- On Tuesday, Wyoming’s State House voted down a sports betting bill that was expected to pass.
- On Wednesday, they revived the bill, and it did pass in a close 32-28 vote.
- The bill now goes to the State Senate, and could bring sports betting within a matter of months.
Cheyenne, Wyo. - Wyoming’s sports betting bill has returned from the dead, and carries with it a unique form of legal sports betting.
After being voted down on Tuesday, it seems as though Wyoming’s House members reconsidered their votes, and revived the bill on Wednesday, passing it with a 32-28 vote.
This revived bill passed the House, and now needs approval from the Wyoming State Senate before moving to the desk of Governor Mark Gordon.
What’s In The Bill?
The bill, HB 0133, would legalize sports betting in the state of Wyoming, although only via online books.
This setup would allow for the online sportsbooks in the state of Wyoming to offer comparable odds and amenities to offshore sportsbooks.
The bill allows for wagering on all sports - college and pro - and allows for payment with checks, credit cards, and - importantly - cryptocurrencies.
Most USA online gambling websites that are approved by the state do not allow cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin to be used as a method of deposit.
This means that Bitcoin sportsbooks tend to be located offshore, and Wyoming might be able to cut into that market share.
The bill also looks to approve sports betting on a very short time frame, as seen in the excerpt below:
Section 4.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2021.
(b) Sections 3 and 4 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.
This means that Wyoming’s sports bettors could have access to mobile sports betting before the 2021 NFL season.
What’s Next For The Bill?
The next step for the bill is to go to the Wyoming State Senate, where Senators will amend and modify the bill to their liking. Should it pass the Senate, it will hit the desk of Governor Mark Gordon.
Currently, the Northern Arapaho Tribe of native Americans is looking to operate its own sports betting centers.
This movement by the tribe could be a part of why the bill has such a quick turnaround time built in - the state wants to capture the market as soon as possible.
Wyoming’s legislative session will adjourn on April 2, 2021, meaning that there are about three weeks for this bill to make it out alive.
Sports bettors in WY will be waiting with bated breath.