The History and Evolution of Casinos in Wyoming
Gambling has had a colorful past in our country, especially when you look at it on a state-by-state basis. Some states, like Nevada and New Jersey, embraced gambling, while others banned it outright. Many states fell somewhere in between, like Wyoming, which allowed for some forms of gambling, but not as many as today. Gaming in Wyoming has continued to evolve over the century and will likely continue to evolve in the near future. To appreciate where Wyoming's gambling culture is going, you must first appreciate where it came from.
Past
Wyoming has lagged behind most states in the U.S. regarding gambling in general, including casinos. Wyoming only allowed pari-mutuel betting, charitable gambling, and bingo for most of the twentieth century, but the Indian Gambling Regulatory Act changed that. The Northern Arapaho tribe sued Wyoming because they believed it was their right to open a casino under the law, but the state did everything it could to prevent it.
The tribe eventually took the state to court in 1995 and won after a decade-long legal battle. This paved the way for the Eastern Shoshone tribe to construct their first casino in Lander, Wyoming. Since then, the tribe has opened three more casinos in the state with no current plans to open anymore.
Present
Wyoming is now home to four casinos, two of which have hotels for those wishing to stay and play. Each casino offers a unique experience, so there is a reason to visit all four. The 789 smokeshop and casino offers a smaller, unique experience that is a one-stop shop for road trip needs and gaming. The Little Wind is another smaller casino, but it is packed with a variety of slots, from classics to the newest ideas in the gaming industry. The Shoshone Rose is one of the casinos offering hotel accommodations complete with a pool, fire pits, and on-site dining options.
The largest casino in the state is the Wind River Hotel and Casino. As Wyoming's premiere casino, Wind River has the most floorspace and games of all the Wyoming casinos. In addition to wildly popular slot machines, they also have table games, sports books, and a dedicated poker room. People who stay at the hotel can enjoy other benefits like a gym, multiple restaurants, and a gift shop. Another unique feature of the Wind River Casino is the dedicated RV space for those who want to visit while enjoying their own accommodations.
It is important to note that while there are only four casinos in Wyoming, there are plenty of gambling spaces around the state. There are multiple race tracks that offer other gambling options on top of betting on the races, and there are off-track betting outlets around the state that offer live horse racing bets along with historical horse racing machines.
Future
The future of casinos in Wyoming is exciting but uncertain. While they are not going anywhere, it seems like Wyoming fights every step the casinos try to take to expand gaming in the state. The Shoshone tribe is always thinking of ways to improve players' experience at their casinos, so the safest bet you can make is that the future of casinos in Wyoming is bright. There are many ideas circulating, from opening more casinos to expanding the types of gaming available. The tribe has even floated the idea of including liquor sales in their casinos.
Visit Wyoming
Wyoming has much to offer, but the casinos are at the top of the list. Casinos in Wyoming have come so far in the past few decades, which should give all of us optimism for the future. For now, we can appreciate where Wyoming casinos came from to get to this point and look forward to everything they will bring in the future.