Catch Title: SF0045 Local Approval for Simulcasting

Category: Gaming

Sponsor: Management Council

Effective Date: July 1, 2026

Bill URL: SF0045 – Wyoming Legislature

 Overview:

SF0045 revises Wyoming’s pari-mutuel wagering statutes to require formal approval from local governing bodies (cities, towns, or counties) before the Wyoming Gaming Commission can issue or renew a simulcasting permit. The bill creates a standardized local approval pathway that includes public notice, hearings, and the ability for municipalities and counties to negotiate reasonable operating conditions. It also establishes specific jurisdictional objection rights and defines the criteria under which a local authority may revoke or deny a permit.

Key Provisions:

• Mandated Local Approval: Prohibits simulcasting unless the operator holds a commission-issued permit and has received approval from the governing body of the city (if within city limits) or the county (if outside city limits).
• City-County Coordination: Permits conducted within city limits are subject to review and potential objection by county commissioners, while permits within a half-mile of a city’s limits are subject to objection by that city.
• Negotiated Local Conditions: Local authorities may negotiated good-faith conditions regarding operating hours (not to be more restrictive than local liquor laws) and the physical placement of historic horse racing (HHR) terminals.
• Public Agenda Requirements: Objections from neighboring jurisdictions must be placed on a public agenda and formally addressed by the primary local approving authority before a permit is granted.
• Revocation for “Good Cause”: Limits permit revocation to specific grounds, including uncured breaches of conditions, violations of state gaming laws, or a serious adverse effect on the welfare of the local population.
• Transition Period: Existing simulcasting permit holders are grandfathered until June 30, 2027, at which point they must comply with the new local approval regulations.
• Fee Limitations: Explicitly limits applicant liability to the “actual cost” of publishing required legal notices, barring local authorities from imposing additional administrative processing fees.

Implications:

• Collaborative Jurisdictional Veto: The practical effect of the bill is to force cities and counties to work together; a permit cannot move forward until the primary local authority formally sustains, modifies, or overrules any timely submitted objections from its neighbor.
• Local Discretion via “Public Welfare”: The bill leaves the standard for permit revocation regarding the “welfare of the people” [Ambiguous: This term is not defined in the text], intentionally allowing local authorities broad discretion to address community-specific safety or character concerns.
• Absolute Exclusionary Power: For jurisdictions that have never hosted simulcasting, the bill grants absolute veto power; an applicant for a new permit has no right of appeal in district court if the local authority has not previously granted a permit within its boundaries.
• State vs. Local Boundaries: While local bodies gain permitting oversight, the Wyoming Gaming Commission retains exclusive jurisdiction over the core technical and integrity aspects of gaming, and local authorities are prohibited from imposing conditions that fall solely under state commission authority.
• Regulatory Certainty for Existing Operators: The one-year compliance period and the narrow “good cause” standards for existing facilities provide a measure of stability for operators who invested under the previous regulatory regime.