Legal sports betting in Wyoming became a reality with the passing of bill HB133 in April 2020 and officially launched on September 1, 2021.
This article will show you all you need to know about legal sports betting in Wyoming from the legal situation and taxes to the online sportsbooks available and what you can and cannot bet on. We will show you where you can make legal sports wagers in the Cowboy State and what the future holds for sports betting in the state.
All legal sports betting options in Wyoming
The legal situation on Wyoming sports betting
In April of 2020 Governor Mike Gordon signed bill HB133 into law legalizing Wyoming online sports betting. The two sportsbooks that had a license, BetMGM and DraftKings, pushed to have the launch by the beginning of the 2021 NFL season and that happened, as the first day of September 2021 saw the first legal sports bet in the Cowboy State. The Wyoming Gaming Commission (WGC) is the body that regulates sports betting in the state..
Online sports betting is the only way to bet on sports in Wyoming. There are no retail sportsbooks but that may change in the not-too-distant future.
🛑 What you can’t bet on from online sportsbooks in Wyoming
Unlike most other states that have legal sports betting there are almost no restrictions in what you can bet on in Wyoming. You can bet on college sports and bet on in-state teams, such as the University of Wyoming, as well as make in-state teams prop bets and bet on any collegiate game held in the state. The only restriction is you cannot bet on high school sports but the online sportsbooks do not offer odds for that anyway.
🟢 What you can bet on from online sportsbooks in Wyoming
- NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball, NCAA Baseball
- Major Domestic Leagues, including NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, MLB, MMA, UFC, etc.
- Major International Leagues, including England Premier League, Italy Serie A, Spain La Liga, etc.
- Major sports events, including NBA playoffs and finals, Stanley Cup, Super Bowl, World Series, World Cup, The Masters, Olympics, etc.
- Most betting types, including spreads, moneylines, totals (over/under), parlays, futures, proposition bets, and live bets.
- Entertainment, such as American Idol, Emmy’s, Oscars, etc.
- Politics, such as the U.S. presidential election.
What is the tax situation in Wyoming
When online sports betting in Wyoming was legalized the state legislature had 1% tax on all sports bets until $300,000 was raised. When that happened the money was given to the Wyoming Department of Health to help fight gambling addictions and other problem gambling issues. There is now a 10% tax on sports betting revenue and that is on the low side with the state trying to get more operators to launch their online sportsbooks. In comparison New York has a 51% tax on sports betting.
Currently it costs operators that have been approved for a Wyoming sports betting license $100,000 up-front and then $50,000 per year.
All the available sportsbooks in Wyoming
- BetMGM
- DraftKings
- Fan Duel
PointsBet was granted a license on February 3, 2022 but the sportsbook has not yet launched.
Forecasts about the future of online gambling in Wyoming
While the forecast is bright for sports betting in Wyoming the tax coffers are not huge for the state considering the low-end 10% tax on sports betting revenue. On top of that Wyoming is one of the least populous states in the U.S. From the start of legal sports betting until April of 2022 there was nearly $76 million bet in Wyoming. From the September 1, 2021 launch date until the end of April 2022 the state has collected just over $220,000 in taxes from sports betting.
DraftKings has been the most popular sportsbook so far from Wyoming bettors. The $76 million mentioned above brought $2.2 million in gross revenue with $1.8 million for DraftKings and a little over $408,000 for BetMGM. FanDuel is hoping to take a chunk of that, as they recently launched.
There are currently three sportsbooks live in Wyoming in DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. Points Bet has been granted a license but has not launched as of early May 2022 and it is expected that Caesars and Barstool Sports will be granted licenses soon. If that were to happen it would bring the number of operators to six in the state and the Wyoming Gaming Commission is in the hopes of having 10 operators available.
Timeline of main events in Wyoming
- March 30, 2022
According to a Wyoming Pari-Mutual Commission spokesperson Barstool Sports and Caesars are awaiting licensing approval. - March 10, 2022
FanDuel sportsbook launches - February 3, 2022
Points Bet granted sportsbook license - September 1, 2021
Sports betting launches in Wyoming - April 2020
Gov Mark Gordon signs bill HB133 into law paving the way for legal sports betting online. - March 2020
The Wyoming House of Representatives passes HB133 where it is sent to the state senate and passes by a vote of 24-5. - February 2020
Bill H225 to legalize sports betting in Wyoming did not pass by a vote of 32-27. - May 2018
The Supreme Court overturns Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which made sports betting legal on a state-by-state basis.
How do I start betting online in Wyoming
Starting to bet online in Wyoming is a quick and easy process and is the same as doing so in any other state that has legal online sports betting. First of all, you will need to sign up and create an account at one of the licensed online sportsbooks in Wyoming. You have to be 18 years of age and while you do not need to be a resident of Wyoming you must be physically located in the state to make wagers.
Once you have an account you will have to go through a verification process. You will have to give the sportsbook information such as:
- Full name
- Birthday
- Social Security Number
- Personal verification information
Once you have gone through the verification process you can make a deposit and you are ready to wager.
FAQ
The Wyoming Gaming Commission is the body that regulates sports betting in the state.
Yes. The odds will be the same as in other states, as the online sportsbooks that are available in Wyoming are also in other states as well. This means that the odds will be the same for various books available in multiple states, including Wyoming, where sports betting is legal.
A couple of the big differences are betting restrictions and the gambling age. Unlike other states there are nearly no online sports betting restrictions in the Cowboy State. In Wyoming you can bet on almost anything including in-state college games, any collegiate game held in Wyoming, and political and entertainment bets. This is often not the case in other states. Also, most states have a legal gambling age of 21 while in Wyoming the age is 18.
Yes, Sports betting was legalized in Wyoming with the passing of the bill HB133 in April 2020 and went live on September 1, 2020.
You must be 18 years old to gamble on sports in Wyoming.
Any of the state licensed sportsbooks. As of May 2022 the online sportsbooks available in Wyoming are BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings. Points Bet has been granted a license and is expected to launch soon and Caesars and Barstool Sports are likely to be granted licenses to operate soon.
No. You do not need to be a Wyoming resident to wager at Wyoming licensed bookies but you must be within the state’s borders to place a bet.
Yes. You can access your Wyoming sportsbook account in other states and check out odds and even make deposits and withdrawals. However, again, you have to be in the state to make bets.