Casper council seeks temporary pause on gaming expansion, asks staff to draft moratorium excluding skill-based games

The Casper City Council directed staff to draft an ordinance establishing a temporary moratorium on the expansion of gaming and gambling establishments, with staff and councilors planning further study of geographic scope, spacing and long-term zoning options.

City Manager (unnamed) framed the discussion and said staff's review of the zoning code shows gaming is permitted or conditional in several districts (C2, C3 with 300-foot school/church spacing, C4, M1/M2 and form-based code areas). "If council wishes to explore changes to city zoning allowances, staff would recommend a temporary moratorium," the city manager said, later noting that 180 days is a typical moratorium length.

Council concerns and proposed approach

Councilors raised consistent concerns: perceived oversaturation of gaming in parts of town, compatibility of gaming with family-focused districts and downtown character, the public-safety workload for police and fire, and the need for baseline data (number and location of existing games, crime overlays, and revenue implications). Several council members urged a measured pause to gather data and craft a targeted regulatory approach rather than reacting case-by-case.

Districts, spacing and skill-based games: options under consideration

Options discussed include: a citywide moratorium to buy time for study; corridor- or district-based zoning that concentrates gaming to limited areas; conditional-use permitting with reasonable operating conditions and distance buffers from sensitive uses; and excluding some game types (for example, staff placed a draft moratorium that would exclude skill-based gaming).

Council direction and next steps

Councilors asked staff to return a draft ordinance for first reading to impose a temporary pause while staff compiles baseline data and legal research. A small working group of councilors volunteered to advise staff on policy elements and priorities. The city attorney cautioned that moratoria must be reasonably short and well-justified, and staff noted timing constraints for drafting ordinance language and potential revenue considerations during budget season.

What this means: The moratorium would not automatically change rights of existing, vested operators; staff said typical approaches grandfather in current licensed sites but prevent new expansions while policy work proceeds. Council emphasized that the pause is intended to allow staff to assemble data, consult state regulators and craft a defensible long-term framework that could include districting, spacing and conditional-use rules.

Sources: City Manager presentation and council discussion during the City Council meeting.