Representative Robert Davis has resumed his effort to legalize online casinos in Wyoming, wasting no time in introducing House Bill 0162 now that the 2025 legislative session is underway.
The decision to introduce online casinos in Wyoming has been informed by a study from Spectrum Gaming Group, which hints at a major economic windfall for the state, all without rocking the boat for existing gaming operations.
What does the House Bill entail?
HB0162, sponsored by Davis, would allow interactive gaming in the state, but with some rules in place to keep everything fair and safe.
The Wyoming Gaming Commission would be in charge of regulating it all. Davis is not alone in this effort, as he’s got some backup from Reps. Landon Brown and J.T. Larson, who are co-sponsoring the bill.
The idea is to create a framework for online gaming that would work for everyone, including the tribal casinos that are already operating in the state. And, of course, there are some revenue projections in there too, which could be a big win for Wyoming.
The bill says vendors will need to pay $10,000 for a five-year license and then $5,000 to renew it. Operators will have to pay a bit more, $100,000 for an initial license that’s good for five years, and then $50,000 to renew it.
However, operators who already have a presence in the state, particularly those with existing online sports betting permits, will get a bit of a break. They’ll only have to pay a $2,500 licensing application and renewal fee, which is a huge discount. And, as an added bonus, the bill guarantees that at least five interactive gaming operator permits will be issued to operators who meet the licensing standards, which should create a competitive online gaming market in Wyoming.
The online casino bill would require operators to hand over 16% of their monthly revenue, with some of that cash going towards problem gambling treatment and county funds. The rest would be split between the state’s School Foundation Program, the Wyoming Department of Health, and the gaming commission itself.
Wyoming’s second chance at online gaming: will this time be different?
This isn’t Davis’s first try at getting online gaming off the ground in Wyoming, as he attempted it last year, but the House Bill 0120 didn’t quite work out. This time could be different.
Previously, HB0120 stated:
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.
Right now, online casinos are only allowed in a handful of states. Just seven, to be exact. These states are:
Wyoming’s smaller size and more streamlined government might actually work in its favor when it comes to passing online gaming legislation. As we’ve seen with Rhode Island, smaller states can be more agile and decisive, allowing them to move quickly and capitalize on new opportunities. With only a few stakeholders to negotiate with, Wyoming might be able to avoid the lengthy and complex discussions that often hold up progress in larger states.
On the other hand, larger states like California are still struggling to pass online gaming legislation, despite years of efforts. California’s complex web of stakeholders, including powerful tribal gaming interests and commercial casinos, has made it difficult to reach a consensus on how to move forward.
There’s a push in New York to make online gaming a reality too, but it’s still a tough sell. Despite efforts from advocacy groups, Governor Kathy Hochul didn’t include iGaming in her latest budget proposal, which makes it unlikely to happen anytime soon.