In Wyoming, most forms of gambling are still illegal.
However, residents still have the following options for gambling in the Equality State:
- Pari-mutuel betting
- Tribal casinos
- Charitable bingo and raffles
- State lottery
Wyoming has never been a state in favor of gambling and only recently started legalizing casino gambling and the lottery.
Online gambling is strictly prohibited in WY, which isn’t expected to change any time soon.
We take a closer look at gambling in Wyoming in our guide below.
Online Casinos in Wyoming
While gambling at the casino or race track is legal in Wyoming, there are still laws prohibiting online casinos in the state. Wyoming isn’t very big at gambling, so it will be a long time before we see any attempt by the government to legalize it online.
The state has a very small population that iGaming probably wouldn’t survive long in, so it’s not exactly a hot spot for operators.
Interestingly enough, if you want to play offshore on an online poker site, you would not face any legal problems in Wyoming.
Operators will and could have to pay big fines as well as potentially face other charges.
Land-Based Casinos in Wyoming
All casinos in Wyoming are operated by Indian Tribes.
Even though it is the capital and largest city in the state, there are no casinos in Cheyenne, Wyoming. All Wyoming casinos are located on the Wind River Indian Reservation near the center of the state.
Two Wyoming casinos, Wind River and Shoshone Rose, also offer some card-based table games. These are the only two casinos in Wyoming that also have a hotel.
On top of offering card games, the Wind River Hotel & Casino in Riverton, WY is the largest casino in the state.
There are no casinos in Casper, Wyoming. However, all 4 of the casinos in Wyoming are located roughly 130 miles to the West of Casper.
The gaming machines at Wyoming casinos don’t pay out in cash. Instead, they print out a receipt which must be cashed by a floor attendant or taken to the cashier’s cage. You can also make bets via a cashless system whereby you get a “smart” card and deposit money to that card’s account. The machines will then deducts losses from, or credit wins to your account.
No public information is available regarding the payback percentages at casinos in Wyoming.
Types of Casinos in Wyoming
Wyoming has four tribal casinos and two-horse race tracks.
Residents have the option to play slots, table games, and video poker, but not every casino offers them all.
Indian Casinos
The first tribal casino started operating in WY in 2005 after the Northern Arapaho Tribe fought a lengthy legal battle with the state.
After the state agreed to allow the tribe to build a casino on their own land, more tribes shortly followed.
The tribal casinos in WY are broken down by Class and offer different types of games.
Some of these Wyoming casinos offer Class II bingo-type gaming machines, while some others offer traditional Class III slot machines.
Class II gambling consists of electronic gaming machines which look like slot machines, but are actually games of bingo and the spinning video reels are for “entertainment purposes only.”
Class III gaming machines operate in the same manner as the slot machines you would find in states such as Nevada and New Jersey.
Pari-mutuel Betting
Wyoming has legalized pari-mutuel betting at two tracks in the state; Wyoming Downs and Sweetwater Downs. Residents can wager on the horses in past and present races.
Horse racing is not very popular in WY with races only being held a few times a year.
All of the tracks had shut down by 2010 due to no one showing up, but came back to life in 2014.
List Of Land-Based Casinos In Wyoming
789 Casino
In 1991, 789 SmokeShop and Casino was the first legalized gaming establishment in Wyoming with a bingo hall being at the cornerstone.
- Address: 10369 HWY-789, Riverton, WY 82501
- Phone: (307) 857-9451
- Website: http://www.789smokeshopcasino.com/
Little Wind Casino
Featuring the same slot machines you will find in Las Vegas, players looking for that next big win don’t have to look any further than Little Wind Casino. Located in the heart of the Wind River Indian Reservation in Ethete, Wyo. Little Wind is home to over 160 slot machines
- Address: 800 Blue Sky Hwy, Ethete, WY 82520
- Phone: 307-438-7000
- Website: http://www.littlewindcasino.com/
Shoshone Rose Casino
The Shoshone Rose Casino & Hotel offers exclusive Lander, Wyoming hotel accommodations featuring an on-site casino, pool, fire pits & more.
- Address: 5690 US-287, Lander, WY 82520
- Phone: 307-206-7000
- Website: https://shoshonerose.com/
Wind River Hotel and Casino
Wind River Hotel & Casino is the premier Wyoming casino, the largest in the state with the biggest collection of Vegas style games.
- Address: 180 Red, Wolf Creek Dr, Riverton, WY 82501
- Phone: 307-855-2600
- Website: https://windriverhotelcasino.com/
Wyoming Land-Based Casinos Map
You can easily see all casino locations by using our Wyoming casinos map. To zoom in, just click the + (plus) sign in the lower right corner of the map, or to zoom out, just click the – (minus) sign in the same area.
To move the map of casinos in Wyoming, click and hold down either of your mouse buttons. Then use the hand icon to drag the map in whichever direction you desire.
Each of the red icons on the map is a casino location. Just click on any red icon to see the name of the casino at that location. If you want more information on that casino, simply click again on the casino’s name and it will direct you to another page with detailed information on that particular casino, including address, phone number, toll-free phone number, room rates, casino size, dining information, games offered, availability of discounts for seniors, any special features, and a direct link to that casino’s website.
History Of Gambling In Wyoming
Unlike the majority of states in the US, gambling has only recently begun in WY.
In the early 1900s, all forms of gambling in the state were considered illegal. It wasn’t until almost a century later that that changed.
In the late 1980s, the Indian Gaming Regulation Act was approved. Tribes wanted to build casinos on their land as they believed it was now in their right to.
The state continuously shut down any efforts made by the Indian groups until eventually, one tribe took the state to court.
After a 10 year legal battle, in 2005, the state finally granted the Northern Arapaho Tribe the right to build a casino and operate it on their own land.
When the second tribe, the Eastern Shoshone, wanted to build, the state brought out compacts for everyone to sign.
Now, there are four Indian casinos in WY and no plans for any more in the near future.
Wyoming Gambling Laws and Regulatory Organizations
Gambling is very strictly regulated in Wyoming. Anyone who might be caught participating in illegal gambling operations is subject to face fines as well as potential prison time.
Residents who are at least 18 years old are allowed to participate in the lottery and charitable bingo games. You need to be at least 21 years of age to casino gamble.
Wyoming Gaming Commission
The Wyoming Gaming Commission is responsible for regulating most forms of gambling, including pari-mutuel betting, in the state.
The WGC approves licenses and applications for those looking to operate in WY and make sure those already in business are complying with the gambling laws set in place.
You can visit the WGC site by clicking here.
Gambling in Wyoming Today
Unfortunately, online gambling isn’t going to be available in WY any time soon.
But, could retail gambling be seeing an expansion in the state? It’s still unclear. For now, residents have the horse tracks and a few tribal casinos at their disposal.
Useful Resources
- Gaming regulation in Wyoming is almost certainly coming. What it will look like is unclear.
- Wyoming to take look at regulated gambling in 2020 legislative session
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