House TRW advances bill allowing Wyoming Lottery to accept debit cards, not credit
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Summary
The House TRW committee voted 8–0 (1 excused) to advance Senate File 24, which would let the Wyoming Lottery accept debit-card purchases at retail locations; supporters said the change is intended for retailer security and modernization and not to expand gaming.
The House TRW advanced Senate File 24 on a unanimous roll-call vote in committee on Monday, clearing a one-page bill that would allow the Wyoming Lottery to accept debit-card payments at retail locations while explicitly excluding credit-card purchases.
Chairman Byron opened the committee’s consideration of the bill and invited Lottery representatives to present. Jessie Dafoe of the Wyoming Lottery told the committee that the measure came out of interim work and was designed to provide “security overall for our retailers” and to modernize payment options. ‘‘This is strictly a security issue and modernization issue that we’re looking to solve,’’ Dafoe said.
John Klontz, the Lottery’s chief executive, emphasized the agency’s opposition to credit-card use for lottery tickets. ‘‘We are not interested in credit cards. I would never ask for credit cards,’’ Klontz said, adding that debit acceptance is a convenience for players and reduces cash on hand at retail locations. Klontz also said the Lottery would cover associated fees; he described the expected revenue impact as modest.
Matt Kaufman, outside counsel for the Lottery, told the committee that the state’s retail network comprises roughly 520 locations, many of them convenience stores, and that high jackpots can raise security concerns for those retailers. Kaufman said the proposed policy includes safeguards to limit purchases and to preserve problem-gaming protections.
Stakeholder groups that testified supported the bill after the Lottery addressed key concerns. Mike Mosier of the Wyoming State Liquor Association said the association supports the bill provided three conditions are met: no credit-card acceptance, retailer participation must be optional, and the Lottery must absorb transaction costs. ‘‘We don’t want it. The lottery doesn’t want it. We don’t want credit cards,’’ Mosier said, praising a Lottery resolution that the association said addressed those issues. Jonathan Downing of the Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association also voiced support, noting collaborative discussions and a resolution that responded to courier-service and other concerns.
A committee member asked whether a clearer data package about retailer safety could accompany the bill on the floor; Chairman Byron said staff would work with members to assemble appropriate information but that some security details should not be broadly publicized. After brief page-by-page consideration and no amendments, Representative Wharf moved the committee report and Representative Campbell seconded. The committee recorded eight ayes with one excused and advanced the bill to the full House for further consideration.
The committee adjourned and scheduled additional senate-file briefings for the following week. The bill’s exact operational limits and any implementation details (for example, purchase limits at point of sale) will be finalized as the measure moves toward a floor vote.