With the attorney general’s decision that skill games terminals are illegal and playing those machines is considered gambling under state law, residents who enjoyed playing those machines are likely out of a means to enjoy those games.
Of course, a person could travel to Riverton or Lander and enjoy a traditional slot machine at a reservation casino. Residents could also decide to play one of the historic horse racing terminals, which look a lot like slot machines, available nearby as the attorney general’s opinion does not impact historic horse racing. Historic horse racing is something legalized under separate state statutes.
Regardless, what’s obvious to us is there is a demand for gambling. The demand might be large enough that the Wyoming Legislature may want to look at easing the state’s gambling laws to allow additional forms of gaming.
One of the easiest places to start is the state’s laws regarding the lottery to allow scratch games. One of the biggest complaints people have had about the lottery’s inception was the fact it only allowed for the purchase of lottery tickets, excluding scratch cards from being sold commercially. Allowing the expansion of cards would likely bring additional revenue to the state while allowing people to scratch that particular itch.
Laws regulating slot machines could also be examined and loosened to allow these “skill games” into Wyoming. Any movement on this would very likely face opposition from the state’s reservation casinos and Wyoming Horse Racing LLC., which operates the historic horse racing terminals in Wyoming, as a change in the law would certainly have an impact on their operations.
Yet, regardless of if the legislature decides to debate the issue or not, one thing to remember is while gambling does bring in a lot revenue, it generally impacts lower-income residents. There’s a reason why lotteries are often called a tax on the poor. Research shows low-income people are more inclined to purchase lottery tickets, buying into the dream of instant riches at a few dollars a ticket. Other forms of gambling see similar investment streams. While we support the individual’s right to choose if they want to gamble or buy a lottery ticket, there is something to be said about the state making money off of its poorer residents.
While we don’t doubt such moves to open up additional forms of gambling would be positively received by state residents, we’re not sure doing so would be a good idea.
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