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Sub-national
North America

United States - Wyoming: gambling regulation and licensing

Part of United States

  • Online sports bettingRegulated
  • Esports bettingRegulated
  • Daily fantasy sportsUnregulated
  • Online casinoProhibited
  • Online pokerProhibited
  • Horse race bettingRegulated
  • Land-based (reference)Regulated
Regulator
Wyoming Gaming Commission
Headline tax
10% GGR
Licence required
Yes
Last verified
23 Sept 2026

Summary

Wyoming regulates online sports betting and no other form of online gambling. The Wyoming Gaming Commission, a nine-member state body in Casper that began in 1967 as the Pari-Mutuel Commission, licenses online sports wagering under W.S. 9-24-101 to 9-24-106, in force since 1 September 2021. It also regulates live and historic horse racing, advance deposit wagering, skill based amusement games and charitable gaming. Sports betting is online only: the law allows no retail sportsbooks and requires no land-based partner. An operator must already offer online sports wagering in at least three US states. The permit costs $100,000 for five years and $50,000 to renew, and operators pay 10% of online sports wagering revenue each month, with free bets and promotional play excluded from the base. The first $300,000 of tax each fiscal year funds county problem gambling programmes. Six operators hold permits; in 2025 they took $234.5 million in wagers and produced $27.2 million in gross gaming revenue, 19.5% more than in 2024. Online casino and poker are not authorised, and gambling outside the statutory exceptions is a misdemeanour for the player. An interactive gaming bill that proposed a 16% tax died in committee in 2025, and a bill to let the two Wind River tribes offer online sports wagering failed in the Senate. Two changes are under way. The commission has banned proposition bets on individual college athletes from 1 October 2026, and 2026 legislation requires city, town or county approval for off-track historic horse racing sites, applying to existing sites from July 2027.

Common pitfalls

Assuming a local partner is needed: it is not, but the operator must already be licensed for online sports wagering in three US jurisdictions. Assuming geolocation covers the whole state: Indian lands in Wyoming are outside the permitted area. Forgetting that the primary wagering server must be in Wyoming unless the commission approves otherwise. Treating the 18 age limit as universal: skill based amusement games are 21 and over.

Key facts

Regulator
Wyoming Gaming Commission (WGC)
Regulator type
Sub-national body
Headline tax
10% GGR
Licence required
Yes
Minimum age
18+
Tax base
Online sports wagering revenue: all wagers placed, excluding the actual dollar value of free wagers and promotional play, minus all payments to patrons and minus applicable federal excise tax (W.S. 9-24-101(a)(vii)). Paid monthly by the 15th; a negative month may be carried forward against the next month only (W.S. 9-24-104).

Licensing

Licence required
Yes
Application window
Rolling
Local establishment required
No
Local server required
Yes
Active licences
6 (as of 23 Sept 2026)
Typical time to licence
The commission must issue or deny a permit or licence within 90 days of receiving the application (W.S. 9-24-103(h)).
Bank guarantee or bond
Operators must have an approved plan to maintain a reserve covering funds held in sports wagering accounts and outstanding wagering liability (OSW Rules Ch. 4 s. 12).
Notable licensees
BetMGM Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, Barstool Sportsbook
Certification requirements
The sports wagering system must be approved by the commission and pass an integrity and security assessment; the primary server must be located in Wyoming unless the commission approves otherwise (OSW Rules Ch. 5 ss. 2, 4, 5).
Barriers to entry
Only a "qualified gaming entity" already offering online sports wagering in at least three US jurisdictions can hold an operator permit, and vendors need good standing in three jurisdictions (W.S. 9-24-101(a)(x), 9-24-103(m)). No land-based partner is needed. The commission must license at least five qualified operators if enough apply (W.S. 9-24-103(k)). Six operators hold permits; the 2025 Annual Report records 51 vendor licences and notes that Barstool was licensed but not active.

Licence types

  • Online sports wagering operator permit

    Scope
    Accepting online sports wagers, including esports and exchange wagering once approved
    Term
    5 years
    Application fee
    $2,500 as of 23 Sept 2026
    Fee basis
    $100,000 permit fee for the initial five-year permit; $50,000 for each five-year renewal; $2,500 application fee for both (W.S. 9-24-103(b), (c))
    Renewal terms
    Renewal for five years at $50,000; routine renewals may be approved by staff under Policy 038-2026-03
  • Online sports wagering vendor permit

    Scope
    Geolocation, KYC, payment processing, hosting, integrity monitoring, cyber security and data services to operators
    Term
    5 years
    Fee basis
    $10,000 for the initial five-year permit; $5,000 for each renewal (W.S. 9-24-103(e))
    Renewal terms
    Renewal for five years at $5,000
  • Key personnel and critical component licences

    Scope
    Individuals with ultimate decision-making authority over Wyoming operations, and staff able to deploy code that changes play or wager outcomes
    Term
    5 years
    Application fee
    $250 as of 23 Sept 2026
    Fee basis
    $250 for an initial licence and for renewal (W.S. 9-24-103(p), (q))
  • Skill based amusement game operator permit and vendor licence

    Scope
    Land-based skill games in qualifying establishments
    Term
    1 year
    Fee basis
    Operator $250 a year; vendor $2,500 a year; $50 decal per machine (W.S. 11-25-304)
    Renewal terms
    Annual, fees due by 1 July

Taxation

Headline GGR tax
10% GGR
Effective date
1 Sept 2021
Withholding mechanism
Operators must comply with IRS reporting and withholding on winnings and issue Form W-2G where required (OSW Rules Ch. 4 s. 9).
Tax base
Online sports wagering revenue: all wagers placed, excluding the actual dollar value of free wagers and promotional play, minus all payments to patrons and minus applicable federal excise tax (W.S. 9-24-101(a)(vii)). Paid monthly by the 15th; a negative month may be carried forward against the next month only (W.S. 9-24-104).

Earmarked levies

  • Problem gambling allocation: First $300,000 of online sports wagering tax each fiscal year (Department of Health, for county programmes to prevent and treat problem gambling; the remainder goes to the general fund)
  • Historic horse racing and live pari-mutuel payments: 1.5% of amounts wagered on historic events (0.25% commission account, 1% to the county and city, 0.25% legislative stabilization reserve account); 1.5% of live handle; 0.4% of handle to the breeder award fund (Commission, local governments, legislative stabilization reserve account and breeder award fund)
  • Skill based amusement game tax: 20% of weekly net proceeds (45% to the county and city, 45% to the school foundation program account, 10% to the commission gaming account)
  • Source market fee: Up to 10% of gross receipts from Wyoming residents wagering with out-of-state simulcast facilities (75% to live flat track purses, 10% to in-state simulcast permittees, 10% to breeder awards, 5% to the commission)

Compliance

Minimum age
18+
KYC timing
At account registration, before any deposit or wager
AML regime
Operators and vendors must comply with the federal Bank Secrecy Act and keep CTRs, SARs and supporting records for five years, and must run AML policies proportionate to online sports wagering risk (OSW Rules Ch. 4 s. 10, Ch. 6 s. 17). From 1 July 2026 money laundering is also a state felony (W.S. 6-3-1102).
AML supervisor
Wyoming Gaming Commission under its rules; federal Bank Secrecy Act compliance reviews are carried out by the Internal Revenue Service
Deposit limits
Operators must let patrons set daily, weekly and monthly deposit limits; decreases apply at once and increases only after the current period ends (OSW Rules Ch. 6 s. 12).
Data localisation
The primary server accepting wagers must be in Wyoming unless the commission approves otherwise; cloud hosting is allowed only for duplicate or non-transactional data on request (OSW Rules Ch. 5 s. 4).
KYC requirements
Operators must collect full legal name, date of birth, residential address (no PO box) and Social Security number or its last four digits, and verify name, date of birth and SSN electronically through a commission-approved reference service at account creation; accounts are refused if information is untrue or incomplete (OSW Rules Ch. 6 ss. 1, 2).
Stake limits
Patrons can set daily, weekly and monthly wager limits (OSW Rules Ch. 6 s. 12). Skill based amusement games are capped at $3 per play and $3,000 per payout (W.S. 11-25-303).
Mandatory player messaging
Every advertisement must say that minors may not open or use sports wagering accounts and give problem gambling and self-exclusion information (OSW Rules Ch. 8 s. 5).
Reporting obligations
Monthly tax return and payment by the 15th (OSW Rules Ch. 3 s. 1); prompt notice to the commission of suspected cheating, money laundering, false identity and excluded persons attempting to bet; losses and withheld winnings of excluded persons are paid to the commission within 45 days (Ch. 4 s. 11, Ch. 8 s. 4).
Game content restrictions
No wagers on pari-mutuel events, events where most participants are under 18, fantasy contests or injuries; event categories and wager types need commission approval (OSW Rules Ch. 4 s. 1). Proposition wagers on individual college athletes are banned from 1 October 2026 (Order 2026-01). Geolocation must confine wagering to Wyoming, excluding Indian lands (Ch. 5 s. 3).

Minimum age by vertical

  • Online sports betting: 18+
  • Horse race betting: 18+
  • Land-based (reference): 21+

Advertising

Advertising permitted
Yes
Bonus advertising rules
Bonus and promotional offers must be stated in clear and unambiguous terms covering eligibility, wagering requirements, withdrawal restrictions and expiry; patrons must be able to cancel an offer that uses restricted credits; winnings may not be capped once the terms are met (OSW Rules Ch. 4 s. 8).
Mandatory warnings
A statement that minors are not allowed to open or have access to sports wagering accounts, with problem gambling help and self-exclusion information, on every form of advertising.
Penalties for breach
The commission may suspend or revoke a permit for any violation of the statutes or its rules by the permittee or its employees or agents (OSW Rules Ch. 9 s. 1).

Restrictions

  • Every form of sports wagering advertising must state that minors are not allowed to open or have access to sports wagering accounts (OSW Rules Ch. 8 s. 5).
  • Every advertisement must include information on programmes to prevent, treat or monitor problem gambling and on self-exclusion procedures (OSW Rules Ch. 8 s. 5).
  • The commission prohibits sports wagering advertising that it finds deceptive (OSW Rules Ch. 8 s. 5).
  • People on the self-exclusion or involuntary exclusion lists must not receive targeted mailings, telemarketing, player club materials or other targeted promotions (OSW Rules Ch. 8 s. 4(f)(vii)).
  • Advance deposit pari-mutuel advertising must state that minors are not allowed to open or have access to accounts, and the commission must prohibit deceptive advance deposit advertising (W.S. 11-25-201(k)(vi), 11-25-104(e)).
  • The commission publishes the American Gaming Association Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering among its online sports wagering directives; the code itself is an industry code.

Payments

Credit card ban
No
Crypto stance
Permitted
Permitted methods
Debit and credit cards, Online and mobile payment systems (EFT), Digital, crypto and virtual currencies (statutory cash equivalents, W.S. 9-24-101(a)(i)(E)), Prepaid access instruments, Certified and personal cheques, money orders and travellers cheques, Cash-initiated methods approved by the commission
Currency restrictions
Lottery tickets may be sold for cash or debit card only; cheques and credit cards are prohibited (W.S. 9-17-108(a)(ii)).

Enforcement

ISP blocking
Not yet verified
DNS blocking
Not yet verified
Payment blocking
Not yet verified
App store takedowns
Not yet verified
Administrative penalties
Suspension or revocation of online sports wagering permits (OSW Rules Ch. 9); commission fines of up to $10,000 and licence suspensions for pari-mutuel licensees (W.S. 11-25-104(j)); civil penalties of $25,000 for a first and $50,000 for a later offence of accepting online sports wagers without a permit, with violations in the same month counted as one (W.S. 9-24-106).
Criminal penalties
Gambling: misdemeanour, up to six months and $750. Professional gambling: felony, up to three years and $3,000 (W.S. 6-7-102). Skill based amusement game violations: misdemeanour, up to $10,000 and six months per violation (W.S. 11-25-306).
Operator liability
Anyone who knowingly accepts online sports wagers without a commission permit faces the civil penalties in W.S. 9-24-106(a) in addition to criminal liability under W.S. 6-7-102.
Player liability
Engaging in gambling outside the statutory exceptions is a misdemeanour (W.S. 6-7-102(a)).

Market data

Figures on this record are drawn from official regulator data.

Online GGR
$27,248,496.91 as of 31 Dec 2025
Reporting year
2025
Year-on-year growth
19.5%
Licensed operators
6

GGR by vertical

  • Online sports betting: $27,248,496.91 as of 31 Dec 2025

Timeline

  1. 1967

    Wyoming Pari-Mutuel Commission established to regulate live racing

  2. 5 Apr 2021

    Governor signs HB 133, authorising online sports wagering and fantasy contests

  3. 1 Sept 2021

    Online Sports Wagering Act takes effect

  4. 5 May 2022

    Commission approves Barstool and Caesars, bringing online sportsbook operators to six

  5. Feb 2023

    HB 181 adds key personnel licensing and excludes promotional play from taxable revenue

  6. 27 Feb 2025

    Tribal online sports wagering bill (HB 299) fails in the Senate

  7. 3 Mar 2025

    Interactive gaming bill (HB 162) dies in committee

  8. Dec 2025

    Commission joins the idPair National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program

  9. 6 Mar 2026

    Skill based amusement game location limits (SF 46) take effect

  10. 1 Jul 2026

    Local approval for simulcasting sites (SF 45), gambling amendments (SF 44) and money laundering offence (HB 43) take effect

  11. 26 Aug 2026

    Commission policy delegates routine online sports wagering renewals to staff

  12. 15 Sept 2026

    Inaugural meet at Bally's Cheyenne Park moved from October 2026 to 2027

  13. 1 Oct 2026

    Ban on proposition wagers on individual college athletes takes effect

  14. 1 Jul 2027

    Existing simulcasting and historic horse racing sites become subject to local approval

Outlook

The ban on college player propositions takes effect on 1 October 2026. Operator permits run for five years and the first were issued after the act took effect in September 2021, so renewals fall due from late 2026; Policy 038-2026-03 lets staff approve routine ones. Existing off-track simulcasting and historic horse racing sites come under local approval from 1 July 2027. The annual fall meeting on 19 and 20 November 2026 will consider a racing schedule for Bally's Cheyenne Park, whose first meet has moved to 2027. No online casino bill was filed in the 2026 budget session.

Frequently asked questions

Is online sports betting legal in Wyoming?
Yes. Online sports wagering has been legal since 1 September 2021 under W.S. 9-24-101 to 9-24-106, through operators holding a Wyoming Gaming Commission permit. Bettors must be 18 or over and physically in Wyoming, outside Indian lands.
What is the sports betting tax in Wyoming?
10% of online sports wagering revenue, paid monthly. Revenue is wagers less payouts and federal excise tax, and excludes free bets and promotional play. The first $300,000 each fiscal year funds county problem gambling programmes.
How much does a Wyoming sports betting licence cost?
An operator pays a $2,500 application fee and $100,000 for a five-year permit, then $50,000 to renew for five years. Vendors pay $10,000 and $5,000 to renew; key personnel licences cost $250.
Is online casino or poker legal in Wyoming?
No. Neither is authorised, and gambling outside the statutory exceptions is a misdemeanour. A 2025 interactive gaming bill died in committee.
Can you bet on college player props in Wyoming?
Not from 1 October 2026. Commission Order 2026-01 bans proposition wagers on individual college athletes; team-based propositions remain available if approved.

Sources

  1. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  2. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  3. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  4. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  5. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  6. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  7. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  8. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 26 Aug 2026
  9. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 26 Aug 2026
  10. Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  11. Bally's Wyoming and Wyoming Gaming Commission align on 2027 debut of Bally's Cheyenne Park (joint press release)

    Wyoming Gaming Commission

    The release PDF is dated 15 September 2026; the commission news page lists the same release under 8 September 2026.

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 15 Sept 2026
  12. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 5 Apr 2021
  13. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 3 Mar 2025
  14. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026

Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.

This page is industry reference information and not legal advice.

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