| 1 | 1 | | 2025 |
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| 2 | 2 | | STATE OF WYOMING |
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| 3 | 3 | | 25LSO-02921HB0162 |
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| 4 | 4 | | HOUSE BILL NO. HB0162 |
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| 5 | 5 | | Interactive gaming. |
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| 6 | 6 | | Sponsored by: Representative(s) Davis, Brown, L, Larson, JT |
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| 7 | 7 | | and Tarver and Senator(s) Barlow, Pappas and |
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| 8 | 8 | | Schuler |
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| 9 | 9 | | A BILL |
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| 10 | 10 | | for |
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| 11 | 11 | | 1 AN ACT relating to gaming; authorizing interactive gaming; |
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| 12 | 12 | | 2 providing for regulation by the Wyoming gaming commission; |
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| 13 | 13 | | 3 imposing fees; providing for the collection and |
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| 14 | 14 | | 4 distribution of revenues from interactive gaming; providing |
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| 15 | 15 | | 5 for the distribution of interactive gaming revenues; |
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| 16 | 16 | | 6 requiring rulemaking; creating criminal offenses and |
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| 17 | 17 | | 7 providing criminal penalties; and providing for effective |
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| 18 | 18 | | 8 dates. |
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| 19 | 19 | | 9 |
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| 20 | 20 | | 10 |
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| 21 | 21 | | 11 |
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| 22 | 22 | | 12W.S. 9-24-201 through 9-24-207 are created |
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| 23 | 23 | | 13 to read: |
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| 24 | 24 | | 14 |
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| 25 | 25 | | 15 ARTICLE 2 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-02922HB0162 |
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| 26 | 26 | | 1 INTERACTIVE GAMING |
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| 27 | 27 | | 2 |
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| 28 | 28 | | 3 |
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| 29 | 29 | | 4 |
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| 30 | 30 | | 5 (a) As used in this article: |
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| 31 | 31 | | 6 |
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| 32 | 32 | | 7 (i) "Commission" means the Wyoming gaming |
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| 33 | 33 | | 8 commission; |
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| 34 | 34 | | 9 |
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| 35 | 35 | | 10 (ii) "Interactive game" means an internet based |
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| 36 | 36 | | 11 version or variation of poker, blackjack or any other card, |
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| 37 | 37 | | 12 slot or gambling game typically offered in a casino and |
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| 38 | 38 | | 13 approved by the commission, in which: |
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| 39 | 39 | | 14 |
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| 40 | 40 | | 15 (A) A person wagers money or something of |
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| 41 | 41 | | 16 monetary value for the opportunity to win money or a thing |
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| 42 | 42 | | 17 of monetary value; |
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| 43 | 43 | | 18 |
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| 44 | 44 | | 19 (B) The outcome of the game may be |
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| 45 | 45 | | 20 determined by a random number generator, or a skill element |
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| 46 | 46 | | 21 may be essential to the game's outcome, depending on the |
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| 47 | 47 | | 22 type of game utilized; and |
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| 48 | 48 | | 23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-02923HB01621 (C) The game is accessed by the player |
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| 49 | 49 | | 2 using a computer, digital platform or mobile application on |
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| 50 | 50 | | 3 a mobile device that is connected to the internet. |
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| 51 | 51 | | 4 |
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| 52 | 52 | | 5 (iii) "Interactive gaming" means engaging in |
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| 53 | 53 | | 6 interactive games conducted by an interactive gaming |
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| 54 | 54 | | 7 operator over the internet by use of a computer, digital |
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| 55 | 55 | | 8 platform or mobile application on a mobile device, that |
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| 56 | 56 | | 9 uses communications technology to accept wagers. |
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| 57 | 57 | | 10 Interactive gaming shall not include any of the following |
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| 58 | 58 | | 11 gaming activities: |
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| 59 | 59 | | 12 |
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| 60 | 60 | | 13 (A) Activities, other than interactive |
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| 61 | 61 | | 14 gaming, that are exempted from criminal penalties under |
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| 62 | 62 | | 15 W.S. 6-7-101 through 6-7-104; |
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| 63 | 63 | | 16 |
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| 64 | 64 | | 17 (B) Activities outside of this article |
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| 65 | 65 | | 18 authorized or regulated by the commission; |
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| 66 | 66 | | 19 |
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| 67 | 67 | | 20 (C) Lotteries authorized by law; |
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| 68 | 68 | | 21 |
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| 69 | 69 | | 22 (D) Fantasy sports contests; |
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| 70 | 70 | | 23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-02924HB01621 (E) Interactive games offered exclusively |
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| 71 | 71 | | 2 on Indian lands by an Indian tribe operating in accordance |
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| 72 | 72 | | 3 with a Tribal-State gaming compact and authorized to |
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| 73 | 73 | | 4 conduct class III gaming pursuant to federal law. For |
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| 74 | 74 | | 5 purposes of this article, an interactive game is conducted |
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| 75 | 75 | | 6 exclusively on Indian lands only if the person |
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| 76 | 76 | | 7 participating in interactive gaming is physically present |
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| 77 | 77 | | 8 on Indian lands when the interactive game is initiated and |
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| 78 | 78 | | 9 the game is offered by an Indian tribe operating on the |
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| 79 | 79 | | 10 same Indian lands as an intratribal transaction under 31 |
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| 80 | 80 | | 11 U.S.C. § 5362(10)(c). |
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| 81 | 81 | | 12 |
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| 82 | 82 | | 13 (iv) "Interactive gaming operator" means any |
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| 83 | 83 | | 14 qualified gaming entity permitted by the commission to |
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| 84 | 84 | | 15 accept interactive gaming wagers; |
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| 85 | 85 | | 16 |
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| 86 | 86 | | 17 (v) "Interactive gaming revenue" means the total |
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| 87 | 87 | | 18 amount of all wagers placed by persons with an interactive |
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| 88 | 88 | | 19 gaming operator using cash or cash equivalents, excluding |
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| 89 | 89 | | 20 free wagers and promotional play, minus all payments to |
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| 90 | 90 | | 21 patrons and minus any applicable federal excise taxes. |
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| 91 | 91 | | 22 Payments to patrons include all payments of cash, cash 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-02925HB0162 |
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| 92 | 92 | | 1 equivalents, merchandise and any other thing of monetary |
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| 93 | 93 | | 2 value; |
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| 94 | 94 | | 3 |
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| 95 | 95 | | 4 (vi) "Interactive gaming vendor" means a vendor |
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| 96 | 96 | | 5 that provides services to an interactive gaming operator |
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| 97 | 97 | | 6 which directly affect wagering, play or results of |
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| 98 | 98 | | 7 interactive gaming including geolocation services, know |
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| 99 | 99 | | 8 your customer services, payment processors and game |
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| 100 | 100 | | 9 providers; |
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| 101 | 101 | | 10 |
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| 102 | 102 | | 11 (vii) "Live game simulcast" means an interactive |
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| 103 | 103 | | 12 live feed of an interactive game that is conducted at a |
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| 104 | 104 | | 13 live interactive game studio and in which participants have |
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| 105 | 105 | | 14 the ability to wager in real time; |
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| 106 | 106 | | 15 |
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| 107 | 107 | | 16 (viii) "Live interactive game studio" means a |
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| 108 | 108 | | 17 physical location that utilizes live video and audio |
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| 109 | 109 | | 18 streaming technology to provide an interactive gaming |
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| 110 | 110 | | 19 operator with a live game simulcast; |
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| 111 | 111 | | 20 |
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| 112 | 112 | | 21 (ix) "Patron" means a person who places an |
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| 113 | 113 | | 22 interactive gaming wager; |
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| 114 | 114 | | 23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-02926HB01621 (x) "Permissible jurisdiction" means a |
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| 115 | 115 | | 2 jurisdiction other than Wyoming where wagers on interactive |
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| 116 | 116 | | 3 gaming may be accepted pursuant to an interactive gaming |
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| 117 | 117 | | 4 reciprocal agreement; |
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| 118 | 118 | | 5 |
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| 119 | 119 | | 6 (xi) "Qualified gaming entity" means a gaming |
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| 120 | 120 | | 7 entity that offers interactive gaming through computers, |
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| 121 | 121 | | 8 digital platforms or mobile applications on a mobile device |
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| 122 | 122 | | 9 in not less than three (3) states in the United States |
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| 123 | 123 | | 10 pursuant to a state regulatory structure. |
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| 124 | 124 | | 11 |
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| 125 | 125 | | 12 |
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| 126 | 126 | | 13 |
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| 127 | 127 | | 14 (a) The commission shall regulate interactive gaming |
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| 128 | 128 | | 15 and interactive gaming operators and vendors. |
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| 129 | 129 | | 16 |
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| 130 | 130 | | 17 (b) The commission shall promulgate rules to |
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| 131 | 131 | | 18 implement this article. The rules the commission |
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| 132 | 132 | | 19 promulgates shall establish standards and procedures for |
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| 133 | 133 | | 20 interactive gaming and associated interactive gaming |
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| 134 | 134 | | 21 platforms. The rules shall include: |
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| 135 | 135 | | 22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-02927HB01621 (i) Governance of the conduct of interactive |
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| 136 | 136 | | 2 gaming and the system of wagering associated with |
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| 137 | 137 | | 3 interactive gaming, including all of the following: |
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| 138 | 138 | | 4 |
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| 139 | 139 | | 5 (A) Terms and conditions for interactive |
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| 140 | 140 | | 6 gaming that are compliant with all applicable federal laws; |
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| 141 | 141 | | 7 |
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| 142 | 142 | | 8 (B) Identification of the types of |
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| 143 | 143 | | 9 interactive games upon which wagers may be accepted; |
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| 144 | 144 | | 10 |
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| 145 | 145 | | 11 (C) The manner in which interactive gaming |
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| 146 | 146 | | 12 wagers are received and payoffs are remitted; |
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| 147 | 147 | | 13 |
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| 148 | 148 | | 14 (D) Procedures for managing and resolving |
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| 149 | 149 | | 15 suspected cheating, irregularities and complaints; |
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| 150 | 150 | | 16 |
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| 151 | 151 | | 17 (E) A requirement that a patron shall be |
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| 152 | 152 | | 18 physically present in Wyoming when making a wager unless |
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| 153 | 153 | | 19 the patron is physically present in a permissible |
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| 154 | 154 | | 20 jurisdiction; |
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| 155 | 155 | | 21 |
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| 156 | 156 | | 22 (F) A requirement for each interactive |
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| 157 | 157 | | 23 gaming operator to use a geolocation system to ensure that 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-02928HB0162 |
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| 158 | 158 | | 1 a patron making an interactive gaming wager is physically |
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| 159 | 159 | | 2 present in the state when making the wager unless the |
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| 160 | 160 | | 3 patron is physically present in a permissible jurisdiction; |
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| 161 | 161 | | 4 |
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| 162 | 162 | | 5 (G) Internal controls for all aspects of |
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| 163 | 163 | | 6 interactive gaming, including procedures for system |
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| 164 | 164 | | 7 integrity, system security, operations and accounting; |
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| 165 | 165 | | 8 |
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| 166 | 166 | | 9 (H) Operational controls for interactive |
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| 167 | 167 | | 10 gaming accounts; |
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| 168 | 168 | | 11 |
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| 169 | 169 | | 12 (J) Procedures to ensure that interactive |
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| 170 | 170 | | 13 gaming operators do not offer prohibited interactive games; |
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| 171 | 171 | | 14 |
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| 172 | 172 | | 15 (K) Requirements for the offering of live |
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| 173 | 173 | | 16 game simulcasting, which shall be permitted to be conducted |
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| 174 | 174 | | 17 from live interactive game studio premises in any location |
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| 175 | 175 | | 18 and shall not be located in Wyoming. |
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| 176 | 176 | | 19 |
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| 177 | 177 | | 20 (ii) Methods for calculating interactive gaming |
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| 178 | 178 | | 21 revenue and standards for the counting and recording of |
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| 179 | 179 | | 22 money and things of monetary value received in the conduct 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-02929HB0162 |
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| 180 | 180 | | 1 of interactive gaming, including requirements for internal |
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| 181 | 181 | | 2 controls, financial records and audits; |
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| 182 | 182 | | 3 |
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| 183 | 183 | | 4 (iii) Reasonable minimum qualifications for |
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| 184 | 184 | | 5 interactive gaming operators and vendors; |
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| 185 | 185 | | 6 |
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| 186 | 186 | | 7 (iv) Any other matters necessary for overseeing |
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| 187 | 187 | | 8 interactive gaming and interactive gaming operators and |
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| 188 | 188 | | 9 vendors. |
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| 189 | 189 | | 10 |
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| 190 | 190 | | 11 (c) In promulgating rules pursuant to this section, |
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| 191 | 191 | | 12 the commission shall examine the regulations implemented in |
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| 192 | 192 | | 13 Wyoming for online sports wagering and regulations |
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| 193 | 193 | | 14 promulgated in other states where interactive gaming is |
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| 194 | 194 | | 15 conducted and shall, as far as practicable, adopt a similar |
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| 195 | 195 | | 16 regulatory framework to maximize revenue generated to the |
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| 196 | 196 | | 17 state. |
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| 197 | 197 | | 18 |
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| 198 | 198 | | 19 (d) Interactive gaming shall not be conducted from |
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| 199 | 199 | | 20 any physical location designed for a patron to physically |
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| 200 | 200 | | 21 visit to place a wager. Interactive gaming shall be deemed |
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| 201 | 201 | | 22 to take place at the location of the patron participating 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029210HB0162 |
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| 202 | 202 | | 1 in an interactive game and not the location of the server |
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| 203 | 203 | | 2 of an interactive gaming permittee or any other location. |
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| 204 | 204 | | 3 |
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| 205 | 205 | | 4 (e) The commission shall develop a compliance program |
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| 206 | 206 | | 5 that includes establishing procedures to review interactive |
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| 207 | 207 | | 6 gaming and related activities occurring in the state to |
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| 208 | 208 | | 7 ensure compliance with and enforcement of this article. The |
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| 209 | 209 | | 8 program shall include review and evaluation of the conduct |
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| 210 | 210 | | 9 of: |
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| 211 | 211 | | 10 |
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| 212 | 212 | | 11 (i) Interactive gaming operators, interactive |
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| 213 | 213 | | 12 gaming vendors, qualified gaming entities, patrons and any |
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| 214 | 214 | | 13 other person permitted or authorized to engage in |
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| 215 | 215 | | 14 activities under this article; and |
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| 216 | 216 | | 15 |
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| 217 | 217 | | 16 (ii) Persons operating without a valid permit |
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| 218 | 218 | | 17 under this article, engaging in activities not authorized |
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| 219 | 219 | | 18 or regulated under this article or pursuing or engaging in |
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| 220 | 220 | | 19 activities otherwise in violation of this article. |
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| 221 | 221 | | 20 |
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| 222 | 222 | | 21 |
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| 223 | 223 | | 22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029211HB01621 (a) An interactive gaming operator shall possess a |
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| 224 | 224 | | 2 permit issued by the commission to accept interactive |
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| 225 | 225 | | 3 gaming wagers. No operator shall accept interactive gaming |
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| 226 | 226 | | 4 wagers without holding a valid permit issued by the |
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| 227 | 227 | | 5 commission. |
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| 228 | 228 | | 6 |
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| 229 | 229 | | 7 (b) A qualified gaming entity applying for an |
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| 230 | 230 | | 8 interactive gaming operator permit shall do so on an |
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| 231 | 231 | | 9 application furnished by the commission. The commission |
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| 232 | 232 | | 10 shall offer an abbreviated application for a qualified |
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| 233 | 233 | | 11 gaming entity that holds an online sports wagering operator |
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| 234 | 234 | | 12 permit in Wyoming pursuant to W.S. 9-24-103, and the |
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| 235 | 235 | | 13 commission may consider an online sports wagering operator |
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| 236 | 236 | | 14 permitholder fully qualified to hold an interactive gaming |
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| 237 | 237 | | 15 operator permit under this section without additional |
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| 238 | 238 | | 16 investigation. The fee for both an initial application and |
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| 239 | 239 | | 17 renewal application shall be two thousand five hundred |
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| 240 | 240 | | 18 dollars ($2,500.00). The application shall require an |
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| 241 | 241 | | 19 applicant, at a minimum, to provide all information |
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| 242 | 242 | | 20 required by W.S. 9-24-103(b) and any additional information |
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| 243 | 243 | | 21 required by commission rules. |
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| 244 | 244 | | 22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029212HB01621 (c) The commission shall charge a permit fee of one |
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| 245 | 245 | | 2 hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for an initial |
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| 246 | 246 | | 3 interactive gaming operator permit. An initial permit and |
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| 247 | 247 | | 4 any renewal permit shall each be valid for five (5) years. |
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| 248 | 248 | | 5 The commission shall charge a fee of fifty thousand dollars |
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| 249 | 249 | | 6 ($50,000.00) for renewal of an interactive gaming operator |
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| 250 | 250 | | 7 permit. |
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| 251 | 251 | | 8 |
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| 252 | 252 | | 9 (d) An interactive gaming vendor shall possess a |
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| 253 | 253 | | 10 permit issued by the commission to conduct business in the |
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| 254 | 254 | | 11 state. No person shall provide vendor services to an |
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| 255 | 255 | | 12 interactive gaming operator without holding a valid permit |
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| 256 | 256 | | 13 issued by the commission. |
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| 257 | 257 | | 14 |
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| 258 | 258 | | 15 (e) The commission shall charge a fee of ten thousand |
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| 259 | 259 | | 16 dollars ($10,000.00) for an initial interactive gaming |
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| 260 | 260 | | 17 vendor permit. An initial permit and any renewal permit |
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| 261 | 261 | | 18 shall each be valid for five (5) years. The commission |
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| 262 | 262 | | 19 shall charge a fee of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) for |
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| 263 | 263 | | 20 renewal of an interactive gaming vendor permit. |
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| 264 | 264 | | 21 |
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| 265 | 265 | | 22 (f) Interactive gaming operator and interactive |
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| 266 | 266 | | 23 gaming vendor permit fees charged pursuant to subsections 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029213HB0162 |
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| 267 | 267 | | 1 (c) and (e) of this section shall be deposited in the |
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| 268 | 268 | | 2 commission gaming account. Subject to legislative |
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| 269 | 269 | | 3 appropriation, amounts within the account may be used by |
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| 270 | 270 | | 4 the commission for all expenses incurred in administering |
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| 271 | 271 | | 5 this article. On a quarterly basis, the commission shall |
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| 272 | 272 | | 6 transfer amounts within the account in excess of five |
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| 273 | 273 | | 7 hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) to the state |
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| 274 | 274 | | 8 treasurer for credit to the general fund. |
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| 275 | 275 | | 9 |
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| 276 | 276 | | 10 (g) The following persons are considered to be |
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| 277 | 277 | | 11 interactive gaming operator permit applicants or permit |
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| 278 | 278 | | 12 holders: |
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| 279 | 279 | | 13 |
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| 280 | 280 | | 14 (i) Each holding company, parent company or |
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| 281 | 281 | | 15 subsidiary company of the applicant or permit holder; |
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| 282 | 282 | | 16 |
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| 283 | 283 | | 17 (ii) Each person, except for a bank or other |
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| 284 | 284 | | 18 licensed lending institution that holds a mortgage or other |
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| 285 | 285 | | 19 lien acquired in the ordinary course of business, who owns |
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| 286 | 286 | | 20 fifteen percent (15%) or more of an applicant or permit |
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| 287 | 287 | | 21 holder and has the ability to: |
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| 288 | 288 | | 22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029214HB01621 (A) Control the activities of the applicant |
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| 289 | 289 | | 2 or permit holder; or |
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| 290 | 290 | | 3 |
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| 291 | 291 | | 4 (B) Elect a majority of the board of the |
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| 292 | 292 | | 5 applicant or permit holder. |
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| 293 | 293 | | 6 |
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| 294 | 294 | | 7 (iii) Any person the commission otherwise |
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| 295 | 295 | | 8 determines has the ability to control the noncorporate |
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| 296 | 296 | | 9 applicant or permit holder; |
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| 297 | 297 | | 10 |
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| 298 | 298 | | 11 (iv) Key personnel of an applicant or permit |
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| 299 | 299 | | 12 holder, including any executive, employee or agent having |
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| 300 | 300 | | 13 the power to exercise ultimate decision making authority |
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| 301 | 301 | | 14 over the applicant's or permit holder's interactive gaming |
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| 302 | 302 | | 15 operations in this state. |
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| 303 | 303 | | 16 |
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| 304 | 304 | | 17 (h) The commission shall, not more than ninety (90) |
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| 305 | 305 | | 18 days after the date of receipt of an application for a |
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| 306 | 306 | | 19 permit or renewal of a permit, either: |
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| 307 | 307 | | 20 |
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| 308 | 308 | | 21 (i) Issue the permit; or |
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| 309 | 309 | | 22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029215HB01621 (ii) Deny the application based on the grounds |
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| 310 | 310 | | 2 that the applicant failed to qualify as provided by |
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| 311 | 311 | | 3 subsection (j) of this section. |
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| 312 | 312 | | 4 |
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| 313 | 313 | | 5 (j) The commission shall deny an application under |
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| 314 | 314 | | 6 this section to anyone, including persons listed under |
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| 315 | 315 | | 7 subsection (g) of this section, upon finding any of the |
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| 316 | 316 | | 8 following: |
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| 317 | 317 | | 9 |
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| 318 | 318 | | 10 (i) The applicant or permit holder has been |
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| 319 | 319 | | 11 convicted of, forfeited bail on or pleaded guilty or nolo |
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| 320 | 320 | | 12 contendere to: |
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| 321 | 321 | | 13 |
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| 322 | 322 | | 14 (A) A crime involving theft, dishonesty or |
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| 323 | 323 | | 15 fraud; |
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| 324 | 324 | | 16 |
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| 325 | 325 | | 17 (B) The crime of bribery or unlawfully |
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| 326 | 326 | | 18 influencing a public official; |
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| 327 | 327 | | 19 |
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| 328 | 328 | | 20 (C) A felony crime involving physical harm |
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| 329 | 329 | | 21 to a person; or |
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| 330 | 330 | | 22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029216HB01621 (D) Any other crime identified by rule of |
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| 331 | 331 | | 2 the commission that negatively impacts the applicant's |
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| 332 | 332 | | 3 credibility or the security, integrity or fairness of |
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| 333 | 333 | | 4 interactive gaming. |
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| 334 | 334 | | 5 |
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| 335 | 335 | | 6 (ii) The applicant intentionally tampered with |
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| 336 | 336 | | 7 submitted documentation or concealed, failed to disclose or |
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| 337 | 337 | | 8 otherwise attempted to mislead the commission with respect |
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| 338 | 338 | | 9 to any material fact contained in the application or |
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| 339 | 339 | | 10 contained in any other information required of or submitted |
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| 340 | 340 | | 11 by an applicant to the commission; |
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| 341 | 341 | | 12 |
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| 342 | 342 | | 13 (iii) The applicant or permit holder failed or |
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| 343 | 343 | | 14 refused to cooperate in the investigation of a crime |
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| 344 | 344 | | 15 related to gambling, corruption of a public official or any |
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| 345 | 345 | | 16 organized criminal activity; |
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| 346 | 346 | | 17 |
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| 347 | 347 | | 18 (iv) The applicant or permit holder |
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| 348 | 348 | | 19 intentionally failed to disclose the existence or identity |
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| 349 | 349 | | 20 of other persons who have control of the applicant or |
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| 350 | 350 | | 21 permit holder as required by this section; |
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| 351 | 351 | | 22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029217HB01621 (v) The applicant or permit holder does not |
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| 352 | 352 | | 2 demonstrate financial responsibility sufficient to |
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| 353 | 353 | | 3 adequately meet the requirements of this article, as |
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| 354 | 354 | | 4 specified by rule of the commission; or |
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| 355 | 355 | | 5 |
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| 356 | 356 | | 6 (vi) The applicant or permit holder has not met |
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| 357 | 357 | | 7 the requirements of this section, any other provision of |
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| 358 | 358 | | 8 this article or commission rules. |
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| 359 | 359 | | 9 |
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| 360 | 360 | | 10 (k) Given a sufficient number of qualified |
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| 361 | 361 | | 11 applicants, at any one (1) time the commission shall issue |
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| 362 | 362 | | 12 not less than five (5) interactive gaming operator permits |
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| 363 | 363 | | 13 to applicants that satisfy the requirements of this |
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| 364 | 364 | | 14 article. If an insufficient number of applicants apply for |
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| 365 | 365 | | 15 an interactive gaming operator permit, this provision shall |
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| 366 | 366 | | 16 not be interpreted to direct the commission to issue a |
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| 367 | 367 | | 17 permit to an unqualified applicant. |
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| 368 | 368 | | 18 |
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| 369 | 369 | | 19 (m) Subject to subsection (k) of this section and the |
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| 370 | 370 | | 20 requirements of this article, the commission may give |
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| 371 | 371 | | 21 preference to an interactive gaming vendor that is |
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| 372 | 372 | | 22 currently operating in good standing in a similar role in |
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| 373 | 373 | | 23 at least three (3) states in the United States under a 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029218HB0162 |
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| 374 | 374 | | 1 state regulatory structure and that has paid all required |
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| 375 | 375 | | 2 fees under subsection (e) of this section when making |
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| 376 | 376 | | 3 interactive gaming operator permit application |
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| 377 | 377 | | 4 determinations. |
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| 378 | 378 | | 5 |
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| 379 | 379 | | 6 (n) Permit holders under this article shall have an |
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| 380 | 380 | | 7 ongoing obligation to disclose in writing any material |
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| 381 | 381 | | 8 change in the information provided in the application to |
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| 382 | 382 | | 9 the commission, including: |
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| 383 | 383 | | 10 |
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| 384 | 384 | | 11 (i) Changes to names and contact information; |
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| 385 | 385 | | 12 |
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| 386 | 386 | | 13 (ii) Arrests, convictions, guilty or nolo |
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| 387 | 387 | | 14 contendere pleas, disciplinary actions or permit denials in |
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| 388 | 388 | | 15 Wyoming or any other jurisdiction; |
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| 389 | 389 | | 16 |
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| 390 | 390 | | 17 (iii) Any civil action brought against the |
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| 391 | 391 | | 18 permit holder related to gaming; and |
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| 392 | 392 | | 19 |
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| 393 | 393 | | 20 (iv) Any other information specified by rule of |
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| 394 | 394 | | 21 the commission. |
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| 395 | 395 | | 22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029219HB01621 (o) If the commission denies an application or |
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| 396 | 396 | | 2 intends to revoke or suspend a permit issued under this |
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| 397 | 397 | | 3 article, it shall notify the applicant or permittee in |
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| 398 | 398 | | 4 writing, stating the grounds for denial, revocation or |
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| 399 | 399 | | 5 suspension and inform the person of a right to submit, |
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| 400 | 400 | | 6 within thirty (30) days, any additional documentation |
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| 401 | 401 | | 7 relating to the grounds for denial, revocation or |
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| 402 | 402 | | 8 suspension. Upon receiving any additional documentation, |
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| 403 | 403 | | 9 the commission shall reconsider its decision and inform the |
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| 404 | 404 | | 10 applicant of its decision within not more than twenty (20) |
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| 405 | 405 | | 11 days of the submission of information for reconsideration. |
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| 406 | 406 | | 12 If the commission finds that public safety or welfare |
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| 407 | 407 | | 13 requires emergency action, and incorporates a finding to |
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| 408 | 408 | | 14 that effect in its order, summary suspension of a permit |
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| 409 | 409 | | 15 may be ordered pending proceedings for revocation or other |
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| 410 | 410 | | 16 action. A denial of an application or a revocation or |
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| 411 | 411 | | 17 suspension of a permit under this article shall be subject |
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| 412 | 412 | | 18 to the contested case procedures of the Wyoming |
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| 413 | 413 | | 19 Administrative Procedure Act. |
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| 414 | 414 | | 20 |
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| 415 | 415 | | 21 |
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| 416 | 416 | | 22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029220HB01621 (a) Not later than the fifteenth day of each month, |
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| 417 | 417 | | 2 in accordance with commission rules, an interactive gaming |
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| 418 | 418 | | 3 operator shall remit sixteen percent (16%) of its |
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| 419 | 419 | | 4 interactive gaming revenue from the prior month to the |
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| 420 | 420 | | 5 commission. The first three hundred thousand dollars |
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| 421 | 421 | | 6 ($300,000.00) of interactive gaming revenue collected under |
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| 422 | 422 | | 7 this section shall be continuously appropriated to the |
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| 423 | 423 | | 8 department of health to be distributed to the counties for |
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| 424 | 424 | | 9 the purpose of funding county health programs to prevent |
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| 425 | 425 | | 10 and treat problematic gaming behavior. Of the remaining |
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| 426 | 426 | | 11 revenue, the commission shall remit these monies to the |
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| 427 | 427 | | 12 state treasurer for distribution as follows: |
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| 428 | 428 | | 13 |
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| 429 | 429 | | 14 (i) Forty percent (40%) to the counties whose |
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| 430 | 430 | | 15 shares shall be based upon population; |
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| 431 | 431 | | 16 |
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| 432 | 432 | | 17 (ii) Fifty percent (50%) to the school |
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| 433 | 433 | | 18 foundation program account; |
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| 434 | 434 | | 19 |
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| 435 | 435 | | 20 (iii) Ten percent (10%) to the commission gaming |
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| 436 | 436 | | 21 account, a portion of which shall cover administrative |
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| 437 | 437 | | 22 costs and expenses. |
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| 438 | 438 | | 23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029221HB01621 |
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| 439 | 439 | | 2 |
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| 440 | 440 | | 3 No person under the age of twenty-one (21) years shall |
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| 441 | 441 | | 4 engage in interactive gaming. |
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| 442 | 442 | | 5 |
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| 443 | 443 | | 6 |
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| 444 | 444 | | 7 |
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| 445 | 445 | | 8 (a) The state may enter into reciprocal agreements |
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| 446 | 446 | | 9 with permissible jurisdictions for the conduct of |
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| 447 | 447 | | 10 interactive gaming, provided the agreements are not |
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| 448 | 448 | | 11 inconsistent with federal law and the law of the |
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| 449 | 449 | | 12 jurisdiction in which the person placing a wager is |
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| 450 | 450 | | 13 located. |
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| 451 | 451 | | 14 |
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| 452 | 452 | | 15 (b) An interactive gaming operator in this state may |
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| 453 | 453 | | 16 accept interactive gaming wagers from persons physically |
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| 454 | 454 | | 17 located in a permissible jurisdiction pursuant to a |
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| 455 | 455 | | 18 reciprocal agreement. |
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| 456 | 456 | | 19 |
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| 457 | 457 | | 20 (c) A reciprocal agreement with a permissible |
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| 458 | 458 | | 21 jurisdiction may allow a person physically located in this |
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| 459 | 459 | | 22 state to place a wager on an interactive game offered 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029222HB0162 |
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| 460 | 460 | | 1 pursuant to a regulatory structure in the permissible |
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| 461 | 461 | | 2 jurisdiction. |
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| 462 | 462 | | 3 |
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| 463 | 463 | | 4 |
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| 464 | 464 | | 5 |
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| 465 | 465 | | 6 (a) Any person who knowingly accepts an interactive |
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| 466 | 466 | | 7 gaming wager or otherwise operates a business of |
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| 467 | 467 | | 8 interactive gaming and does not possess a valid permit |
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| 468 | 468 | | 9 issued by the commission under this article shall be |
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| 469 | 469 | | 10 subject to the following, in addition to any penalty |
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| 470 | 470 | | 11 imposed under W.S. 6-7-102: |
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| 471 | 471 | | 12 |
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| 472 | 472 | | 13 (i) For a first offense, a civil penalty of |
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| 473 | 473 | | 14 fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00); |
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| 474 | 474 | | 15 |
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| 475 | 475 | | 16 (ii) For a second or subsequent offense, a civil |
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| 476 | 476 | | 17 penalty of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00). |
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| 477 | 477 | | 18 |
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| 478 | 478 | | 19 (b) Any person that allows a person under the age of |
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| 479 | 479 | | 20 twenty‑one (21) years to engage in interactive gaming or who |
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| 480 | 480 | | 21 does not possess a valid permit issued by the commission |
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| 481 | 481 | | 22 under this article and that provides or makes available |
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| 482 | 482 | | 23 computers or devices to enable members of the public to 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029223HB0162 |
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| 483 | 483 | | 1 participate in interactive gaming in a specific place, or |
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| 484 | 484 | | 2 that establishes or maintains a facility for the conduct of |
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| 485 | 485 | | 3 interactive gaming by members of the public, shall be |
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| 486 | 486 | | 4 subject to the following, in addition to any penalty |
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| 487 | 487 | | 5 imposed under W.S. 6-7-102: |
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| 488 | 488 | | 6 |
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| 489 | 489 | | 7 (i) For a first offense, a civil penalty of |
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| 490 | 490 | | 8 twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00); |
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| 491 | 491 | | 9 |
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| 492 | 492 | | 10 (ii) For a second or subsequent offense, a civil |
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| 493 | 493 | | 11 penalty of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00). |
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| 494 | 494 | | 12 |
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| 495 | 495 | | 13 (c) If a series of similar events result in a |
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| 496 | 496 | | 14 violation under this article, those events that occur |
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| 497 | 497 | | 15 within the same month shall be treated as one (1) offense |
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| 498 | 498 | | 16 and not separate and distinct offenses. |
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| 499 | 499 | | 17 |
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| 500 | 500 | | 18W.S. 6-7-101(a)(iii) by creating a new |
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| 501 | 501 | | 19 subparagraph (P) and 11-25-104(o) by creating a new |
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| 502 | 502 | | 20 paragraph (iii) are amended to read: |
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| 503 | 503 | | 21 |
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| 504 | 504 | | 22 |
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| 505 | 505 | | 23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029224HB01621 (a) As used in this article: |
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| 506 | 506 | | 2 |
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| 507 | 507 | | 3 (iii) "Gambling" means risking any property for |
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| 508 | 508 | | 4 gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, the |
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| 509 | 509 | | 5 operation of a gambling device or the happening or outcome |
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| 510 | 510 | | 6 of an event, including a sporting event, over which the |
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| 511 | 511 | | 7 person taking a risk has no control, but does not include |
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| 512 | 512 | | 8 any of the following: |
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| 513 | 513 | | 9 |
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| 514 | 514 | | 10 |
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| 515 | 515 | | 11 |
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| 516 | 516 | | 12 |
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| 517 | 517 | | 13 |
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| 518 | 518 | | 14 |
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| 519 | 519 | | 15 |
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| 520 | 520 | | 16 |
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| 521 | 521 | | 17 (o) In addition to all other duties, the commission, |
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| 522 | 522 | | 18 in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall: |
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| 523 | 523 | | 19 |
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| 524 | 524 | | 20 |
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| 525 | 525 | | 21 |
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| 526 | 526 | | 22 |
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| 527 | 527 | | 23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-029225HB01621. Not later than December 31, 2025 the |
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| 528 | 528 | | 2 gaming commission shall promulgate rules required by this |
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| 529 | 529 | | 3 act. |
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| 530 | 530 | | 4 |
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| 531 | 531 | | 5 |
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| 532 | 532 | | 6 |
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| 533 | 533 | | 7 (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this |
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| 534 | 534 | | 8 section, this act is effective immediately upon completion |
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| 535 | 535 | | 9 of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided |
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| 536 | 536 | | 10 by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution. |
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| 537 | 537 | | 11 |
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| 538 | 538 | | 12 (b) Sections 1 and 2 of this act are effective |
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| 539 | 539 | | 13 January 1, 2026. |
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| 540 | 540 | | 14 |
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| 541 | 541 | | 15 (END) |
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