After two years of trying, legal sports betting in Wyoming has finally been approved by the state legislature and Governor.
Sports betting was signed into law on April 6, 2021. The bill that was signed into law only approves online sportsbooks in WY. Retail sportsbooks are still prohibited, but there will be plenty of online betting platforms to choose from once the market matures.
But, before online sportsbooks can launch, the Wyoming Gaming Commission will need to publish the rules for potential sportsbook operators to follow no later than September 1, 2021. After that, online sports betting operators can apply for a license.
This means legal sports betting in Wyoming could go live during the upcoming 2021-2022 NFL season.
How To Bet On Sports In Wyoming
In order to bet on sports in Wyoming, you’ll have to sign up for an online sportsbook and/or mobile sports betting app that’s regulated by the state.
When signing up you’ll need to provide proof of I.D. as well as your social security number. This is to make sure that you are of the legal age to bet on sports in WY and that the sportsbooks are sending payments to the right people.
You’re also going to need to choose which deposit method you want, send money to your sports betting account, and then you can start putting action on whatever sport your sportsbook provides.
Best Online Wyoming Sportsbooks
The title of best online Wyoming sportsbooks has yet to be determined since no online sportsbooks have launched in the state as of yet.
A minimum of 5 online sportsbooks will need to launch in the state as stated in the new WY sports betting law. But, there is no cap on the total number of online sportsbooks that could call the Cowboy state home.
Sportsbooks expected to launch in Wyoming include
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- BetMGM
- William Hill
- BetRivers
These have been the usual sportsbooks to launch first in states that legalize sports betting. That was the case in Tennessee and Virginia who both launched online sportsbooks before any other types of sports gambling businesses.
Where To Bet On Sports In Wyoming
Technically, you can bet on sports anywhere in the state since the entire WY sports betting market is going to be online.
You could be visiting Yellowstone or the Grand Tetons and bet on a game if you can get service.
This may be disappointing for sports bettors who enjoy the in-person sportsbook experience. But, having online sportsbooks available on mobile devices means you can still visit a sports bar with many TVs and bet while you’re there.
Things To Consider When Betting On Sports In Wyoming
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- The legal age to bet on sports in Wyoming is 18 years old or older. Wyoming is one of only a handful of states to set the age this low and sportsbook will require ID to verify your age.
- Remote registration is allowed in Wyoming. You won’t have to register for an app in person. You can sign up and start betting from anywhere in the state.
- You can use cryptocurrency to fund your sportsbook account. To date, Wyoming is the only state in the nation to legalize this deposit and withdrawal method.
- Betting on college teams located within the state is permitted.
- You are allowed to join as many online sportsbooks as you want. Signing up for online sportsbooks in Wyoming will be free once those sites and apps launch.
- You will have to pay taxes on your winnings. Sports betting winnings are treated just like casino gambling and you will have to report your winnings when you file your taxes if your winnings add up to over $600 for the year.
- The Wyoming Gaming Commission regulates sports betting in the state. If for some reason you encounter a problem with a sportsbook, they would be the people to turn to.
Wyoming Sports Betting Timeline
The path to launching a Wyoming sports betting market has been a relatively long one, but each step of the process played a part in its eventual passing. The process first started in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Right Sports Betting Bill Wrong Time
In early February of 2020, Sen. Ogden Driskill and Rep. Tom Walters introduced the bill WY HB 0225.
The bill sought to legalize online sports betting in Wyoming for anyone 18 years old or older. The bill would have allowed for betting on college sports as well as professional sports both domestic and international.
The bill made it as far as the House Floor but died with a third House vote on February 28, 2020. Surprisingly enough, the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t affect the legislature’s decision on this.
However, more news of legal sports betting in Wyoming happened later in the year in late October.
The Northern Arapaho Tribe announced that they are going to open land-based sportsbooks at their casinos. They announced it on the premise that they don’t need state approval to do so, rather the grounds of its rights with the US Department of the Interior. Wind River Hotel & Casino is set to become the first retail sportsbook in the state once it launches.
2021: First Of It’s Kind Bill Passes Through The Legislature
In late February of 2021, Rep. Tom Walters and six other co-sponsors introduced the bill WY HB 133.
The bill was almost identical to the one introduced just the year before. It would only allow for online sports betting in WY, set the age at 18+, and allowed for betting on all sports. The bill was also the first to specifically allow sports betting with cryptocurrency.
The bill went for a bit of a roller coaster getting through the House as it was also voted down on its third reading in the House. But shockingly enough, the bill was reconsidered the next day and passed. The bill then went to the Senate where it passed comfortably and then to Governor Mark Gordon who signed it into law.
Official rules will have to be published by the Wyoming Gaming Commission by September 1. Once that hurdle is cleared, online sportsbooks can send in their application. After that, the Commission will have to approve them and then they begin to accept sports bets in WY.
This means legal sports betting sites should launch in the state by late 2021 or early 2022.