The question on everyone's mind in Wyoming's legislative circles is whether a new bill to legalize online casinos will be introduced in 2026.
The state's history with gambling has been cautious yet evolving, with recent years seeing the successful legalization of online sports betting. Leading the charge for broader gambling options is Representative Robert Davis. He has persistently advocated for expanding Wyoming's gambling landscape to include online casinos.
His previous efforts have set the stage for a potentially significant legislative move.
The Push for Wyoming Online Casino Legalization
Despite legalizing online sports betting in 2021, Wyoming has not yet crossed the bridge to legalize online casinos, which include games like slots, poker, blackjack, and roulette.
Rep. Davis has been a key player in trying to change this. In previous legislative sessions, he supported measures like HB 120, aimed at allowing and regulating online casinos. Motivated by an optimistic economic study by Spectrum Gaming Group, which projected significant revenue if online casinos were legalized, Davis introduced House Bill 0162 (HB 0162) in January 2025.
This bill sought to authorize interactive gaming under the Wyoming Gaming Commission, impose licensing fees, and set up a framework for collecting and distributing tax revenues from these games. However, it did not advance due to regulatory, tribal, and consumer‑protection concerns.
Challenges and Setbacks
However, HB 0162 faced challenges and failed to pass, reportedly dying in committee and not gaining enough votes to advance.
The failure was seen as a setback, but it hasn't dampened the ongoing interest and conversation around the topic.
Supporters like Davis remain hopeful, viewing the potential tax revenue as a boon for Wyoming’s economy. They believe that with strong oversight, online casinos could thrive without negatively impacting existing gaming sectors.
Sweepstakes Casinos and Their Legal Status
It’s important to clarify that while conversations about legalizing online casinos continue, sweepstakes casinos are legal in Wyoming.
Unlike traditional online casinos that operate on real-money bets, sweepstakes casinos often use a legal loophole by allowing participants to use "sweeps coins" that can potentially be redeemed for cash prizes.
Sweepstakes and social casinos are permitted in 33 U.S. states, offering players the chance to engage in casino-style games with virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, which can be redeemed for cash prizes.
This setup circumvents the need for traditional gambling licenses. In contrast, real-money online casinos are only legal in Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware. Sweepstakes casinos operate under federal sweepstakes law across much of the country, though 17 states have restrictions or bans due to regulatory conflicts, lobbying by the casino industry, or efforts to protect lottery revenues.
Despite these challenges, the conversation about gambling expansion in Wyoming remains a dynamic and unfolding story, leaving many to wonder what steps will be taken in 2026.
