Wyoming lawmakers just advanced five new bills aimed at reining in the explosion of slot-machine-style gaming across the state, and yes, that includes the ever-controversial Historic Horse Racing (HHR) terminals we’ve been reporting on all year.
The measures, approved by the Legislative Management Council, will head into February’s 2026 session. If passed, they could reshape Wyoming’s fast-growing gambling landscape, which has ballooned far beyond the quaint “beer money” days of pull-tabs and bar poker.
What Lawmakers Want to Crack Down On
The five-bill package targets everything from mom-and-pop bar gaming to full-scale HHR operations:
- Clear authority to prosecute unregulated “casino-style” gaming, but carve-outs so you and your buddies playing cards at the kitchen table aren’t suddenly fugitives.
- New state-level felony penalties for money laundering.
- A ban on issuing new permits for “skill-based amusement” devices at businesses that sell package liquor (but don’t serve drinks on-site).
- Local government control (“kill switch”) over simulcasting terminals, meaning counties and towns could deny or heavily condition HHR and horse-wagering machines.
- Tighter definitions to prevent gaming operators from stretching loopholes into entire business models.
HHR Is Still the Elephant in the Room
If you’ve been following our HHR coverage, you know these terminals are Wyoming’s revenue monster.
Just last month, we reported that HHR handle blew past $2.04 billion statewide, a staggering number that dwarfs sports betting and far surpasses traditional “skill-game” cabinets.
Read our recent deep dives:
👉 HHR Hits $2 Billion Handle
👉 HHR and Skill Games Dwarfed Sports Betting in April
👉 How HHR Became Wyoming’s Most Powerful (And Quietest) Industry
For rural counties, HHR has funded everything from live racing to agricultural jobs. But the rapid growth has also sparked a much louder debate over limiting gambling in the state.
Why Jackson Should Be Paying Attention
Teton County isn’t exactly riddled with gaming cabinets, but under the proposed changes, local officials would have the power to outright block or restrict future HHR or simulcast terminals.
That’s a big deal.
A “no thanks” from county commissioners could shift gaming growth into neighboring counties or slow the statewide expansion entirely.
It also puts pressure on the broader debate we’ve been covering:
Does HHR actually help fund Wyoming’s rural industries and horse racing… or does it simply create casino revenue under a different label?
What’s Next?
Lawmakers will take up all five bills when the general session begins February 9.
If Wyoming does tighten the reins, expect ripple effects:
- Fewer new HHR locations
- More local fights over permit approvals
- A potential slowdown in gambling-driven revenue
The more cynical part of me wonders if the timing here is purely coincidental. With Wyoming potentially considering online casinos in 2026, it’s hard not to think this HHR crackdown might be connected.
HHR revenues have been nothing short of staggering, and it’s no secret that existing license holders probably aren’t thrilled about the idea of legal slot machines sitting in every pocket in the state.
And if online casinos ever do launch here, the state revenue they generate would almost certainly dwarf HHR, not to mention spread that money across all of Wyoming rather than concentrating it in just a handful of counties. In a conspiracy theory scenario, the first step would be to slow the growth of HHR, which certainly appears to be on the radar.
AntlersArch founder and the voice behind Teton Tattle.
