Wyoming Legislator Hopes to Bring Online Casino Play in 2025

While Wyoming Rep. Robert Davis could not get other state legislators interested in passing online casino legislation in 2024, he’s hopeful that a study ordered by the Wyoming Gaming Commission will help make it possible in 2025. 

Learning More About the Study 

In late Sept. 2024, the Wyoming Gaming Commission announced that it brought on Spectrum Gaming Group to help conduct a study on what the future of online gaming in the state could look like. 

The Joint Appropriations Committee has submitted the topics that it wants the study to review, such as guidance on interactive gaming, tax revenue projections, and regulatory structures. 

Included in the study are skill-based games, online sports betting, and horse racing. 

Davis is hopeful this study will help bring more attention to passing online casino legislation in 2025. 

Davis Submitted a Bill in February

In Feb. 2024, Davis submitted a bill for online casinos. When he submitted the bill, it was during a short and budget-focused session. 

The House rejected the bill, HB120, 25-36-1. 

Inside Davis’ legislation was the following: 

• At least five operators
• No maximum number of operators
• $100,000 initial fee
• Renewable for $50,000 every five years
• 10% tax rate
• Minimum age: 18
• $300,000 toward preventing and treating problem gambling

The bill proposal was modeled after online sports betting in the state, which passed in 2021. 

The minimum age of 18 is noteworthy as this came before retired New Jersey gambling regulator David Rebuck called for a uniform gambling age of 21. 

Davis Thinks the Study Will Impact 2025 Legalization

Davis says that this bill will have an impact on what Wyoming does in the future, whether that means they want online casinos in the state or not. With that, he’s going to wait to refile any bills to see what the study shows. 

The Wyoming Gaming Commission wants to see an initial draft of the study in early November of this year. 

Davis is willing to change the language in his bill to fit what the study says but has no problem not refiling if people in the state don’t want it. 

Wyoming has legislature sessions on Jan. 14 and Mar. 7, 2025. For an online casino bill to pass next year, it’ll only require a majority vote.