Wyoming Online Sports Betting is Live After Licenses Awarded to DraftKings, BetMGM – Sports Betting Dime

A Wyoming fan showing her support for head coach Craig Bohl celebrates after a touchdown against Missouri in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in Laramie, Wyo. (AP Photo/Michael Smith)

Wyoming online sports betting can officially begin today after the Wyoming Gaming Commission held a special meeting and awarded the states 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 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.

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.

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. Its 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.

Wyomings 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.

Gambling Regulatory Writer and Editor

Covering regulatory developments in online gambling. Editing/writing/creating a newsletter for readers across all formats.

Gambling

Covering regulatory developments in online gambling. Editing/writing/creating a newsletter for readers across all formats.

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Wyoming Online Sports Betting is Live After Licenses Awarded to DraftKings, BetMGM - Sports Betting Dime