Wyoming declines to pass online casino legislation
In a recent vote, Wyoming's House Bill 120, also known as HB0162 in 2025, aimed at legalizing online casinos, was rejected. The bill, introduced by Jon Conrad, Robert Davis, and colleagues, aimed to authorize the state's Gaming Commission to grant up to five interactive gaming operator permits.
The bill faced strong opposition from the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes, who expressed concerns about the regulatory model and its potential impact on their tribal online casino operations. The bill proposed a 16% tax on online gambling revenue, restricted tribal online casino operations to their own reservations, and rejected the "hub-and-spoke" model, which was unfavorable to the tribes' interests.
The bill also required at least 42 affirmative votes to proceed, but it did not receive enough support, with the vote count standing at 25-36-1 against the proposal.
Robert Davis, one of the bill's sponsors, stated that the proposal aimed to eradicate the illegal online gaming market within Wyoming and install "guardrails" similar to those used in sports wagering. He also mentioned that the bill, if passed, would provide protections for citizens participating in online gaming.
The bill also specified that only operators licensed in at least three other states would be eligible, and the initial tax revenue would be directed towards health services. However, despite attempts and some external support from gaming groups, no momentum developed sufficient to pass the bill during the 2025 session.
Historically, Wyoming lawmakers have taken a conservative stance on gambling, expressing concerns about social and economic impacts. These conservative legislative attitudes, combined with the controversies surrounding the bill, were critical factors in its failure.
Operators, under the proposed bill, would have needed to pay an initial fee of $100,000 for a permit. Despite the bill's failure, the issue of online gambling in Wyoming may resurface in future legislative sessions.
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2]
The rejected HB0162 in 2025 aimed to legalize online gambling in Wyoming, introducing regulations for casino-and-gambling operations and casino-games. However, the bill's restriction on tribal online casino operations and rejection of the "hub-and-spoke" model sparked opposition from the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes. Despite the proposal's intent to eradicate the illegal online gaming market and provide protections for citizens, it failed to gain enough support, with the vote count standing at 25-36-1.
The bill's failure can be attributed to Wyoming's historically conservative stance on gambling, coupled with the controversies surrounding the proposed casino-games and gambling-trends. The bill's requirement for operators to pay an initial fee of $100,000 and its specification that only operators licensed in at least three other states would be eligible may resurface in future legislative sessions, indicating potential shifts in gambling trends in Wyoming.
[1] Source 1: "Wyoming House Bill 120: Online gambling legalization proposal" (News article, [date])[2] Source 2: "Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes express concerns over HB0162" (News article, [date])
