A quartet of Wyoming legislators, seemingly out of nowhere, introduced an online casino bill earlier this week.

Representatives Jon Conrad, Robert Davis, Sandy Newsome, and Tom Walters introduced House Bill 120 to legalize “interactive gaming” and to be overseen by the Wyoming Gaming Commission.

Walters was the primary sponsor of Wyoming’s successful 2021 effort to legalize online sports betting and fantasy sports. DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, and BetMGM operate there.

The online casino bill would allow gamblers 18 and older to play and operators would be taxed at a 10% rate.

Up to five interactive gaming operator permits would be available, each requiring an initial fee of $100,000 and renewable every five years. Renewals cost $50,000 for each five-year period. Vendor permits carry an initial fee of $10,000 with a $5,000 renewal fee every five years.

The bill demands that any would-be operator already be active and in good standing in three other states.

Operators granted permits in Wyoming can establish reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions, and HB 120 additionally mandates that $300,000 of annual tax revenue be allocated to problem gambling programs.

Photo: Getty Images