Legal Wyoming Gambling - Wyoming Betting Laws
Navigating the complex legal codes and statutes can be perplexing for those who are not familiar with gambling law. Like all US states, Wyoming has its own specific rules and regulations that determine what you can and cannot do when it comes to gambling. We are here to set the record straight on all things related Wyoming gambling laws. It is important that you understand the ins and outs of Wyoming gambling law before you roll the dice. This page will help you to avoid any legal quandaries you may run into.
We will start with the legality of gambling in Wyoming and then move on to specific sports betting, casino, poker, and pari-mutuel betting laws. We will go over the legal gambling age in Wyoming, and tell you exactly where residents can gamble in the state. Next, we will give you all the relevant information on the legality of online gambling, and tell you all about one of our favorite legal betting sites for Wyoming residents. By the time you have finished reading this page, you will have all the necessary knowledge to gamble safely and legally in the Equality State.
Legality of Gambling in Wyoming: Is It Safe?
Unfortunately, Wyoming is one of the more restrictive states when it comes to gambling. In a nutshell, the only forms of gambling that are permitted in the Cowboy State are certain types of pari-mutuel betting, such as horse and dog racing. But do not fret, dear reader. Wyoming has several full-fledged Indian casinos that do not have to abide by Wyoming state law. We will tell you more about these casinos later on. For now, though, just know that they exist and you can go to them if you want to. These casinos function on Native American reservations and are regulated on the federal level and subject to the provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Let us now look at some specific statutes that regulate gambling in Wyoming. Statue 6-7-102 states that those who engage in unregulated gambling could be slapped with a misdemeanor with consequences including as much as six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $750. This law is fairly straightforward and leaves little room for argument. However, this law does not apply to federally regulated Indian casinos, which have been given carte blanche to operate without impingement.
Statute 6-7-103 specifies that all gambling related materials and property can be seized at any time if it is deemed that illicit gaming is taking place. Again, this statute leaves little wiggle room. A “gambling device” is any device or paraphernalia that can be used to gamble between persons or that involves the use of a machine. Under this statute, Wyoming citizens cannot privately own a slot machine or any other type of gambling device. However, this statute does not apply to the aforementioned Indian casinos.
The types of gambling that are permitted under Wyoming state law are pari-mutuel betting on horse and dog racing, state lottery, and charitable bingo events. Types of lottery games that are permitted include Powerball and Mega Millions. When it comes to all other types of gambling, one of your best options is to go to one of the few Indian casinos located in Wyoming. If you go to one of these establishments, you can play poker and all types of casino games that are otherwise prohibited under state law.
Are Wyoming Gambling Sites Legal?
Wyoming state law says absolutely nothing about online gambling, which is primarily regulated on the federal level. As the law stands, there is nothing in it to prevent residents from joining an online gambling site. However, the only legal sites that are based inside the United States are in Nevada and Delaware, and you have to be a resident of either of those states to use these sites. Luckily, Wyoming residents can join one of the many overseas betting sites that are not bound by United States law. Since the existing federal laws only prevent online gambling sites from functioning within US boundaries and do not have any effect on individuals, these offshore sites are legal and legit.
The Wyoming gambling laws that regulate online gambling only affect residents in one way: they make it so players have to use one of the many overseas sites available to US residents in order to be legal. These sites are not affected by federal online gambling laws such as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), except in very small ways. For example, the UIGEA limits the ways you can transfer money to and from an online gambling site. Otherwise, joining one of these sites is safe, legal, and legit.
Gambling Laws + Statutes That Affect Wyoming Residents
Wyoming Sports Betting Laws
Wyoming state law says absolutely nothing whatsoever about the legality of sportsbooks, although bookmaking is regulated on the federal level. According to Wyoming state statutes, the only type of sports betting that is legal is pari-mutuel betting on horse racing and other similar events. You will not find any sportsbooks in Wyoming that allow you to bet on games such as football, baseball, basketball, etc. In fact, most sports betting is so restricted that you will not find sportsbooks even in Indian casinos. However, there are legal ways to bet on sports, such as online casinos that allow you to bet on every type of game that you can imagine. These legal sites function outside of the United States, so they are not beholden to the same laws that regulate sports betting inside the country.
Wyoming Casino Laws
Wyoming state law is explicit when it comes to casino gambling. Buildings, structures, boats, or other establishments used for gambling purposes are not permitted. However, the law does not prohibit casinos on Indian Reservations or tribal lands. The reason for this is that Indian casinos are not state-regulated, and therefore out of reach of Wyoming state law.
As it stands, there are several Native American casinos that you can go to. These establishments offer poker tournaments and all different kinds of casino games. You can also legally join an online casino that functions outside of the US. Since these betting sites are based overseas, federal and Wyoming gambling laws do not affect them in any way, and there is no law on the books that says you cannot join one of these sites.
Wyoming Poker Laws
Poker is permitted in certain instances in the state of Wyoming. Although state law prohibits poker games in state-regulated establishments, you can play poker at one of the Indian casinos. The federal government regulates these establishments, and any Wyoming citizen can go to one of these Native American casinos to play poker. However, only a few of these casinos exist in Wyoming, which means you have to go out of your way to find one.
Home Games: You can legally play poker at home, although playing for money is not allowed. Of course, it is nearly impossible to regulate poker games between private individuals, so this tenet of the law is rather arbitrary. However, to be in full compliance with the law, we recommend going to one of the legal establishments on tribal land to play poker.
Wyoming Poker Laws
Poker is permitted in certain instances in the state of Wyoming. Although state law prohibits poker games in state-regulated establishments, you can play poker at one of the Indian casinos. The federal government regulates these establishments, and any Wyoming citizen can go to one of these Native American casinos to play poker. However, only a few of these casinos exist in Wyoming, which means you have to go out of your way to find one.
Home Games: You can legally play poker at home, although playing for money is not allowed. Of course, it is nearly impossible to regulate poker games between private individuals, so this tenet of the law is rather arbitrary. However, to be in full compliance with the law, we recommend going to one of the legal establishments on tribal land to play poker.
Wyoming Pari-Mutuel Wagering
Pari-mutuel betting is one of the few types of gambling that is legally permitted in the state of Wyoming. This includes licensed dog and horse racing. In fact, there is even a pari-mutuel commission in Wyoming whose purpose is to “improve the quality and integrity of Wyoming pari-mutuel events.” The commission issues permits to certain facilities to host pari-mutuel events. The state taxes the winnings on horse and dog racing, taking a cut of about 15 to 20 percent.
Another reason why pari-mutuel betting is legal is that it is deemed more skill-based than other types of gambling. Across the board, US law looks more favorably upon skill-based games as opposed to chance-based games. Pari-mutuel betting does not offer the same opportunities to “get rich quick” as, say, slot machines or lotteries. In general, it is much easier for states to regulate pari-mutuel gambling as opposed to poker or casino games.
Wyoming Gambling Age: How Old Do I need To Be To Play?
Although Wyoming gambling laws are more restrictive than those of some other states, the legal betting age in the Cowboy State is actually rather low. To participate in any type of gambling, you have to be at least 18 years old. Other states set the minimum gambling age as high as 21, so Wyoming residents are lucky in this regard. However, it is important that you make sure you are old enough to legally gamble in the state of Wyoming, as the penalties can be harsh. Take our word for it, you do not want to get caught engaging in illegal underage gambling.
There are all sorts of punishments you could face if you are caught gambling and are underage. According to statute 11-25-109, “no person under the age of eighteen (18) years shall place or be allowed to place a bet.” The law is crystal clear on this. You could face misdemeanor charges and be fined, or you could have your driver’s license revoked or even face jail time. This why it is of the utmost importance that you abide by Wyoming state law. There should be no confusion about the legal gambling age, because, unlike some states, the age limit does not change based on the specific type of gambling.
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General |
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| 18 |
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Lottery |
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| 18 |
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Casinos |
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| 18 |
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Poker |
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| 18 |
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Pari-Mutuel |
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| 18 |
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Bingo |
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| 18 |
Where to Legally Gamble in Wyoming
On-Land:
There are a number of places that exist for Wyoming residents to legally gamble. Land-based casinos on Indian Territory are welcome to all Wyoming residents who are at least 18 years old. These casinos include the Wind River casino in the town of Riverton, the Little Wind casino in the city of Ethete, and the Shoshone Rose casino in Fort Washakie. These casinos offer all of the most popular games like blackjack, keno, roulette, etc.
If you want to bet on the horses, you can go to Wyoming Downs, one of Wyoming’s premier racetracks. It is one of the absolute best places for pari-mutuel wagering in the state. You can also play the state lottery and bingo games.
If you want to participate in legal sports betting, there are many online betting sites you can go to that offer all your favorite sports and games, including football, baseball, basketball, and much more. As you can see, there are plenty of legal gambling opportunities in Wyoming if you look hard enough.
Online/Web-Based:
If you do not feel like making that trip to Riverton or Fort Washakie, you can always just stay home and use a legal online gambling site. These sites are safe and legitimate because they function lawfully outside of the United States. Most of these sites accept players from Wyoming. Each of the sites we recommend is licensed and legal, and they all offer the best in poker, casino games, sports betting and much, much more.
We have spent quite a lot of time searching for the best legal online gambling sites for Wyoming residents, and we have hit pay dirt. There is one site in particular that we are very fond of. It offers some terrific signup bonus options, plus great customer service and cool special features. We can say with the utmost confidence that if you take our recommendation and check out this splendid online gambling site, you will be far from disappointed.
Best Legal Gambling Site For Wyoming Residents
Bovada Sportsbook
#1 Site For Casino Games, Poker & Sports/Horse Betting
Our favorite online gambling site is none other than Bovada. It is one of the finest options for internet gambling, and all Wyoming residents 18 years and older are welcome to join. Millions of Americans have signed up and taken advantage of Bovada’s great deals and awesome features. Whether you are passionate about sports betting, poker, casino games, or horse betting, Bovada has your ticket to the gravy train!
If sports betting is your thing, Bovada is the place to go. You can bet on all your favorite games, everything from American pastimes like football and baseball to international sports like rugby and cricket. Heck, you can even bet on entertainment and politics if that’s what you’re into. You can try out a dozen different wager types, including parlays, teasers, and round robins.
Bovada also offers a huge array of casino games. You will find all of the classics here: Blackjack, roulette, keno, and every variety of slot games that you can imagine. You can get valuable bonuses on all your favorite games, including the $3,000 Casino Welcome Bonus, Blackjack Weekends, and Table Mania Tuesdays. No other online gambling site gives you as many great opportunities to save money as you cash in!
Those of you who love to play poker will have your mind blown when you step into one of Bovada’s action-packed poker rooms. When you join Bovada, you will have access to the hottest tournaments, including the Nightly Majors and Turbo Tournaments. Poker bonuses include the Bad Beat Bonus, the Royal Flush Bonus, and Weekly Freerolls.
Besides sports betting, casino gaming, and poker, Bovada offers the very tops in horse racing. As a matter of fact, you can get started right away with the $250 Welcome Bonus that gives you a full fifty percent off on your first deposit. But that’s just for starters. Once you have signed up with Bovada, you will have access to even more great rewards, including weekly rebates. In addition, Bovada has a whole slew of new and improved features, including an enhanced bet slip, an upgraded track list, and much, much more!
It is plain to see that Bovada offers its members the best of everything when it comes to online gambling. This includes an exhaustive list of deposit and payout methods, fun-packed features like live and mobile betting, and the friendliest and most helpful customer service around. Any Wyoming resident can register provided they are at least eighteen years of age. So don’t wait around any longer. Sign up today and get the money ball rolling at Bovada!
Other Recommended Wyoming Betting Sites
Need More Help? Time To Call In The Pros!
Everything that we have covered on this page has been thoroughly researched and is as accurate as possible. We have striven to provide you with the most current and up-to-date information on Wyoming gambling laws. That being said, you may wish to learn more about Wyoming gambling laws. If you have any questions, doubts, or uncertainties, our advice is to check the Wyoming State Code regarding gambling. We want to make sure that whatever you do, you are doing it in a safe and legal manner. Therefore, we encourage you to do some more research on the topics we have covered on this page.