Wyoming Online Sports Betting is Live After Licenses Awarded to DraftKings, BetMGM
- Wyoming is one of two states in the U.S. to not require tethered online sports betting.
- The Wyoming Gaming Commission awarded its first two online sports betting licenses to DraftKings and BetMGM
- Both operators can go live today
Wyoming online sports betting can officially begin today after the Wyoming Gaming Commission held a special meeting and awarded the state’s first two online sports betting licenses to DraftKings and BetMGM.
The gaming commission approved online sports betting licenses to the sportsbook operators earlier this afternoon. Both DraftKings and BetMGM promos are currently live and accepting sports bets in the state. Online sports betting licenses cost an initial fee of $100,000 for five years while renewal fees cost $50,000.
Wyoming Online Sports Betting is Live
The state has placed a 10% tax on sports betting revenues, of which a portion will be used to combat problem gaming.
“The first three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) of revenue generated under this section is continuously appropriated to the department of health to be distributed to the counties for the purpose of funding county health programs to prevent and treat problematic gambling behavior and the remainder of monies remitted to the commission shall be deposited by the state treasurer into the general fund,” the bill reads.
Wyoming is the 13th state where DraftKings has launched its online sports betting app. Matt Kalish, co-founder and president of DraftKings North America, said legalized sports betting has experienced wide-spread growth in the past three years.
“We are thrilled that Wyoming sports bettors have the opportunity to experience the highly accessible and immersive fan experience along with best in class consumer protections that our product offers millions of skin-in-the-game sports fans,” he said in a statement.
Will Additional Wyoming Sports Betting Licenses Be Awarded?
Additional sports betting licenses may be awarded at the next schedule Wyoming Gaming Commission on Friday, Nov. 5.
Wyoming is the least populated state in the country and will likely not be a big-time player in the sports betting handle race. It’s the 23rd state in the country to begin taking sports bets.
The final sports betting rules for the state were approved in early August. Wyoming is only the second state in the U.S. to not require online sports betting operators to be tethered to an existing casino, joining Tennessee with that unique distinction.
Wyoming’s sports betting bill (HB133) was passed in the Wyoming House after a reconsideration vote on March 10 and sent to the Senate. The Senate approved by bill by a vote of 25-5-1 on March 29 and passed House concurrence on March 30.
Gov. Mark Gordon signed the bill into law on April 5.
Rob covers all regulatory developments in online gambling. He specializes in US sports betting news along with casino regulation news as one of the most trusted sources in the country.
