Wyoming Horse Racing Betting
Wyoming has a small but robust horse racing industry that has grown rapidly in recent years thanks to favorable legal developments and increased revenue from historical horse racing machines.
Legal Wyoming horse racing betting options include parimutuel wagering at race tracks, simulcasting at off-track betting facilities (OTBs), and online racebooks.
Wyoming’s race tracks and OTBs offer the most sociable wagering experience, while online horse racing betting provides maximum convenience and access to hundreds of tracks located worldwide.
Wyoming Horse Racing Betting Sites
$200 Welcome BonusTwinSpires Offer Code: BET200
Void where prohibited. Terms and conditions apply. Offer for TwinSpires Racing only. See TwinSpires.com for details. Must be 18+ (21+ where applicable). For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
$150 Deposit BonusAmWager Promo Code: BUSA150
Promotional offer valid and continues until further notice.
Open to new AmWager account holders who have not previously opened an AmWager account. Individuals may only have one (1) AmWager account and may only qualify for a signup promotion one (1) time.
The First Deposit Match Bonus promotion applies to the first deposit made; any subsequent deposits will not apply.
The amount of the first deposit will determine the amount of the bonus and bets that must be placed to earn the bonus. For example, to qualify for the maximum bonus of $150 an initial deposit of $150 is required and total bets must equal $150 or more within 30 days of sign up. Cancelled wagers and refunded wagers are not eligible and will not be counted towards the promotion.
The total promotional wagering credits will be credited to the AmWager account in a single deposit within seven (7) business days of meeting the betting requirements for this promotion. Any promotional wagering credits deposited to a player’s account must be wagered and cannot be withdrawn from the account. Any winnings from those wagers are cash and can be withdrawn.
Any portion of the promotional credits unused expires after 30 days.
Account must remain in good standing to be eligible for all promotions. Returned deposits during the promotional period will cancel eligibility to receive promotional wagering credit.
Limit one promotional offer per household.
50% up to $300Iron Bets Racing Promo Code: BUSA
18/21+, T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
The Wyoming Gaming Commission requires horse racing betting sites to apply for advance deposit wagering licenses and demonstrate compliance with all applicable laws before commencing operations.
The Commission does not provide a list of licensed ADWs, but readers can reference the latest monthly revenue reports to see which online racebooks are licensed and active in Wyoming.
Note: Wyoming’s monthly revenue reports are not comprehensive because multiple horse racing betting sites operate as affiliates of licensed operators. For example, FanDuel Racing does not appear on the revenue reports because it operates via TVG’s Wyoming horse racing betting license.
Online Racebooks in Wyoming
- Twinspires
- AmWager
- Iron Bets Racing
- FanDuel Racing
- DRF Bets
- Xpressbet
- NYRA Bets
- 1/ST Bet
- TVG
- WatchandWager
- Keeneland Select
- Hollywood Races
- 123Bet.com
- HorsePlay.com
*Note: Horseplay.com is not a traditional horse racing betting website. Instead, it offers casino-style games online that generate random outcomes based on the results of live horse races. Horseplay meets the legal definition of an ADW in Wyoming, but it resembles online gambling more than horse racing wagering.
State law allows licensed Wyoming horse racing betting apps and websites to accept any number of the following deposit methods:
- Cash deposits made in person
- Personal checks, cashier’s checks, and money orders
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Electronic funds transfers
Wyoming Horse Race Tracks
Wyoming has three racetracks, each hosting around 20 race days annually between May and September.
Opportunities to watch and wager on live races are sparse in Wyoming compared to other states, but the industry is on the upswing. Wyoming horse racing betting handle, approved race days, and purses have steadily increased every year, largely thanks to contributions from historical horse racing machines.
Wyoming Downs
10180 Hwy 89 North
Evanston, WY 82930
Wyoming Downs is a quarter horse and thoroughbred race track located about ten miles north of Evanston and just over 80 miles by highway northwest of Salt Lake City.
The scenic track receives overwhelmingly positive reviews from visitors, who frequently mention the courteous staff, friendly attendees, and overall sense of old-fashioned charm.
Wyoming Downs holds about 20 weekend race days every June through August. The track also hosts special events on race weekends featuring activities like family group rides, Father’s Day stick horse races, the July Freedom Rally honoring military and first responders, the best derby hat contest on Lady’s Day, and more.
General Admission tickets are $10, which covers a race program and seating in the Upper Grandstand, Lower Grandstand, or the outdoor area in front of the track. Parking and children under 12 are free.
Sweetwater Downs
3320 Yellowstone Road
Rock Springs, WY 82901
Sweetwater Downs at the Sweetwater Events Complex hosts live horse racing on Saturdays, Sundays, and some Fridays from August through September.
Most Sweetwater Downs events are quarter horse races, but the schedule also includes a handful of thoroughbred races. Sweetwater Downs also hosts special events on race day weekends, including kids’ stick pony races, an annual derby hat contest, and other family-friendly activities.
Tickets are $5, and kids under 12 are free.
Energy Downs at Cam-Plex Morningside Park
1635 Reata Drive
Gillette, WY 82718
Energy Downs hosts live horse racing on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and one Monday from May through June each year. The track has had Wyoming’s shortest race meet in recent years, but the 16-ish race days are enough to generate roughly $2,000,000 in purses.
During the live racing season, Energy Downs also hosts Indian Relay races, bronc riding, and a derby dog dash for Corgis and Dachshunds. Tickets are $10 on race days, but children under 17 are free.
Wyoming Off-Track Betting Locations
Wyoming’s three race tracks operate nearly 40 off-track betting facilities (OTBs) in total.
Some Wyoming OTBs are standalone buildings dedicated to simulcasting and historical horse racing machines, while others operate inside bars and restaurants.
Guests must be 18 or older to place wagers, but some venues restrict entry to anyone under 21.
The Gaming Commission maintains an up-to-date list of Wyoming OTB locations.
Wyoming Historical Horse Racing Machines
Players can find HHRs at OTB locations across Wyoming in places like bars, restaurants, hotel lobbies, and liquor stores. Some Wyoming HHR facilities enforce a minimum age of 18 to play, while others are only open to players 21 and above.
Historical horse racing machines (HHRs) are legal and widespread in Wyoming. They’re also singlehandedly responsible for dragging the Wyoming horse racing industry back from the brink of extinction.
Historical horse racing machines closely resemble slots but generate results based on past horse races, which qualifies HHRs as a form of parimutuel wagering under state law. The other big difference is that HHRs generate vastly larger revenue figures for race track operators than pari-mutuel wagering.
Wyoming Online Horse Racing Betting Law
Wyoming legalized advance deposit wagering via HB 31 in 2011.
Advance deposit wagering allows customers to sign up for accounts at licensed horse racing sites and place real-money bets on races that take place nationwide.
Legal ADWs pool wagers they take online with wagers placed at each track, which supports local race tracks and ensures customers receive full track payouts.
Under the law, out-of-state simulcast facilities may apply for licenses to accept wagers “in-person or electronically” from Wyoming residents.
The Wyoming ADW licensing process is intensive to ensure operators are adequately funded, treat customers fairly, and promote responsible gambling. Some of their legally mandated duties include:
- Providing detailed budgets demonstrating their financial resources, anticipated revenue, expenditures, and cash flows by month for the duration of the license when applying for ADW licenses
- Allowing the Gaming Commission to inspect their premises, operations, and financials to ensure compliance with all state laws
- Maintaining detailed records of every wager placed by customers
- Collecting the following information from every customer upon registration: full legal name, principal residential address, phone number, social security number, identification proving they are at least 18, written confirmation if they wish to use a credit card to deposit funds, signature, and a completed W-9 form
Some of the more notable consumer protection regulations require licensed Wyoming ADWs to:
- Avoid deceptive advertising
- Provide contact information for problem gambling resources to all customers
- Provide detailed account activity statements covering the last 30 days to any customer upon request
- Complete withdrawal requests within five business days
In addition, all Wyoming horse racing betting sites must pay a source market fee determined by the Gaming Commission. Per state law, the source market fee is not to exceed 10% of the gross receipts of all wagers Wyoming residents place with licensed ADWs.
Readers can see all Wyoming horse racing laws here:
Wyoming Horse Racing Betting FAQ
Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of BettingUSA.com. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.