable professional experience interpreting and applying complex rules, laws, and policies.
- Verifiable professional experience with federally recognized financial institutions, financial auditing, financial record inspections, or financial record investigations.
- Verifiable professional experience with information technology working on or with computerized network systems.
- Verifiable experience working in the gambling industry or experience working with tribal governments, tribal leaders, and tribal communities
Special Agents working in the Tribal Gaming Unit are required to complete a basic law enforcement academy or equivalency. If you do not hold a current law enforcement certification you will be required to attend the Basic Law Enforcement Academy through the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center.
Prior experience and/or training as a fully commissioned peace officer, limited jurisdiction law enforcement officer for the State of Washington may substitute for this requirement.
Important Information to Know as a Gambling Special Agent
Working as a certified special agent at the Gambling Commission comes with unique rewards and unique working conditions. As a certified special agent, you must be willing and able to:
- Carry and use a firearm and other issued equipment (handcuffs, cell phone, etc.) in a safe and appropriate manner while working.
- Maintain firearm and use of force standards.
- Travel overnight as necessary for off-site work, meetings, and training.
- Work alone or in teams.
- Work evening, weekends, hours other than 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and extra hours when necessary to meet work objectives and deadlines.
- Work indoors in a gambling environment, which may involve smoke filled and dirty areas, diverse populations, and intoxicated people.
- Detain or arrest individuals.
- Successfully complete the Gambling Commission’s Use of Force training program within the first 45 days of employment.
- Pass a pre-hire Physical Ability Test if you are not a graduate of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center (CJTC) Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) or equivalent*
- Undergo and able to pass an extensive background investigation, which includes a polygraph examination, criminal records check, credit check, and fingerprinting.
- Undergo a post conditional offer psychological evaluation, medical examination, and drug test.
HOW TO APPLY
To begin the application process, please submit the following through careers.wa.gov website:
- Fully completed online application, including completion of the supplemental questions which outline conditions of employment.
- (For lateral applicants) Attach a copy of your certificate from the Criminal Justice Training Commission 720-hour Basic Law Enforcement Academy or equivalent.
Once your application through careers.wa.gov has been completed, visit the Public Safety Testing website and complete the following steps:
Step 1. Apply online to the Tribal Gaming Agent on Public Safety Testing website.
Step 2. Complete the written test conducted by Public Safety. (Fee involved) (Not required for Special Agent Lateral)
Step 3. Schedule the Physical Abilities Testing (PAT), complete and pass with Public Safety Testing. (Fee involved) (Not required for Special Agent Lateral)
Step 4. Complete the Personal History Form on the PST website.
All applicants will need to complete the Personal History Statement (PHS) immediately after completing Steps 2 and 3. Once all the steps have been completed through Public Safety Testing, your name, score and applicant profile will be available for review by WSGC.
Salary : $68,856 - $94,560