FanDuel granted Wyoming sports betting license

Bettors in Wyoming can look forward to another mobile sportsbook option after the state regulator signed off on FanDuel’s license application last week.

The Wyoming Pari-Mutuel Commission, which is in charge of regulating gambling in the Cowboy State, unanimously approved the sportsbook during its quarterly meeting on Friday, making it the third sports betting app to secure a permit in the jurisdiction.

The decision by the regulator allows FanDuel to join rivals BetMGM and DraftKings in the regulated Wyoming sports betting market, which took off on September 1. Both operators began accepting bets on the first day and were able to take in $6.2 million worth of sports wagers in September.

FanDuel, however, has not announced when it will go live in the state. The operator is expected to pick a launch date after the Thanksgiving holiday, according to a spokesperson from the company.

Wyoming regulator to approve two more sportsbooks soon

Speaking after the Friday meeting, Wyoming Pari-Mutuel Commission’s sports wagering program manager, David Carpenter, revealed that the regulatory body is looking to license two more operators soon. The two sportsbooks set to receive licenses in Wyoming in the near future are Australian-based PointsBet and Penn National Gaming’s Barstool Sportsbook.

The commissioner also said that a third operator has expressed interest in offering bookmaking services in the state, but he did not reveal the name of the company. However, he said that the operator might have trouble securing a permit in the precinct since it is currently licensed in just two states.

Wyoming’s sports betting laws require companies applying for permits in the jurisdiction to be approved in at least three other US states.

Tribal casinos want to join in on the action

The Northern Arapaho Tribe, which operates three casinos in Wyoming, has also expressed interest in participating in the state’s sports betting market.

Speaking during the WPMC meeting last week, the Northern Arapaho Tribe’s staff attorney, L. Clare Johnson, said that the revenue generated by the tribe’s casinos had dropped significantly since the launch of statewide mobile betting. The three properties owned by the tribe are Wind River Hotel and Casino, Shoshone Rose Casino, and the Little Wind Casino.

Although the casinos offer in-person sports betting, the Northern Arapaho Tribe feels that being allowed to operate a statewide mobile sportsbook like DraftKings and BetMGM would put it in a position to generate more revenue. However, the current three-state rule bars the tribe from getting an online sportsbook license in Wyoming since it is not approved in any other regulated US market.

The attorney ended her statement with a proposal to amend the state’s sports betting law to allow the tribe to enter the statewide mobile betting market. Her remarks have been supported by Carpenter, who also believes that the three-state rule needs to be changed in order for local operators to join in on the action.