Wyoming Lawmakers Reopen Debate Over Small Town Raffles And Poker

Wyoming lawmakers are being asked to revisit charitable gaming rules after new enforcement changes shut down raffles and limited small poker games.

Good to Know

• The Wyoming Gaming Commission halted Queen of Hearts raffles and some card games after Senate Bill 44 passed in March.
• Operators say the changes hurt nonprofit fundraising in local communities.
• The Select Committee on Gaming also reviewed offshore online gaming and Historical Horse Racing revenue.

The fight is not only about poker or raffles. Local operators told the Select Committee on Gaming that nonprofit groups are losing a reliable fundraising tool because of the new law.

Bryan Grzegorczyk, owner of Alf’s Pub in Cheyenne, said his weekly Thankful Thursdays 50/50 raffle has helped raise $4.5 million for local nonprofits. Those groups include veterans organizations, the Rotary Club and mule deer conservation work.

He said:

“Please don’t restrict us in helping give back to our community.”

Poker Rooms Also Feel The Change

Senate Bill 44 aimed to tighten charitable games held in bars and restaurants. Lawmakers argued that some events had moved beyond simple social entertainment, which state law originally allowed.

However, the new language has created trouble for venues that hosted small poker games. The Bull Moose Saloon in Alpine raised similar concerns in March. Its upstairs poker room, Yo’s Poker Palace, usually drew a dozen or fewer players on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Under the new rules, players must have a “bona fide social relationship,” meaning they need a prior connection outside gambling. Games also cannot be advertised, and even a website mention or bar sign could breach the law.

The restrictions go further. Businesses cannot charge fees or rake. Dealers cannot take tips. The law also bars anyone from receiving “any remuneration from facilitating, participating in, hosting, or organizing the game, wager, or transaction other than the direct realization of winnings.”

Beyond charitable gaming, the committee also reviewed Historical Horse Racing. Members discussed how Wyoming uses state revenue from the slots-like HHR machines tied to the horse racing sector.

Offshore online gaming drew attention as well. Wyoming Gaming Commission Executive Director Nick Larramendy said some companies use Wyoming corporate filings while running offshore gambling sites. According to Larramendy:

“These companies are offshore … several of the ones that we’ve found … look like an RV park somewhere or just an empty lot.”

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