Online Sports Betting in Wyoming

Wyoming online sports betting is officially here. Now live, Wyoming is the second state to offer mobile-only sports wagering in the US.

Even better? Wyoming residents can place bets on University of Wyoming football and men’s basketball or NBA, MLB, NFL season and games odds. From the sportsbooks that are live in the state to what you can bet on and how to get started, this page will give you what you need to know as Wyoming straps in for a new ride. Find the best welcome bonuses and compare key features of WY sports betting apps, too.

What’s new in Wyoming

No need for exact calendar counting, but there are fewer than 100 days remaining until the college football season kicks off.

The University of Wyoming visits Big Ten Country on Aug. 27 for a season-opening date with Illinois.

DraftKings Wyoming Sportsbook has installed the Cowboys as 10-point underdogs, with the game’s over/under set at 46.5.

Think the Pokes will cover? Now’s the time to pounce with a double-digit spread.

Cowboy State sports betting

Yes, online sports betting is now legal in Wyoming. DraftKings and BetMGM sportsbooks went live Sept. 1, 2021, in the Cowboy State. Both operators were approved by the Wyoming Gaming Commission and have taken their first wagers. FanDuel Sportsbook joined them March 10, and expect more operators to gain approval soon. HB133 was signed into law by Gov. Mark Gordon in April 2021.

List of online sportsbooks

Wyoming has stipulated that a sportsbook must be live in at least three states to qualify for an application. State law also requires that regulators give at least five Wyoming sports betting licenses. But there is no cap on how many licenses that regulators can hand out.

The 10% tax on sports betting revenue, similar to Colorado, should make Wyoming sports betting an attractive option for sportsbooks.

Look for Barstool Sportsbook to eventually gain entry to the Wyoming sports betting market.

And expect that number to rise in the months ahead. Also look for Betfred, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, Fox Bet, PointsBet, and WynnBET to eventually gain entry to Wyoming.

Compare WY sports betting apps

DraftKings Sportsbook

Now live in Wyoming, it’s one of the most popular sportsbooks in the U.S. — maybe the most popular — that drives the sports betting industry in the country. The user-friendly app makes it easy to get where you want to go, sign up, deposit funds, and start betting.

BetMGM Sportsbook

Also now live in Wyoming, it’s known as the “King of Sportsbooks,” BetMGM is not quite as popular as DraftKings or FanDuel but it’s gaining ground. And don’t be surprised to see it challenge both of those sportsbooks in the future. BetMGM has good odds boosts and promos for bettors, but it also runs on a solid platform with an easy-to-use interface and innovative features.

FanDuel Sportsbook

Another of the most popular sportsbooks in the country, it’s engaged in a little battle of whatever you can do, we can do better. Like DraftKings, FanDuel is an easy app to use and you can find what you need with little hassle or hurdles to get there. It is best known for its Same Game Parlay feature.

Barstool Sportsbook

While not in the upper echelon of sportsbooks in the U.S., this is no doubt a popular brand that could catch on in Wyoming. What sets the Barstool Bets app apart from the competition is the fact Wyoming bettors can place wagers against Barstool personalities. There are also daily odds boots that are comparable to other sportsbooks.

How to sign up at Wyoming sportsbook apps

The process to sign up for a Wyoming sports betting app should follow suit with other states like Colorado.

You need to find a sportsbook you like from the links above. To bet on sports in Wyoming, you’ll have to be inside Wyoming to do so. Sportsbooks typically use what is called geolocation software to verify where you are before you get started. Colorado sports betting apps will not work in Wyoming, and vice versa.

Downloading Wyoming sportsbook apps

After you made your choice, write down any bonus codes that are listed exactly as they appear, then click the links above to visit the download page for Apple and Android mobile devices. You’ll find yourself on a download page similar to those for other types of apps. Download the app as usual, and let it install. If signing up on a computer or via a web browser, the same initial steps apply but you will be directed to the sportsbook website to complete the process.

After it installs, you’ll need to register, so look for the button in the top right corner. The Wyoming Gaming Commission has yet to indicate what you will have to provide to sign up, but it usually includes the following information:

• Legal name
• Date of birth
• Social Security number or the last four digits
• An account number or username
• Residential address
• Telephone number

You’ll also have to verify your identity with the sportsbook, so don’t be surprised if you have to submit a picture of your ID and/or your social security card. If you wrote down any bonus codes, look for an optional space to enter it, and take care not to make any typos or capitalization errors.

Deposits and withdrawals

Once you’ve registered, the next step will be to make your first deposit. Some of the most common methods for depositing include:

• Debit/credit cards
• Electronic checks
• Electronic wallets (PayPal, Skrill, NETELLER, etc.)
• Online banking and wire transfers
• Prepaid cards
• PayNearMe
• Cash at the casino cage
• Paper checks or money orders

Not every sportsbook app will offer all or, in some cases, most of these methods. You should also check the methods for withdrawing your money back out of the app. They are often the same methods listed above, but are usually fewer in number, and it can take longer to get your funds returned to you than it did to put them into the app.

Best sportsbook bonuses in Wyoming

Once Wyoming sports betting is live, expect the sportsbooks to offer oodles of welcome bonuses and promotions. Once the sportsbooks have been approved for sports betting in the Cowboy State, you’ll see the best offerings for bettors on this page.

Here are some common bonuses that Wyoming sports bettors will see and how to use them:

• No deposit: Some sportsbooks will allow you to download the app and start playing with no deposit required from the bettor. It’s essentially a bonus just for signing up. Keep in mind that you will have to bet the site credit in order to cash out.
• Deposit match: When you deposit a certain amount, one of the popular promotions is to match your deposit. In some instances, they’ll offer a deposit bonus or double the deposit.
• bonus bets: One of the most popular bonuses from sportsbooks, they’ll offer a bonus bet of up to $1,000. So if you place a bet and it loses, you’ll get refunded in site credit.
• Odds boosts: These are typically used for new and existing users and for local events. Wyoming bettors could see odds boosts around UW football and basketball.

Do you have to bet online in Wyoming?

Yes, you will have to place your bets online in Wyoming. Wyoming is a completely mobile sports betting state. The Cowboy State joins Tennessee as the only mobile-only sports betting states in the U.S. There are no commercial casinos in Wyoming, so there will be no retail sportsbooks as part of the approved legislation.

However, there are four tribal casinos operated by two Native American tribes. The four tribal casinos in Wyoming are located on the Wind River Indian Reservation near the center of the state. For a geographical reference, the closest city is Riverton. All four casinos are roughly 130 miles west of Casper.

As for retail sportsbooks, the Northern Arapaho Tribe announced it will add sports betting to its casinos in the fall of 2021. The US Department of Interior authorizes the operation of the tribe’s casinos, not the state.

How to bet responsibly in Wyoming

One aspect that Wyoming could improve on Colorado is responsible gambling. The Centennial State is one of the worst in the country when it comes to responsible gaming funding and measures. Since the rules are still getting ironed out, the same is true for the responsible gambling measures. But expect for the Wyoming Gaming Commission to take it seriously.

As of now the site has links to the following sites that are available in WY:

• National Council on Problem Gambling
• Gamblers Anonymous
• Wyoming Department of Health
• Wyoming Council on Problem Gambling

It also links to the NCPG flyer and Wyoming Responsible Gambling brochure. In the brochure, the number for the Problem Gambling Hotline is provided: 1-800-522-4700.

Popular sports to bet on in Wyoming

The final list of sports Wyomingnites can place wagers on is still to be determined. However, it’s safe to assume that the Cowboy State will offer all of the major sports and leagues.

• NFL
• NBA
• MLB
• NHL
• NCAA football
• NCAA basketball
• Golf
• Soccer
• Tennis
• UFC

That means you’ll be able to bet on the Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Rockies. You can also place wagers on Wyoming’s adopted son Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.

What will be interesting is if legal online sports betting in Wyoming allows wagering on the more niche sports, like table tennis and rodeo. Oscars betting and other entertainment bets are not common in most legal states. You can be sure that the following bets will not be permitted in Wyoming:

• Sports where the majority of participants are younger than 18
• High school sports
• Elections

Wyoming sports betting vs. Colorado sports betting

On top of the rampant offshore betting in Wyoming, another reason Wyoming legalized sports betting is its neighbor to the south.

Colorado launched sports betting in May 2020, and it has become one of the biggest markets in the country. One of the reasons is the Wyoming residents who live near the state border in Cheyenne, Laramie, and the smaller cities east of Cheyenne along Interstate 80, would cross into Colorado, pull to the side of the road, place their bets and head back home. Now that Wyoming will have legal sports betting, that need will stop since they’ll be able to place their bets from their couch.

One of the biggest similarities is the 10% tax rate. That is a sportsbook-friendly number that will make Wyoming incredibly attractive to popular national brands, as it’s been for Colorado. The other aspect that may give you an idea of what Wyoming sports betting is capable of is the strength of mobile sports betting in Colorado. In a typical month, 98% of the handle comes from online sports betting. While $450 million in total legal bets is unrealistic in the first few years in Wyoming, the number of sportsbooks that eventually enter the state could make for a thriving market.

The biggest difference between Wyoming sports betting and Colorado sports betting is the population size. As of 2021, Wyoming is the least-populated state in the U.S. at 581,024. Colorado, meanwhile, is 22nd at an estimated 5.7 million. That obviously impacts the sports betting market size in Wyoming.

But one thing about Wyoming, apparently everyone there loves to gamble.

Top Wyoming sports betting FAQs

Who oversees Wyoming online sports betting?

The Wyoming Gaming Commission regulates sports betting in the state. Charles Moore is the executive director for the commission. As it says on the commission website:

“The primary mission of the Wyoming Gaming Commission is the protection of the wagering public and the health, safety, and welfare of the participants in all lawful gaming and pari-mutuel activity.”

Will I be able to bet on the Cowboys and Cowgirls?

Yes, Wyoming residents can place bets on University of Wyoming athletics. That means you can wager on the Pokes for football and men’s basketball.

How old do I have to be to bet on sports in Wyoming?

The legal gambling age in Wyoming is 18. While the typical age limit for sports betting in the U.S. is 21, Wyoming also has 18 as the age limit for historical horse racing and the lottery.

Are daily fantasy sports contests legal in Wyoming?

There’s no law in place regulating daily fantasy sports in Wyoming. However, sites like ESPN, Yahoo!, DraftKings and FanDuel offer contests and tournaments to people in Wyoming’s state borders, albeit in a legal gray area.

Is it safe to bet with an unlicensed sportsbook app?

Also known as “offshore betting,” this is a risky endeavor for Wyoming bettors. The offshore market in Wyoming is one of the reasons HB133 was brought before the Wyoming House in 2021. The Wyoming Gaming Commission projected that Wyoming residents wager more than $450 million illegally each year.

If you bet with an unlicensed sportsbook, there are no consumer protections. That means the offshore sportsbooks could decide not to pay your winning bets and you would have no recourse. Licensed sports betting sites in Wyoming will be clearly marked with the seal of the state or gaming commission and list a U.S. address for the sportsbook.

Will Wyoming sports betting accept cryptocurrency?

Technically, yes, the Wyoming sports betting bill allows for the operators to accept cryptocurrency payments from sites like Bitcoin. Wyoming is the first state in the country to do so. However, the final decision whether to actually use cryptocurrency or digital payments is up to the sportsbooks. Given the significant risk in play for the operators, this seeing the light of day is highly unlikely.

How Wyoming sports betting came to be

Wyoming legislators tried to get sports betting legalized in Wyoming in 2020. There were two bills, HB225 and HB234, that failed to make it out of committee. So Wyoming State Rep. Tom Walters tried again in 2021 with HB133. Walters represents House District 38, which is home to Casper in Natrona County.

To get to the point where online sports betting in Wyoming is legal has been quite the adventure. In early March, the Wyoming House of Representatives actually rejected the sports betting legislation by a 33-28 vote.

The following day, after some behind the scenes negotiations by Walters, HB133 passed the Wyoming House 32-28. At the end of March it then moved to the Wyoming Senate, where it was approved by a vote of 24-5 (with one abstention) and moved to the desk of Gov. Gordon for his signature on April 6. Saddle up, Wyoming, legal sports betting is here.