January 16, 2025 3 min read

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Lawmakers in Wyoming and Indiana to Consider iGaming Legalization

A couple of online gambling bills are making their way in the two states, proposing the legalization of iGaming

Legal sports betting is available in close to 40 US states as of the start of 2025. Despite the statewide expansion of the activity, online gambling remains limited to a handful of states.

While iGaming is yet to pick up speed and expand as sports betting did, more states are exploring options for legalizing online gambling as a way to generate tax revenue and combat the black market.

Online Gambling Bills Pick Up Speed in Two States

Indiana and Wyoming are two states that are looking to join the list of US jurisdictions that permit online gambling. Currently, only seven US states offer legal iGaming with the list including New Jersey, Michigan, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and Rhode Island.

However, proposals in Indiana and Wyoming seek to change that, helping the list of iGaming states grow, while benefiting from additional tax revenue. That would be the case given that lawmakers in the two states help advance recently filed proposals that call for the legalization of the activity.

House Bill 1432 Makes Its Way in Indiana

In Indiana, Rep. Ethan Manning authored a new proposal, House Bill 1432 (HB 1432), which seeks to authorize online gambling across the state. Per the proposal, the state’s Lottery Commission will be permitted to offer draw games and eInstant games online, and also authorize and regulate online gambling activities by licensing casinos, racetracks and riverboats.

Rep. Manning’s proposal calls for taxation of online gambling between 22% and 30%. It seeks to enhance voluntary exclusion programs and at the same time “support the horse racing industry and revenue sharing to cities and counties in which casinos are operated.”

Notably, HB 1432 proposes the offering of the “digital representations” of popular casino-style games such as blackjack, slots, roulette and poker. It seeks to establish a regulatory framework for iGaming and generate contributions to responsible gambling efforts across Indiana thanks to taxes and license fees.

After it was recently introduced by Rep. Manning, HB 1432 will be up for its first reading which is scheduled for January 21, 2025. After its first reading, the iGaming bill’s next stop will be the Committee on Public Policy.

Wyoming Eyes Online Gambling Legislation

On the other hand, an iGaming proposal in Wyoming is also picking up speed. The proposal, HB 0162, was introduced by Rep. Robert Davis. The bill is also sponsored by Reps. Landon Brown and J.T.Larson, and proposes the authorization of online gambling and the establishment of regulation of the activity in Wyoming.

Similar to the iGaming bill in Indiana, its counterpart in Wyoming seeks to generate proceeds from tax revenue and license fees. The regulation of iGaming will be in the hands of the Wyoming Gaming Commission (WGC). Per HB 0162, online gambling would be subject to a 16% tax. The first $300,000 monthly tax revenue would be set aside for the Wyoming Department of Health to benefit programs for gambling addiction.

On the other hand, operators interested in securing an iGaming license would be subject to a $100,000 fee. Each license will be awarded for a period of five years and after the expiry of that period, the iGaming operator will pay a $50,000 renewal fee.

It is clear that Wyoming and Indiana lawmakers have a shot at legalizing online gambling. Whether or not they are willing to go down that road remains to be seen. Still, if the two states greenlight iGaming, they may help pave the way for the expansion of the activity to more US states.

Journalist

Jerome brings a wealth of journalistic experience within the iGaming sector. His interest in the industry began after graduating from college, where he regularly participated in local poker tournaments. This exposure led him to the growing popularity of online poker and casino rooms. Jerome now channels all the knowledge he's accrued to fuel his passion for journalism, providing our team with the latest scoops online.

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