Wyoming Senate pushes gaming oversight committee forward with broad support
The Wyoming Senate delivered one of the most decisive votes of the session this week, approving Senate File 0111 on third reading Tuesday by a 30-1 margin.
With that vote, the bill now heads to the House of Representatives.
Formally titled “An Act relating to the legislature; creating the select committee on gaming; providing for the appointment of members; specifying duties; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date,” the measure would establish a permanent select committee on gaming within the Wyoming Legislature. Supporters say the panel would give lawmakers a dedicated forum to monitor gambling activity, study regulatory trends and recommend policy updates as the industry continues to expand.
The bill outlines how members would be appointed and directs the committee to take on continuing oversight responsibilities. Lawmakers expect the details of its workload to take shape once appointments are made and meetings begin.
To cover startup costs, the legislation sets aside about $34,000 from the state’s general fund. The money would go to the Legislative Service Office to pay for member salary, mileage, per diem and other authorized expenses through June 30, 2028.
Unlike many bills that phase in over time, SF0111 would take effect as soon as it completes the required steps to become law.
Clarifying what counts as illegal gambling in Wyoming amid gaming oversight committee bill
The push for closer oversight comes as lawmakers grapple with how Wyoming defines and polices gambling activity.
During a February 13 meeting of the Senate Revenue Committee, Sen. John Kolb, R-Rock Springs, said the legislation followed months of work aimed at addressing for-profit gaming operations that he believes are slipping through gaps in state law.
“[The] bill has been worked [on] all summer. It was to deal with the issue we have in the state right now with gaming activities that are going on and they’re for profit.”
Kolb said the concern centers on businesses, such as bars or other establishments, running games and taking a cut of the proceeds. He stressed that the proposal is not aimed at casual card games among family or friends, but at situations where gambling becomes part of a commercial enterprise.
“It was meant to capture the idea that if you’re doing this for money in a business operation that it’s illegal in the state of Wyoming,” he said.
According to Kolb, prosecutors have struggled to pursue cases because current law leaves room for operators to argue that participants are simply “friends” gathering socially. That ambiguity, he said, has limited enforcement.
“And so this is a clarification and attempt to tighten up the definition so when they find a situation, and I can assure you they found many of these, that they can take action upon it.”
He pointed to what he described as multiple operations discovered along a single street in Evanston that authorities believed were violating state statutes.
The senator acknowledged that educating the public about what qualifies as illegal gambling remains part of the challenge. Still, he said the bill is designed to give prosecutors clearer authority when they encounter profit-driven gaming setups.
Wider debate over gaming policy
The creation of a select committee comes as lawmakers also weigh changes to how gaming is taxed and regulated.
Recent reporting by ReadWrite detailed proposals to increase Wyoming’s tax rates on online sports betting and other gaming activities. Supporters of higher rates argue the state’s relatively low tax structure leaves potential revenue untapped. Opponents counter that sharp increases could discourage operators and slow industry growth in what remains a relatively young market.
Supporters of SF0111 argue that a standing legislative committee would provide continuity and institutional knowledge as debates over taxation, enforcement and potential expansion continue.
With the bill now in the House, representatives will take up committee hearings and floor debate in the coming weeks.
Featured image: Screenshot via Wyoming Legislature on YouTube
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