However, similar pieces of legislation failed in 2007 and 2009 with opponents arguing that the state, which is the nation’s smallest in terms of population with just over 563,000 inhabitants despite being its tenth largest in area, does not have enough residents to enable a lottery to make any significant amounts of money.
According to a report from Billings Gazette newspaper, other antagonists claim that having a lottery would create ‘social problems from people prone to gambling addiction’ with new Republican Governor Matt Mead questioning whether having such a programme would raise enough money to offset any ‘negatives’.
In a separate move, the Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee also approved House Bill 188, which would make it clear, if passed, that casual poker games are legal in the state.
Wyoming is solidly Republican and has not voted for a Democrat candidate for President since 1964. Current laws allow individual county attorneys to take different interpretations of the state’s law on professional gambling, which is a felony.
House Bill 188 specifies that people who have a ‘bona fide social relationship’ would be able to engage legally in social poker games with supporters saying that the legislation has been designed to protect innocent players from the risk of arrest.
Both pieces of legislation are now scheduled to go before the full Wyoming House of Representatives for debate and a possible vote.
Source
According to a report from Billings Gazette newspaper, other antagonists claim that having a lottery would create ‘social problems from people prone to gambling addiction’ with new Republican Governor Matt Mead questioning whether having such a programme would raise enough money to offset any ‘negatives’.
In a separate move, the Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee also approved House Bill 188, which would make it clear, if passed, that casual poker games are legal in the state.
Wyoming is solidly Republican and has not voted for a Democrat candidate for President since 1964. Current laws allow individual county attorneys to take different interpretations of the state’s law on professional gambling, which is a felony.
House Bill 188 specifies that people who have a ‘bona fide social relationship’ would be able to engage legally in social poker games with supporters saying that the legislation has been designed to protect innocent players from the risk of arrest.
Both pieces of legislation are now scheduled to go before the full Wyoming House of Representatives for debate and a possible vote.
Source