Committee pauses bill to give cities formal role in simulcasting approvals after extended debate

The House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources Committee heard extended testimony on House Bill 85, a measure that would change how simulcasting permits and historic horse‑racing (HHR) machine locations are authorized and regulated in Wyoming. After several hours of testimony from county and municipal associations, the Wyoming Gaming Commission, track operators and a privately financed track that opposes parts of the bill, the chair laid the bill back for additional drafting and stakeholder meetings.

Nick Laramendi, executive director of the Wyoming Gaming Commission, told the committee the bill would make the governing body of a municipality the local approving authority for simulcasting permits inside city limits while counties would continue to approve locations outside municipalities. The bill would require applicants to file with local approving authorities, require local public notice (two consecutive weeks and a website posting), allow local authorities to impose “reasonable conditions” (including hours of…