As of now, online casino gaming isn't legal in Wyoming. The state's Gambling Commission has defined all forms of online betting (with some exceptions) as illegal. These include online casinos, sports betting, poker rooms and more. However, there is a bill in process (HB0107), which may allow the Wyoming Lottery to offer online games like blackjack and roulette.
If the bill passes, the Wyoming Online Casino Market is expected to take off around 2023. Meanwhile, we recommend that you try the following casino offshore sites that accept players from Wyoming.
Is Online Casino Gambling Legal in Wyoming?
No. The state of Wyoming doesn’t currently have any laws on the books that would specifically make online casino gambling legal. Since there are laws against operating an internet casino within the state, it’s naturally also against the law to engage in gamplay. However, since no statutes prohibit locals from using internet services provided by offshore casinos, participants aren’t technically breaking any local laws when they visit these sites.
Wyoming Gambling Laws
The Wyoming Division of Gaming operates under the governance of the Wyoming Governor’s Office. This division works closely with the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to uphold the standards of fairness and honesty for all of the state’s charitable bingo games, lottery, horse racing, and tribal casinos. Below, you can find the key parties that make up this important regulatory body in the state of Wyoming.
Mariah Wills – The current executive director of the Wyoming Division of Gaming, Mariah Wills has spent the last two decades serving the state in various roles. Starting out as an investigator for the Attorney General’s Office, she later transitioned into the Gaming Division as an investigator and compliance manager before being appointed to her current position in 2017.
John Enerson – Appointed by President Trump in 2018, John Enerson serves as the chairman of the Wyoming Gaming Commission. He has been practicing law throughout the state of Wyoming since getting his license in 1984. His areas of practice include natural resource, real estate, and business matters, including casino licensing proceedings.
casinos online gamblingDr. Deborah Hutchings – A professor at the University of Wyoming, Dr. Deborah Hutchings brings her academic perspective to the Wyoming Gaming Commission. She has a Ph.D. in educational psychology and human development with an emphasis on gambling studies and undergraduate degrees in communications and psychology.
Troy McConathy – An attorney at McConathy, Rampton, Ricks & Sommer, P.A., Troy McConathy offers over three decades worth of experience in civil litigation, Indian law, public utilities regulation, natural resource law, environmental law, and general government law to the table.
Shannon Reino – As the president and CEO of the Wyoming Bank & Trust Company, Shannon Reinowakes 25 years of experience in financial services to her role on the commission. She is actively involved in several community organizations and was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker magazine in both 2016 and 2017.
Ryan Schwartz – A shareholder at Ballard Spahr, LLP, Ryan Schwartz focuses his practice on federal tax controversy, state and local tax controversy, state and local tax planning, economic development incentives, and judicial and legislative appeals.
Steve Turley – A ranch owner and manger, Steve Turley offers his 30+ years of experience in the livestock industry to his role as a commission member. He has served on several boards and committees throughout Carbon County, including the Encampment Water and Sanitation District, the Carbon Valley Transit District, and the Colorado River Headwaters Advisory Committee.
Taxation
Seeing as online casino gambling is officially illegal in Wyoming, there’s no need to worry about taxes on your winnings because you didn’t actually break the law. However, if you were to travel to a land-based establishment across state lines and/or play on an illegally operated offshore site, you could get into trouble for both breaking the law and failing to pay taxes on your winnings.
wynn casino njAccording to IRS Publication 525, Betting, Gambling, and Lottery Winnings, any money made from gambling that exceeds the amount of your initial bet is considered a win and is taxable by the IRS. This applies to all forms of gambling, whether it be at a land-based establishment or on an online casino site.
Fortunately, the vast majority of online sites will handle the tax calculations for you. Every time you make a withdrawal, the site will withhold the appropriate taxes based on your personal information. If you don’t provide accurate information about yourself, the website will use a default withholding amount.
In the United States, the default rate for withholding is 24%. However, in Canada, the default rate is 31%, which is why you may notice a significant difference in your withdrawals if you live close to the border. We recommend double-checking your account settings to ensure that your details are correct.
Responsible Gambling Facts
The Wyoming Division of Gaming works with the Wyoming Department of Health to operate the Problem Gamblers Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. This service provides support to anyone who is struggling with a gambling addiction or is affected by someone else’s addiction. They offer referrals to local resources and counseling services.
It is estimated that between 1 and 2% of adults and 13 to 14-year-olds have or will develop gambling addiction problems at some point in their lives. In most cases, the individual will be able to handle their addiction without any outside intervention; however, a small percentage will need professional help.
Male adults between the ages of 25 and 44 are most likely to develop a problem compared to any other demographic group. Additionally, research indicates that family history, genetics, environment, and personality traits all play a part in a person’s likelihood of becoming addicted to gambling.
Types of Mobile Games
Online casinos offer a wide range of mobile-friendly games, including slots, roulette, blackjack, poker, keno, scratch-offs, dream catcher, and more. These titles can be accessed via browser or downloaded through an app. Some of the best mobile casinos even offer live dealers for select games. As you continue with our guide to online casinos in Wyoming, you’ll find a list of recommended mobile games.
Real Money Slots
Online slot machines are the most popular game in the casino industry, making up the largest portion of the market. There are thousands of unique slot titles available online, each offering different themes, features, paylines, reels, and betting ranges. While they are simple enough to play, we still recommend learning how they work so you can keep a watchful eye out for fake online casino scams.
Slots are easy to play; all you have to do is determine your bet amount and then hit the spin button. From there, the game will display a random set of symbols based on the RNG (Random Number Generator). If you manage to line up matching icons on one of your paylines, starting from the far left, you’ll receive a reward based on the value of the symbols.
Our favorite online casinos offer a generous welcome bonus that can be used on hundreds of real money slots. Whether you’re looking to play for free or you want to go for the big jackpots, you will find excellent options for any budget or playing preference.
While you can’t go wrong with any of the top sites, some offer better mobile compatibility than others. If you plan on using your smartphone or tablet to access your favorite slot titles, we recommend Ignition Casino and Bovada, our top picks for mobile devices.
Roulette
There are many different variations of roulette games found at online casinos. For the most part, each variation will have the same basic concept: place your bets on where you think the ball will land and hit the “spins” button. However, some tables will offer different minimum/maximum bet amounts, different payouts for special bets, and even additional betting options.
American and European are the two most common types of online roulette games. The main difference between these two lies in the number of green zeros on the wheel. Being that the European has just one zero, the odds are slightly improved; whereas, the American has a double zero, making the odds worse.
Live dealer roulette games offer a unique twist to traditional online roulette. With a webcam, players can watch a live dealer spin the wheel and drop the ball onto the track. Everyone must make their bets before the roulette wheel is no longer spinning. It adds a new level of excitement to the game while still preserving the random chance element of an RNG.
Unfortunately, response times for chat and the wheel spins are heavily dependent on your internet connection speed. If you have slow WiFi or cellular data, there’s a good chance you’ll miss parts of the action or experience buffering delays.
casino mobile gamesBlackjack
Blackjack is another card game that is widely popular in online casinos. Your goal is to get a higher score than the dealer without going over 21. If you reach 21, this is called a “natural” or “blackjack,” which results in a guaranteed win (unless the dealer also has a natural, that is).
There are several different variations of online blackjack, which often come down to minor rule changes. Depending on which version you choose, you may be able to split, double down, or surrender your hand. Knowing which table offers the best odds and which does not is the key to finding the right game for you.
Aside from strategy, skill, and luck, blackjack is one of the few casino games where statisticians have been able to determine the optimal mathematically correct move for every situation. By counting cards, dealing with benevolent dealers, and always making the right moves according to the math, it’s possible to tip the house edge in your favor.
Compared to other online casino games, blackjack offers the lowest house advantage when played with optimal strategy. On average, the edge hovers around 0.5%, but there are many tables with less than 0.2% — a handful of which you can find right here on our top-rated online casinos.
Other Game Designate
This section includes a variety of miscellaneous online casino games that don’t fit into any of our other categories. Here, you will find bingo, keno, dreamcatcher, and a few select games that don’t quite feel like they belong anywhere else.
Bingo
Most people are familiar with the classic version of bingo, but few realize that the game comes in many different shapes and sizes. Online versions offer unique spins on the standard paper and bingo balls, giving each instance its own theme, play pattern, and rules.
For example, one version might require players to completely fill in a shape rather than just five randomly placed numbers. Another could have pictures instead of digits, requiring the player to find a match in their card somewhere other than a specific space.
Our top recommended online bingo game is Bingo Goal by BetSoft. This fun twist on regular bingo allows you to increase your wins by betting on how many balls it will take to complete your card. There are two separate games that you can play: the regular bingo game and the betting game. Keep in mind that you must complete bingo in the main game before you can collect on a bet.
You can wager between 25c and $50 on a single Bingo Goal card per game. Compared to regular online bingo, there are fewer options for customization in regards to your bet.
Keno
Like its lawn counterpart, keno is a lottery-style game where players select up to 15 numbers between 1 and 80. The game will select 20 numbers (the amount can vary) and announce the sums of the matches. Payouts depend on how many selections you made and how many of those matched.
of the Best Casino Games in Terms of Odds (By House Edge)Our recommended online keno game is Live Keno from Playtech. This variation allows you to view all selected numbers immediately, unlike some other versions where you have to wait for all 20 to be revealed before seeing your results. Players can chat with others during the game for a fully immersive experience.
Keno is a relatively straightforward game that requires no skill whatsoever. All you have to do is choose how many numbers you want to use and hope that they match the winning numbers. This makes it a great option for anybody looking to relax and unwind without having to think too hard.
Dream Catcher
Dream Catcher is a live wheel of fortune style game show that puts a fun spin on a classic casino game. Essentially, it’s an oversized mechanical wheel that features multipliers and three different rewards. Two of them reduce your multiplier while the third lets the wheel spin again or pays out your reward.
Baccarat Strategies (And Why They Don't Work) - Online Casino HighwayLike most live dealer games, Dream Catcher uses a webcam to stream the action to you in real time. There is a live dealer who spins the wheel when it is time, and everyone places their bets beforehand. Once your bet is placed, you cannot make anymore until the next round begins.
To begin, simply decide how much you want to bet per round and click the “Place your bet here” circle. It will highlight your selection once you hover over it.
How to Tell If an Online Casino Is Legit
It can be tough to know if a given online casino is legit or a complete scam. Fortunately, we’ve got years of experience in recognizing trustworthy signs versus red flags. So long as a site checks all of these boxes, you should be safe to deposit your money and gamble to your heart’s content.
This might seem counterintientuitive, but hearing from happy customers is a strong sign that the casino is doing something right. Positive reviews mean that other players have gotten their money, genuine payouts, and quality customer service. Just be sure that the testimonials aren’t fake – learn how to spot fake online casino reviews.
All trusted online casinos will post their RTP (Return-to-Player) ratings, which indicate the house edge. In general, the higher the RTP, the better off the players will be. These rates represent the theoretical share of total money wagered that will be paid back out to the gamblers in the form of winnings. So, for a 98% RTP, only 2% of the bets put forth will go to the operator as profit.
Every reputable online casino will provide ample information regarding the fairness of its games. This usually comes in the form of a certification or publicly audited RTP rating. Our top recommended sites post their RTP ratings directly on their about pages, and the audit firms are located on our page dedicated to online casino payment methods.
A legitimate online casino will offer a variety of secure banking methods for depositing and withdrawing. Debit cards, eWallets, bank transfers, prepaid cards, and cryptocurrencies are the most common payment solutions at the best online casinos. If a site is sketchy, it might only accept payments via gift cards or bitcoin from shady websites.
All reputable online casinos will have a responsible gambling section that offers resources and tools for limiting your bets and time spent on the site. Some of the most common options include deposit limits, bet limits, time restrictions, exclusion, and self-exclusion. The site may also provide links to hotlines and websites where you can seek professional help for you, or a loved one’s, gambling addiction.
Advantages of Online Casinos
There are many advantages to playing at an online casino, not the least of which is convenience. You can log in from virtually any location with an internet connection and start playing your favorite games almost instantly. Our top recommended online casinos offer fast loading times, so you won’t have to spend hours waiting to enjoy your first slot or roulette title.
- Convenience
- Bonuses
- Mobile-Friendly
- Better Odds
- More Games
One of the main reasons we can recommend playing at online casinos is because they often feature higher payout rates than land-based establishments. This is probably due to the fact that brick-and-mortar venues have higher overhead costs to maintain. Regardless, it’s good news for us gamblers.
Another major benefit to online casinos is the signup bonuses and other promotions. It’s very rare to find a land-based venue that offers a 100, 200, or 300% deposit boost – but many online sites do just that. Of course, these offers usually come with stringent rolling requirements, but it’s still better than nothing.
Perhaps the most obvious advantage to online casinos is that you can play from home. Some folks don’t care to travel to a casino, and others simply want to play from their couch. Either way, online sites accommodate a wide range of preferences.
In addition to skipping the trip, you’ll also avoid having to deal with pesky smokers, rowdy patrons, long lines, high prices, and stuffy air. Instead, you can stay in your pajamas all day and enjoy your choice of slot machines, roulette tables, and whatever other online games you desire.
History of Gambling in Wyoming
European settlers brought their gambling traditions to America with them, and it didn’t take long for colonies to embrace the novel pastimes. In fact, Plymouth Colony passed a law against dice and cards in 1650.
Gambling flourished throughout the US during the 1800s. Casinos popped up all over the country, from coastal cities to the wild west frontier. Some of the more unsavory figures used their ill-gotten gains to corrupt politics and law enforcement agencies, leading to a national outcry for reform.
In response, numerous states passed anti-gambling legislation, with the first no-bet zones emerging in the 1850s. The Panic of 1857 further fueled the fire, prompting more locations to enact bans on various forms of wagering.
After Congress refused to pass a national anti-gambling bill in 1865, states ramped up their efforts. By the turn of the century, most regions had outlawed casinos and betting houses except for a few exceptions, such as race tracks.
It wasn’t until the early 1900s that Wyoming hopped on the bandwagon. In 1905, the state made it illegal to “engage in playing …at any game, whether of skill or chance, for money, property, check, tokens, or other substitutes or articles of value, any person who shall so play, shall be deemed a common nuisance.” The lawmaker behind this bill was none other than Senator William Henry Hobart, Jr.
Two years later, Wyoming amended this act to explicitly ban “banking” and “percentage” games. The former referred to the casino hosting the game, while the latter denoted a person who lends money to players throughout the course of the game.
Today, the Wyoming Indian Gaming Association oversees dozens of Class II gaming operations on Native American lands throughout the state. Gros Ventre and Shoshone tribes operate many of these casinos, offering everything from blackjack and poker to bingo and keno.
In recent years, lawmakers have discussed the possibility of bringing sports betting to Wyoming. A 2019 interim report detailed the potential pros and cons along with recommendations for the future. One proposed solution was to establish sports betting at the state level while leaving fantasy sports untouched.
Meanwhile, a House Bill 121 introduced in January 2020 aims to legalize sports betting at the Wyoming Lottery. Under this proposal, bettors would be able to place wagers both in person and online. Unfortunately, the bill did not make it past the House Labor, Retirement, and Council Ordering committee.
House Bill 114 was introduced shortly after as a means of opening up sports betting to 21 and older individuals throughout the state. This bill would authorize sports betting at meeting places, off-track pari-mutuel betting facilities, historic horse racing machines, racetracks, and the state lottery. It passed the third reading in the House on February 10, 2020, and moved on to the Senate.
However, Senate Veterans Affairs and Public Safety committee rejected House Bill 114 on February 25, 2020. That leaves the House Joint Labor, Business and Economic Development Interim Study to look into employment practices in the gig economy and explore the expansion of fantasy sports contests and sports gambling in the state.
So, where does that leave us? At this point in time, it is indeed illegal for residents of Wyoming to participate in online casinos within the state’s borders.
Geography, Population, and Demographics
Wyoming is one of the least populated and least densely populated states in the country. Cheyenne is the largest city, with a population of approximately 64,000 people. Casper comes in second with about 59,000 residents.
Wyoming covers 253,390 square miles, ranking it among the top ten largest states. To the north lies Montana, to the south and west is Colorado, Utah to the southwest, Idaho to the east, and South Dakota and Montana once again to the north. Yellowstone National Park draws crowds from all over the world, providing a significant portion of tourism for the area.
Percentage of Population Age 25 or Older with High School Diploma or Higher
Residents of Wyoming value their independence and tend to keep to themselves. As a result, underage gambling and getting away with it is fairly easy. However, this does not condone nor promote the behavior. Due to the high percentage of those who do not hold a four-year college degree, the numeric value for problem gambling is lower than the national average.
Up-and-Coming Regulations
In March 2019, Governor Mark Gordon established an interim labor, retirement, and council ordering to review employment practices in the gig economy and explore the expansion of fantasy sports contests and sports gambling in Wyoming. This marked the third consecutive year in which lawmakers considered proposals to bring legal sports betting to the state.
Senator Cale Case presented Senate File 124 during the 2020 Wyoming Legislature. Had it passed, this bill would authorize bets on professional, collegiate, and school sports teams affiliated with institutions within the state. It would also allow individuals 21 and older to place wagers both in person and online.
best casino in the ukUnfortunately, SF 124 died in the Senate Travel, Transportation, and Utilities committee on February 11, 2020. Three days later, House Bill 114 entered the Judiciary committee. Introduced by Representative Danny Eyre, this proposal aimed to open up sports betting for residents 21 and older throughout the state. It could take effect on July 1, 2021, if approved.
HB 114 defines sports wagering as knowingly accepting or placing a bet on the outcome of a sporting event or contest. This includes employees of sports pools and streaming live events for betting purposes. It also falls under this category to knowingly accept or place a bet on an activity that is not a sporting event or contest.
Under this bill, “sports pool” refers to an operator who offers opportunities for wagering. Participants contribute funds, make their bets, and receive payouts from said operator.
Pari-mutuel betting is another term you’ll want to familiarize yourself with because it will come up a lot. This is simply an arrangement in which the payoff odds of participants in a gambling pool on the outcome of a race or competition are determined by the proportional size of their bets.
The Wyoming Tribal Leaders Alliance supports House Bill 114, provided that native tribes can operate sports betting as well. Currently, the amendment awaits further action in the Senate after passing the third reading in the House on February 11, 2020.
If signed into law, this proposal would establish the Wyoming Lottery Gaming Commission to oversee all sports betting operations. It would be the agency’s duty to issue licenses, set regulations and fees, and conduct investigations related to the industry.
Any municipality or county within Wyoming may apply for a sports wagering license, as may the Wind River Indian Reserve and Eastern Shoshone Tribe. The application fee is $5,000, renewing every five years for $2,500.
Licensees must pay $10,000 for the privilege to offer remote sports wagering. This includes websites and mobile applications. Renewal for this aspect will cost $5,000 every five years.
If House Bill 114 becomes a reality, it will be unlawful to operate a sports pool without a valid license. It will also be illegal for individuals to use such services from an unlicensed source. Anyone caught doing so may face a civil penalty between $2,500 and $10,000 for each offense.
The Wyoming Lottery Gaming Commission may waive the lowest end of this fine if the offender holds a valid license when paying the fee. Additional penalties include revoking their license for up to one year or denying future applications.
Of course, House Bill 114 still has a long way to go before it hits the desk of Governor Mark Gordon. It first needs to pass in the Senate and survive a second reading in the House. Then, the bills will need to match so that lawmakers may vote on the same exact proposal. After that, it goes to the governor’s office for final approval.
Even then, sports betting wouldn’t become a thing for at least a couple of years. The Wyoming Lottery Gaming Commission would have until July 1, 2022, to finalize rules and issue licenses.