Maybe you’re heading out to Wind River to try your hand at blackjack, or to Little Wind for a poker room. Perhaps you opt to hit Wyoming Downs to play the ponies. Or maybe you’re hosting some buddies for a poker night or throwing $20 into an office March Madness pool, hoping the Cowboys advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Whether in your office break room or a betting window, Wyoming’s gambling laws cover all of these activities in the Cowboy State. This is a brief summary of gambling laws in Wyoming.
Gaming Law in Wyoming
Certain types of gaming and gambling are illegal under state gaming statutes, although many states have begun to relax gambling statutes and to permit limited casinos and other gaming venues like card rooms. Wyoming’s gambling laws allow some betting on horse and dog racing and some full-fledged Indian casinos in certain cities. Charitable games, social gambling, bingo and raffles are also permitted.
Wyoming Gambling Statutes
The specifics of Wyoming gambling laws are listed in the table below.
| Code Section | 6-7-101 et seq.; 11-25-101 et seq. |
| Gambling | Risking any property for gain contingent in whole or part upon lot, chance, or outcome of an event, including sporting event, over which person taking a risk has no control. |
| Horse Racing/Off-Track Betting | Licensed horse, harness, cutter, chariot, and chuckwagon racing and pari-mutuel wagering legal. Licensed off-track simulcast wagering legal. |
| Dog Racing/Off-Track Betting | Licensed dog racing and pari-mutuel wagering permitted. |
| Casinos Allowed? | Structures, boats or vehicles maintained for gambling purposes illegal. |
| Other Kinds of Gambling-Related Activities Allowed or Banned | Bona fide contests of skill, speed, strength, or endurance; bona fide business contracts; raffles, bingo and pulltabs sold by charitable organizations; bona fide social wagering; Calcutta wagering; display or private use of antique devices legal. Professional gambling; possessing gambling devices; gambling record keeping illegal. |
Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact a Wyoming attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Gambling and gaming laws can cover everything from casinos and racetracks to state lotteries and election wagers. State laws also regulate the government divisions or gaming commissions that control industry practices, such as licensing employees and regulating the games and finances. Many states also create strict zoning ordinances to separate casinos and racetracks from schools and residential areas. At the federal level, all gambling establishments on Indian reservations must adhere to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Wyoming Gambling Laws: Related Resources
Gambling restrictions can vary from state to state and can limit certain activities within the state. If you would like legal advice regarding a gaming matter, you can contact a Wyoming gaming law attorney in your area. You can also visit FindLaw’s Gaming Law section for more information and articles on this topic.
