Wyoming Renews Push for Online Casinos

Representative Robert Davis is making another attempt to bring online casinos to Wyoming, introducing House Bill 0162 at the start of the 2025 legislative session. The move comes as part of a renewed effort to modernize the state’s gaming industry and capitalize on potential economic benefits, as highlighted in a recent study by Spectrum Gaming Group. Davis's proposal aims to create a regulated and fair online gaming market while addressing concerns about existing gaming operations.

 

Details of House Bill 0162

HB0162 seeks to legalize interactive gaming in Wyoming under the oversight of the Wyoming Gaming Commission. The bill proposes a licensing structure to regulate vendors and operators, ensuring safety, fairness, and competition. Key provisions include:

Vendors would pay $10,000 for a five-year license and $5,000 for renewals. Operators face a higher cost, with an initial license fee of $100,000 and a $50,000 renewal fee. However, existing online sports betting operators would pay a reduced fee of $2,500 for licensing and renewal.

Operators would be required to allocate 16% of their monthly revenue to the state. The funds would support problem gambling treatment, county programs, the School Foundation Program, the Wyoming Department of Health, and the Gaming Commission.

• Market Structure:
  At least five interactive gaming operator permits will be issued, fostering competition in Wyoming’s online gaming market.
• Davis has the backing of co-sponsors Representatives Landon Brown and J.T. Larson, signaling growing legislative support for the measure.

 

Economic Potential and Challenges

The Spectrum Gaming Group study suggests that legalizing online casinos could generate significant revenue without disrupting existing tribal gaming operations. By creating a framework that accommodates all stakeholders, Wyoming could establish itself as a leader in regulated online gaming among smaller states.

Currently, only seven states allow online casinos, including Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. Wyoming’s smaller size and streamlined government could make it easier to implement this legislation compared to larger states like California or New York, where complex stakeholder negotiations have stalled progress.

This is not the first time Davis has championed online gaming. His 2024 effort, House Bill 0120, failed to gain traction despite outlining a similar regulatory and revenue-sharing framework. However, with refined provisions and increased legislative support, HB0162 stands a better chance of passing.

The struggle to legalize online casinos is not unique to Wyoming. While smaller states like Rhode Island have successfully enacted such legislation, larger states face hurdles due to competing interests. In New York, for example, Governor Kathy Hochul’s exclusion of iGaming from the state budget has delayed progress, despite strong advocacy.

 

This bill is about creating a safe, regulated environment for online gaming that benefits everyone—from local communities to the state’s education and health programs—while respecting the role of our tribal gaming partners.

 

Conclusion

Representative Davis’s renewed push for online casinos represents a significant opportunity for Wyoming to modernize its gaming industry and boost state revenue. With a clear regulatory framework, bipartisan support, and lessons learned from previous attempts, HB0162 could position Wyoming as a model for smaller states seeking to embrace online gaming. Whether this effort succeeds will depend on legislative collaboration and the ability to address concerns from all stakeholders involved.