Wyoming Downs and 307 Horse Racing, a joint venture between ECL Entertainment, Clairvest, and Wyoming-based WERCS (307 First), on Wednesday announced a $180 million investment in new gaming facilities in Laramie and Uinta counties. The joint venture also includes significant renovations to properties in Sheridan, Gillette, Green River, Casper, Rock Springs, and Cheyenne, and is expected to create about 300 jobs and bring in millions of dollars in out-of-state revenue annually for Wyoming.
“When we build in Wyoming, we build with Wyoming,” Wyoming Downs and 307 Racing President Kyle Ridgeway said in a statement. “Partnering with local contractors and subcontractors helps keep money in communities and supports the small businesses and trades that form the backbone of this great state. This new investment underscores our commitment to helping the Wyoming economy and its residents thrive.”
Leading the expansion is a state-of-the-art, $80 million entertainment and gaming destination on Interstate 25 at Exit 2 in Laramie County. An initial $10 million investment for completing extensive site and structural work has paved the way for the remaining construction by Wyoming-owned general contractor Groathouse Construction and local subcontractors.
The 58,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to open in the spring of 2027. It will offer up to 600 historical horse racing machines, simulcast horse betting, and multiple dining venues. The facility will be anchored by a stadium-style sportsbook with a viewing room featuring, according to a news release, the largest TV wall in Wyoming, to showcase all major sports and events throughout the year. The site also has additional acreage for future entertainment amenities and hotel developments.
The Laramie County location goal is to draw visitors from the Colorado Front Range. By 2029, it is projected to bring in more than $3 million in tax revenue annually, mainly from out-of-state visitors, and create more than 150 local jobs. A career fair will open in the fall.
A counterpart $80 million project is planned for Evanston in Uinta County on 18 newly bought acres just off the first Utah exit on Interstate 80. Construction by local contractors is planned for early 2027. The facility will match the Laramie County project in size, create 100-150 local jobs, and bring millions of dollars in out-of-state revenue to the area.
In addition to the new facilities, Wyoming Downs and 307 Horse Racing is investing millions of dollars to renovate and modernize properties within its portfolio.
Each project will support new jobs in construction, IT and hospitality.
Key projects include:
- Sheridan: A new Lucky 7’s gaming establishment that opened in late 2025, debuting a contemporary facility.
- Gillette: Opening in the spring of 2026, a former sports bar is being remodeled into a new Lucky 7’s location.
- Green River: A new project to convert a vacant movie theater into the new Green River Derby Club is set to open in May.
In addition to the above projects, the company is pursuing substantial enhancements to revitalize its properties in Casper, Rock Springs, and Cheyenne. Since 2024, the joint venture has also invested about $6 million in its Wyoming Downs racetrack, upgrading the grandstands, IT infrastructure, barns, and safety systems.
The joint venture operates Wyoming Downs, Derby Club, and Lucky 7’s gaming parlors across the state, owns the state’s only privately owned horse racetrack in Evanston, and offers live horse racing at Energy Downs in Gillette.
