Wyoming Online Casino Bill Filed As Legislative Session Starts Up


Written By

Updated on

Online casino

Wyoming lawmakers could discuss online casino legalization this session as Rep. Robert Davis has filed a promised bill. 

Davis filed House Bill 162 as the session began Tuesday. In November, Davis said he planned to refile online casino legislation. 

The filing comes after Spectrum Gaming Group released a study last year highlighting the potential positives of legalizing online casino gambling in Wyoming. 

Does online casino stand a chance? 

Davis told PlayUSA last year that the effort will likely be an educational endeavor. It will likely take a similar path to how sports betting legislation did in 2021

That might mean it could take a few sessions before it passes, particularly with the current headwinds facing online gambling in the US

Davis said it would be relatively easy to implement based on Wyoming’s regulatory ecosystem. The bill allows the Wyoming Gaming Commission to promulgate and implement the industry’s rules.

Commission directives

The legislation directs the WGC to examine the regulations implemented for Wyoming sports betting. It also suggests looking to other states where online casino gambling is legal to adopt a similar framework.

The license would carry a $100,000 fee for five years, with a renewal fee of $50,000.

Online casino operators in at least three other legal markets would receive preference for a license.

Cannibalization a concern? 

In other states contemplating online gambling legislation, brick-and-mortar casinos often express concern about revenue cannibalization. 

It has derailed efforts in other markets, including Maryland last year

Wyoming does not have a brick-and-mortar commercial casino industry, though a handful of tribal casinos operate in the state.

Online casino potential

Spectrum estimates online casino operators could generate up to $138 million in their first year of operation. That could grow to nearly $200 million in maturity. 

The state could haul in approximately $40 million in annual taxes.

Sports betting in the Cowboy State launched in 2021 and has generated $518 million in wagers. The five online sportsbooks in the market have raked in $54.6 million in sports betting revenue, sending $3.2 million in taxes to the state.

Photo by Shutterstock / Real Window Creative