There are a number of federal and state laws to consider before venturing off to place a bet in Wyoming. Luckily, these laws do nothing to hinder the simple act of placing such a bet but they do plenty to those operators who facilitate them. Whether it is in a land-based facility sanctioned by the government or over the internet with a legal gambling site that accepts Wyoming players, we cover the legality of gambling Wyoming. While it may seem intimidating at first, the laws are lax in the Cowboy State and we hope to help anyone in the region understand Wyoming gambling laws so they may rest assured that they are within the realm of law while seeking fortune.
While the federal policies are clear in targeting the business of gambling, there is much room left for the State of Wyoming to formulate its own regulations on gambling. The Cowboy State follows closely with the national framework in place as once again, the business of gambling is the primary target of state legislation, which we will cover the more important aspects of below.
6-7-101(III) - This provides a clear definition of “gambling,” but the notable element is “no control” in the passage. This may allow for games of skill to be exempt from the definition.
6-7-101(VIII) - This is a very important passage as it differentiates the ‘business’ of gambling from gambling itself. This follows federal legislative measures in only targeting illicit operators. The constitution cites Professional Gambling’s penalty as, “A person who engages in professional gambling commits a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years, a fine of not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000.00), or both.”
6-7-101(E) - This is an important clause for all those who like to play a home poker game or make a bet among friends and family. It is legal and not considered gambling.
6-7-101(D) - Indeed, the State of Wyoming makes plenty of allowances for citizens to gamble lawfully. If gambling outside of these exceptions in a land-based environment under state jurisdiction, the penalty for gambling is “a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both.
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Wire Act – A few important laws are on the books at the national level and they affect gambling in general all across the entire nation. The Federal Wire Act was the first major piece of legislation that came to being in 1961 to target organized crime and corruption. This law bans interstate wire transmissions of gambling information to target the operators of gambling schemes however does nothing to prevent the average citizen from placing a bet. In 2011, the law’s reinterpretation came to cover the internet as well as telephone communications. The Federal Wire Act prohibits the business of gambling or facilitating bets for profit in the United States.
PASPA – The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) came into being in 1992 with a specific target upon the business of sports betting. Like the Wire Act, this law bans the facilitation of sports bets by any U.S. based entity across the country outside of exempt locations such as Las Vegas. This law however, does not outlaw placing a bet on a sporting event.
UIGEA – The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is another law that affects gambling specifically over the internet. It again only targets the operators and facilitators of gambling and not the mere participants by banning any wagering web site from accepting or issuing financial transactions in the United States.
What these laws all have in common is that average citizens are not the targets or their regulations. They only hinder the business of gambling on U.S. soil, as American bettors are still free to bet in legal venues.
The age to participate in legal gambling for Wyoming residents is set at 18 years of age or older as there is no mention of age restrictions in the state’s constitution. This means that the law pertaining to adulthood is the deciding factor to legal gambling. This is case for wagering at a land-based facility as well as over the internet.
To summarize, the State of Wyoming is a gambling friendly state albeit not exactly a mecca for betting action. So long as locals adhere to the guiding principles of both state and federal gambling legislation, are legally aged adults and do not engage in the business of gambling or facilitating bets for profit, they will remain lawfully able to place bets to their heart’s content. While the gambling options are limited in the state of Wyoming, any citizen is able to utilize the internet for betting purposes so long as they stick to recommended gambling networks that accept Wyoming residents.
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