Wyoming Commission to Study Feasibility of iGaming Legalization
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Wyoming is at least going to consider the legalization of online casino gaming through an upcoming study.
In the state’s 2024 general appropriation bill, the Wyoming legislature is requiring the Wyoming Gaming Commission to conduct a statewide study of gaming. The gaming commission has entered into a contract with Spectrum Gaming Group to conduct the feasibility study.
Spectrum Gaming Group will conduct a “statewide study of gaming in Wyoming including the structure of historic horse race wagering, skill-based amusement games, and online sports wagering.”
Study to Include iGaming Potential
Wyoming has long been rumored to possibly legalize iGaming, and the new study will consider the feasibility of doing so to bolster the state’s gaming market. The Equity State legalized sports betting in April 2021 when Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed bill HB 133 into state law, with online sports betting launching less than a year later in March 2022.
Spectrum Gaming Group, a non-partisan consultancy group that specializes in the economics, regulation, and policy of legalized gambling, will conduct the study from September through October. An initial early draft of the report is expected by early November.
As part of the study, the committee “will also consider whether to authorize or prohibit interactive gaming” along with an appropriate regulatory structure and potential tax revenue for the state. Depending on the study, the topic may result in introduced legislation in the 2025 Wyoming general session.
While Spectrum Gaming Group will evaluate the pros and cons of iGaming, the study will also take a look at the state’s overall gaming framework.
“The Committee may consider pari-mutuel, skilled gaming, and sports wagering, and may consider providing a uniform regulatory structure for all permitted activities.”
Seven States Have Legalized iGaming
Wyoming is one of a handful of states in the country that has the potential to become the eighth market in the country to legalize iGaming. The following states have legal iGaming in the U.S.:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Rhode Island
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
Maryland, Illinois, and Ohio will all likely consider iGaming legalization in 2025. An Ohio legislator has already filed an iGaming bill in the Buckeye State, as Sen. Niraj Antani (R-6) introduced SB 312. Under his legislation, each of the state’s casinos or racinos will be eligible to apply for a license to offer the new form of online casino gaming.
Despite the introduction, Ohio iGaming legalization faces long odds in the state.
Antani’s bill would allow each licensed state casino or racing to apply for an iGaming license and partner with up to one licensed iGaming operator. Online slots and table games would be taxed at a rate of 15%. His legislation establishes the Ohio Casino Control Commission as the regulator for online casino gaming in Ohio.
Ohio published its own iGaming study earlier this year. A 354-page study on the future of Ohio gaming, published this past July, saw its bipartisan participants split on support for iGaming and iLottery legalization in the Buckeye State.
Robert Linnehan
Covering regulatory developments in online gambling. Editing/writing/creating a newsletter for readers across all formats.
