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Committee rejects moratorium on new terminals but asks LSO to draft skills‑based gaming bill
Summary
The committee voted down moratorium draft 26 LSO 0152 by a 4‑2 roll call, but approved a separate request to have LSO prepare a bill draft addressing skills‑based gaming and similar devices for management council consideration.
The Select Committee on Gaming declined to advance a proposed moratorium (26 LSO 0152) on new gaming activity by a roll call vote of 4 no to 2 yes. The motion to move the moratorium failed on the committee floor. Committee members then voted to request that LSO draft legislation focused on skills‑based gaming and related definitions and bring that concept to management council; that request passed unanimously among members present.
The moratorium measure had been amended in committee to add skills‑based gaming to its definition of covered activity; the added language specified establishments that operate truck stops, smoke shops, or premises licensed to sell alcoholic liquor or malt beverages under cited Wyoming statutes. Proponents of the moratorium sought a temporary pause to allow lawmakers to study skills‑based games and their placement in everyday retail settings.
During discussion several members signaled concerns about the scope of a moratorium and the need for a focused draft. LSO counsel advised the committee that, if it favored a narrower policy effort, staff could prepare a bill draft for management council with the committee’s direction. The committee voted to ask LSO to prepare such a bill; LSO said it would convert the concept into a bill draft and present it through the cochairs to management council.
The roll call on the moratorium (26 LSO 0152) was recorded as: Senator Crago — no; Senator McKeown — no; Representative Johnson — no; Representative Webb — aye; Co‑chair Cole — no; Co‑chair Lee — aye. After that vote, the committee approved, by roll call, a directive asking LSO to draft legislation on skills‑based gaming and present it to management council; the vote to request that draft was recorded as a unanimous recommendation in committee.
