Committee narrows charitable-raffles bill, keeps 50% minimum for charities

The Select Committee on Gaming on [date not specified] amended draft 27LSO0093 to remove language that would have delegated rulemaking on progressive-style raffles (like queen of hearts) to the Wyoming Gaming Commission while keeping a minimum 50%-of-gross-receipts requirement for charitable raffles and drawings. Representative Webb moved the amendment and the committee carried it.

The amendment follows extended committee discussion about whether allowing the commission to define exemptions by rule would create an unlawful delegation of legislative authority and whether the commission could enforce rules for unlicensed charitable raffles. LSO staff summarized the draft and explained the bill would change the criminal-code exemption for raffles and drawings, require a minimum that net proceeds equal at least 50% of gross receipts, and had previously included rulemaking text on progressive games.

Director Laramendi of the Wyoming Gaming Commission told the committee that progressive raffles "are not legal" under the state's current case law absent statutory change and warned that the commission lacks licensing authority and reporting requirements needed to administer and enforce rules on charitable raffles. He said administrative enforcement would be ineffective without a licensing requirement, leaving enforcement to criminal prosecution under Title 6.

The committee directed LSO to draft research comparing statutory approaches in other states (including Colorado and Nebraska) and to return with potential language for handling progressive raffles. LSO confirmed conforming title changes and said, absent amendment, the bill's effective date would be 07/01/2027.