Wyoming Online Gambling
Wyoming gambling laws allow casino gambling, card rooms, lottery gaming, and race tracks. Charitable bingo halls and pull-tab cards are available. Because Wyoming has the smallest population of any state in the United States, though, visitors will find their gaming opportunities spread out across a wide expanse. Gamblers should not expect to find big, elaborate casinos, even if the legislature approves of most forms of gambling.
Players should not expect the newest forms of gambling, such as sports betting and online poker sites, embraced in the near future. Wyoming residents like the government to have a relatively small presence, so the legislature takes a while to produce new laws. The state legalized lottery betting in 2013 and began selling its first state lottery, Powerball, and Mega Millions tickets in August 2014.
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Wyoming State Gambling Laws
Wyoming strictly defines gambling, as well as gambling devices and gambling establishments. Owning equipment which can be used for gambling is illegal, so pay careful attention to the definitions of a gambling den below. Residents also should note the distinction between games of skill and games of chance, because poker players and fantasy sports owners will find Wyoming’s definition of “skill” to be too strict.
Laws That Pertain to Wyoming Gambling
Definition of Gambling
“Risking any property for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, the operation of a gambling device or the happening or outcome of an event, including a sporting event, over which the person taking a risk has no control.”
Skill games are not considered gambling in Wyoming, so betting on darts and billiards is legal. If the game is “in part” based upon chance, though, it is gambling. Thus, poker and fantasy sports are considered gambling, even if they have elements of skill to the game. If you do not have complete control over the outcome, then it is gambling.
Definition of a Gambling Device:
“Any device, machine, paraphernalia or equipment except an antique gambling device that is used or usable in the playing phases of any professional gambling activity, whether that activity consists of gambling between persons or gambling by a person involving the playing of a machine”
Antique slots machines and other gambling equipment are legal. If you own a turn-of-the-century Liberty Bell slot machine designed by Charles Fey — you’re okay. Otherwise, owning modern gambling equipment is illegal. Anything viable for play in the here-and-now is banned.
Definition of a Gambling Den:
“Any building, room, enclosure, vehicle, vessel or other place, whether open or enclosed, used or intended to be used for professional gambling. Any place where a gambling device is found is presumed to be intended to be used for professional gambling”
Wyoming even has a definition of a gambling premise. If you house a gambling device in a house, barn, garage, or shed, it is considered a gambling den. In short: do not buy, own, or keep a slot machine, roulette wheel, or craps table on your property.
Is Gambling Legal in the State of Wyoming?
Yes. Land-based casinos, lottery betting, charitable gambling, and pari-mutuel wagering are legal in Wyoming. A smattering of each appears, though the opportunities to gamble legally are few and far between due to the wide-open spaces and small population density. Evanston, Riverton, Laramie, Cheyenne, and Rock Springs all have one or more gaming venues, but that is largely the extent of legal gaming venues in Wyoming.
Charitable bingo halls exist and those operations hold raffles and sell pull-tab games. In the smaller towns of Wyoming, charitable gaming will be the extent of legal games.
Wyoming Gambling Laws
Type of Gambling – Offered/Licensed? – Notes & Restrictions
- Online Gambling – No – Online poker and online casinos are banned.
- Land-Based Casinos – Yes – 4 casinos and one card room.
- Charitable Gaming – Yes – Bingo, pull-tabs and raffles.
- Lottery Betting – Yes – State Lottery (2014), Powerball (2014), Mega Millions (2014).
- Minimum Gambling Age – 18 for all forms of gambling.
Does Wyoming have land-based casinos?
Yes. Wyoming has four land-based casinos with between 250 and 750 gaming machines. The Shoshone Casino has 450 electronic blackjack machines instead of slot machines. Most have a smattering of table games, but do not have a huge selection of games.
Wind River Hotel has 2 poker tables, though most of the others don’t have a poker room. The gaming tables include games like Blackjack, Pitch, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.
CASINOS
| City | Name of Casino | Address | Phone Number | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethete | Little Wind Casino | 800 Blue Sky Highway, Ethete, Wyoming 82520 | (307) 335-8703 | 168 Gaming Machines |
| Lander | Shoshone Rose Casino & Hotel | 5690 Highway 287, Lander, Wyoming 82520 | (307) 335-7529 | 450 Gaming Machines, 4 Poker and Gaming Tables |
| Riverton | 789 Smoke Shop & Casino | 10369 Highway 789, Riverton, Wyoming 82501 | (307) 856-9940 | 257 Gaming Machines |
| Riverton | Wind River Hotel & Casino | 10269 Highway 789, Riverton, Wyoming 82501-8829 | (307) 856-3964 | 783 Gaming Machines, 3 Poker Tables, 9 Gaming Tables |
CARD ROOM
| City | Name of Casino | Address | Phone Number | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laramie | Laramie Poker | 3206m Grand Avenue, Laramie, Wyoming 82070 | (307) 286-2880 | 3 Poker Tables |
Does Wyoming have any legal betting tracks/shops?
Yes. Wyoming has two horse tracks: Wyoming Downs in Evanston and Sweetwater Downs in Rock Springs. Evanston has quarter horse and thoroughbred racing on Saturday and Sunday, but is closed Monday through Friday. Sweetwater Downs has two tracks and is open at various times during the week. It is a general facility for all kinds of events, including rodeos, gun shows, pool shootouts, a county fair, and public meetings — thus its racing schedule is sporadic.
HORSE TRACKS
| City | Name of Casino | Address | Phone Number | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evanston | Wyoming Downs | 10180 Highway 89 North, Evanston, Wyoming 82930 | (307) 789-7223 | Race Book |
| Rock Springs | Sweetwater Downs | 3320 Yellowstone Road, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901-2812 | (307) 362-1125 | Race Book |
Does Wyoming allow off-track betting?
Yes, Wyoming has seven off-track betting facilities in six different cities (including two in Evanston). The OTB facilities have simulcasting most days of the week, so bettors can enjoy gambling on racing events from more than 200 pari-mutuel race tracks across the United States. Here is a list of the Wyoming OTBs.
OFF-TRACK BETTING
| City | Name of Casino | Address | Phone Number | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyanne | Horse Palace – Cheyanne | 1802 Dell Range Boulevard, Suite 3, Cheyanne, Wyoming 82009-4957 | (307) 635-2407 | Race Book |
| Evanston | Best Western Dunmar Inn | 1601 Harrison Drive, Evanston, Wyoming 82930-3204 | (307) 789-4191 | Race Book |
| Evanston | Horse Palace – Evanston | 755 Prospector Drive, Evanston, Wyoming 82931 | (307) 789-4191 | Race Book |
| Gillette | Horse Palace – Gillette | 1020 East Highway 14-16, Gillette, Wyoming 82718 | (307) 682-1879 | Race Book |
| Mills | Horse Palace – Casper Mills | 4100 West Yellowstone, Mills, Wyoming 82604 | (307) 237-0322 | Race Book |
| Rock Springs | Horse Palace – Rock Springs | 1549 Elk Street, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901-4560 | (307) 382-0685 | Race Book |
| Sheridan | Horse Palace – Sheridan | 2240 Coffeen Avenue, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801-6288 | (307) 673-4846 | Race Book |
Does Wyoming allow charitable gambling?
Yes. Wyoming allows non-profit charitable organizations to run bingo halls, sell pull-tabs, and hold raffles. 65% of gross sales must be returned to players in the form of winnings. Of the remaining 35% collected by the organization, 75% must be donated to a charitable cause within the next year.
Like most Upper Midwest and plains states, charitable gaming includes pull-tab games. Pull-tabs are like scratch cards, so they offer instant prizes. Called pickle games or jar games in some states, pull-tab gaming is popular enough that mobile pull-tab games in Minnesota helped pay for the Minnesota Vikings’ billion-dollar stadium.
BINGO HALL
| City | Name of Casino | Address | Phone Number | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casper | Troopers Bingo | 1801 East E Street, Casper, Wyoming 82601-2166 | (307) 265-2464 | 400 Bingo Seats |
Is Social gaming allowed in Wyoming?
Yes. Private card games are legal as “social games”, but the host cannot charge a poker rake or collect an entry fee at the door. Other legal tricks like seat licenses or by-the-hour gaming fees are considered legal. If you host a game and betting takes place, it has to be a card game among friends with no profit-making. Also note the strict laws against gambling equipment when determining whether to host a social game.
Players can enjoy free casino games on Facebook and other social gaming sites. Residents can download an Android or iOS gaming apps from Zynga, Slotomania, or Double Down Casino to enjoy casino-style games for free. They can visit a free-to-play gaming site like Big Fish Games, which has its share of casino games. PlayMGM and Play4Fun, the freeplay social gaming sites from MGM Resorts and Mohegan Sun (respectively), also are available.