Wyoming Takes Another Shot at Online Casino Gambling

For close to four (4) years now, Wyoming residents have had the right to legally bet on sports. At the time HB0133 was passed, there were rumblings that online casino legislation might not be far behind. For a variety of reasons, that never came to pass.

With the 2025 Wyoming legislative session underway, House Representative Robert Davis has wasted no time introducing HB0162, his latest attempt to bring online casino gambling to the residents of the state. It's noteworthy that he introduced similar legislation (HB120) in 2024 but to no avail.

The decision to pursue such legislation was motivated by a report issued last year by Spectrum Gaming. The report made clear that the passing of online gambling legislation could set the state up for an economic windfall in the form of tax revenue, revenue that Wyoming needs. The report further indicated this could be done without adversely affecting existing gaming operations.

What's in the Bill

Whenever new online casino gambling legislation is introduced in any state, the devil is in the details. The goal usually included having to negotiate a minefield of varied interests to put something together that would pass with enough support. That didn't happen in 2024, but today is a new day.

The framework of HB0162 sets forth the initial structure under which iGaming would be run. It's applicable as is to both commercial and Tribal gambling concerns. Here are some of the key proposed rules and regulations:

• New Online operators would have to pay an initial licensing fee of $100,000 with a renewal fee of $50,000 in subsequent years


• Software developers and other vendors would have to pay an initial licensing fee of $10,000 with a renewal fee of $5,000 in subsequent years


• Exising gaming operators would only need to pay licensing and renewal fees of $2,500. That largely covers Tribal interests


• At least five (5) iGaming licenses would be issued to qualified operators, establishing a competitive market


• A tax rate of 16% would be charged on all online gambling revenue


• A TBD portion of the tax revenue would be allocated to problem gambling initiatives
  

As a reminder, here is what Rep. Davis said about his 2024 legislative attempt: It is,

"An act relating to gaming; authorizing interactive gaming; providing for regulation by the Wyoming Gaming Commission; imposing fees; providing for the collection and distribution of revenues from interactive gaming; providing for a continuous appropriation; requiring rulemaking; providing penalties; and providing for effective dates."

Could Wyoming Be the 8th State to Pass iGAming Legislation?

Currently, only seven (7) U.S. states have legalized iGaming access, those states being: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. Could Wyoming make it eight states?

It's sure to be an uphill battle as it always is. However, Wyoming is a small state (population), which could prove to be an advantage with less opposition standing in the way. It's not like California or Texas where a complex system of gambling interests makes it near impossible to get anything done.