Cheyenne, October 13, 2026. Wyoming lawmakers unanimously voted 6-0 to advance legislation that would explicitly prohibit online sweepstakes casinos and classify their operation as a felony. The decision was made by the Select Committee on Gaming during its October 5–6 meetings in Rock Springs.
The six-member committee is co-chaired by Senator John Kolb and Representative Jayme Lien, alongside Senators Barry Crago and Troy McKeown and Representatives Steve Johnson and Joe Webb.
Jayme Lien
Draft 27LSO-0098, prepared for the 2027 legislative session, would amend Wyoming Statute 6-7-101 to include sweepstakes casino operations within the definition of professional gambling. Under W.S. 6-7-102, violations could carry up to three years in prison, a US$3,000 fine, or both.
The proposed ban would also cover providers knowingly supplying payment processing, geolocation, servers, software, gaming content, data, or advertising to prohibited platforms. Individuals participating solely as players would be excluded from this new felony category. The legislation addresses virtual currencies, promotional gaming systems, and dual-currency models involving redeemable prizes, while preserving exceptions for legally authorized promotional activities.
Nicholas Larramendy
Nicholas Larramendy, Executive Director of the Wyoming Gaming Commission, supported the proposal to clarify enforcement responsibilities between his agency and the state's Consumer Protection and Antitrust Unit. During legislative discussions, Affie Ellis, a former state senator representing Bally's Corporation, outlined operational distinctions between conventional online casinos and promotional platforms.
Barry Crago
Bill Gantz, an attorney representing VGW, challenged the proposal's broad wording, warning that it could affect legitimate commercial sweepstakes. The debate comes as Wyoming recorded approximately US$2.7 billion in legal gambling wagers during 2025, with betting volume potentially exceeding US$3 billion in 2026, according to Larramendy.
The committee advanced the prohibition proposal rather than the alternative regulatory draft 27LSO-0200, referring the measure to the Management Council. An earlier draft proposed an effective date of July 1, 2027, subject to legislative approval. Wyoming already permits online sports betting but prohibits conventional online casinos.
