Wyomingites may soon be able to gamble from the comfort of their own homes if a state lawmaker gets his way.

Rep. Bob Davis plans to reintroduce HB120 this upcoming session after failing to pass the legislation earlier this year. The bill would legalize online slots, poker, blackjack and other card or gambling games and place those games under the scope of the Wyoming Gaming Commission.Online gambling, or iGaming, could generate nearly $1 billion in the near future, according to a feasibility study about expanding gambling in Wyoming.

“The biggest thing is that it’s occurring illegally in the state of Wyoming,” he said. “And so, we need to do something to protect the wagering public, in my opinion.

Then along with that comes some other benefits to the state.”Davis’ decision to refile comes on the heels of that study, done for the Wyoming Gaming Commission by Spectrum Gaming Group of Linwood, New Jersey.Illegal gambling operations have been popping up for years including a ring that was busted earlier this year involving a man and his employee who allegedly ran illegal online gambling operations out of coffee shops in Casper and Gillette and a vape store in Mills. 

“Wyoming appears to be in an enviable position to expand its gaming operations to include internet gaming should it decide to proceed with this endeavor,” the study says.Davis said the study reinforces his perspective on gambling in the state.“Wyoming has been very proactive. They did that with sports wagering, they did that with the games of skill,” he said. “They’re aware of what’s going on, and we need to act and get it under control.