WyomingWyoming law excludes qualifying private games and charity raffles from gambling
Wyoming law leaves some private games out of gambling when players know one another, and limits the charitable raffles covered by the law.
What it does
Certain private games among people who know one another do not count as gambling if they meet the law’s conditions, including limits on public access and payments to organizers.
A raffle or drawing for charity falls within this provision only when all money left after costs, supplies, and winnings goes to charitable purposes.
Argument forPeople may be able to hold qualifying private games without them counting as gambling, while qualifying raffles must direct their remaining proceeds to charity.
Argument againstPeople may find the private-game rules limiting because games must stay private and organizers cannot be paid beyond their winnings.
More detail
The law leaves certain private games out of the definition of gambling. The provision covers a game, wager, or transaction that meets the private-game conditions. The game must be part of a genuine social relationship among people who know one another; a relationship formed to gamble does not qualify. Only individuals may take part. The game must not be advertised or open to the public, and no one may be paid to facilitate, take part in, host, or organize it beyond winnings. A business or fraternal organization may host the game only if gambling is not its primary source of revenue. The act took effect July 1, 2026.
The law leaves certain charitable raffles and drawings out of the definition of gambling. The provision covers raffles or drawings conducted for charitable purposes. All net proceeds remaining after costs, supplies, and winnings must go to charitable purposes. The act took effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 6Assigned Chapter Number 51Latest
- Mar 6Governor Mark Gordon Signed SEA No. 0038Became Law
- Mar 4H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0038
- Mar 4S President Signed SEA No. 0038
- Mar 3Assigned Number SEA No. 0038
- Vote recorded H 3rd Reading:Passed 58-0-4-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3H 3rd Reading:Passed 58-0-4-0-0Passed 2nd Chamber
- Mar 2H 2nd Reading:PassedMinor
- Feb 27H COW:PassedMinor
- Feb 26H Placed on General File
- Vote recorded H03 - Revenue:Recommend Do Pass 8-1-0-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 26H03 - Revenue:Recommend Do Pass 8-1-0-0-0Minor
- Feb 23H Introduced and Referred to H03 - RevenueMinor
- Feb 21H Received for IntroductionMinor
- Feb 20S 3rd Reading:Passed 31-0-0-0-0Passed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded S 3rd Reading:Passed 31-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 19S 2nd Reading:PassedMinor
- Feb 19S COW:PassedMinor
- Feb 16S Placed on General File
- Vote recorded S03 - Revenue:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 16S03 - Revenue:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0Minor
- Feb 9S Introduced and Referred to S03 - Revenue 30-1-0-0-0Minor
- Vote recorded S Introduced and Referred to S03 - Revenue 30-1-0-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 14S Received for IntroductionMinor
- Jan 14Bill Number AssignedIntroduced
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