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State of Play’s TL;DR
- Wyoming lawmakers are considering two very different approaches to sweepstakes casinos.
- Should they outright ban them or create a regulated framework?
Wyoming lawmakers are weighing two sharply different paths for sweepstakes casinos: ban them or regulate them.
For now, nothing has changed legally, but the committee review could help shape gambling legislation in the state’s 2027 session.
Wyoming’s Select Committee on Gaming met in Rock Springs on Oct. 5-6 to revisit how the state may handle sweepstakes casino platforms. The discussion centered on two competing draft proposals, making Wyoming another state to closely examine the legal status of casino-style sweepstakes gaming.
Two opposite approaches
According to the committee review, one draft proposal would prohibit online casinos and sweepstakes gaming by expanding Wyoming’s professional gambling laws. A competing draft would instead authorize sweepstakes gaming under a regulated legal framework.
At the time of the meeting, no vote had been reported. The hearing also did not immediately change the legal status of sweepstakes casinos in Wyoming.
The issue is not entirely new for state lawmakers. An earlier push to move forward with a ban proposal stalled during committee discussions in August, and the latest meeting shows the debate is still active.
Gaming officials and public comment are part of the process
The committee’s review process included opportunities for public comment.
Wyoming Gaming Commission Executive Director Nick Larramendy presented information on how sweepstakes gaming works, a sign that lawmakers are still building the record before deciding which direction to take.
That matters because the committee is not just debating whether sweepstakes casinos fit within current law. It is also considering whether the state should expressly outlaw the model or create rules for it.
What happens next for Wyoming sweepstakes casinos
The committee’s work could help shape gambling legislation for Wyoming’s 2027 legislative session. Key unanswered questions include whether either draft will advance, what the final bill language may look like, and what recommendations lawmakers ultimately make.
For now, the main takeaway is simple: Wyoming is actively reviewing sweepstakes casinos, but the state has not yet chosen between prohibition and regulation.
Based on reporting by Ian Valentino for Deadspin.
