Wyoming: A change in local control on gambling, potential halt on new locations

Tuesday, August 12, 2025 8:13 PM
Photo:  Welcome to Wyoming flickr photo by Snap Man shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC) license
  • Noah Zahn, Wyoming Tribune Eagle

The Wyoming Legislature’s Select Committee on Gaming continued discussions on Friday of granting more local authority in allowing new gambling locations.

This time, however, a conversation arose of approaching the matter differently, by maintaining the status quo of authority through the Wyoming Gaming Commission to issue permits, instead of counties or municipalities, and instead approaching local control through zoning rules.

Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Cheyenne, put forth an amendment to the bill draft that would cut the section granting local authority for issuing simulcasting permits.

Johnson proposed that local authorities could deter businesses, if they choose, through zoning or land-use regulation changes.