Wyoming Lawmakers are discussing a new bill that has the potential to legalize online and mobile sports wagering in the US state by 2021.
Sponsored by Representative Tom Walters and Senator Ogden Driskill, House Bill 0225 was introduced in the Wyoming House of Representatives on February 12.
The plan is to have licensed sportsbooks opened in Wyoming by January 1, 2021. Players aged 18 or over would be able to place legal bets on sports inside Wyoming.
Successful applicants would have to pay an initial license fee of $20,000. These permits would be valid for a period of 12 months, after which license-holders would face an annual renewal fee of $10,000.
Licensees would be subject to a 16% tax rate on monthly online sports wagering revenue. This would be payable no later than the fifth day of each month, with the tax collected to be deposited in the general fund.
Wagers covered by the bill include single-game bets, teaser bets, parlays, over-under, Moneyline, pools, exchange wagering, in‑game wagering, in‑play bets, proposition bets and straight bets.
Operators found to be offering online sports wagering in Wyoming without the relevant license would face a civil penalty of $5,000 on the first offense. For the second or subsequent offense, operators would be handed a civil penalty of $10,000.
At present, Wyoming only permits online horse and greyhound racing bets, as well as fantasy sports contests.
There is also a push in Wyoming to create a dedicated gaming commission.
This body would be in charge of all types of oversight and regulatory rules, making sure that they are enforced. As part of this legislation, the currently active Pari-Mutuel Commission would be expanded to allow for other gambling activities.
This call follows a state task force exploring the merits of having an expanded state gaming regulation body in place. Counties in the state would opt-in to the oversight capabilities of the gaming commission rather than it being a mandatory body for every county in Wyoming.
