SWEETWATER COUNTY — The Sweetwater County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to approve Wyoming Downs LLC to expand historic horse racing terminals to more establishments throughout Sweetwater County.
The approval was made with the amendment that there be a time frame set on the agreement, established for June 30, 2021, in which the commissioners can then reassess the request.
This time frame was selected to go in accordance with HB171, which was previously passed by the Wyoming State Legislature in which they authorized continued use of skills games in Wyoming through June 30, 2021. The Legislature will then revisit the issue of skills games in Wyoming establishments.
HB171 currently limits bars and establishments to four skills game machines. However, the historic horse racing terminals are Vegas-style slot machines, and are not considered skills games, and therefore are not included in HB171 at this time.
Since 2013, Wyoming Downs has legally operated historic horse racing terminals throughout the state of and operates pari-mutuel simulcast wagering within Sweetwater County. The request that was approved Tuesday grants them permission to expand locations to “small sites,” which are mostly bars, throughout the county.
Eric Nelson, Wyoming Downs Manager, said they will probably expand into five or six facilities in Rock Springs and possibly two or three locations elsewhere in the county.
The commissioners approved the request despite two county residents expressing concerns against the expansion.
Bobby Jenkins, owner and partner of Jenkins Music and Vending, said that he wanted to see the commissioners table the request or oppose it to avoid making a “blanket approval” that would “give up local control”.
“As per state statute, you must have approvals by county commissioners and each location by the county commissioners and the Wyoming Gaming Commission,” he said.
Jenkins said he does not believe the expansion follows the intent of the Wyoming Legislature, and that any decisions such as this one should take place after the Wyoming Legislature revisits the topic in 2021. As the statute is currently written, there are no limitations on these types of machines, but that may change in July 2021.
“We don’t feel it follows the current intent of the Wyoming Legislature to limit the number of machines in bars and restaurants,” Jenkins said.
Jim Blazovich, of Wind River Vending and Cowboy Skills in Sweetwater County, agreed that this decision should wait, “at least until there’s some feedback from the state and Wyoming Legislature so we know exactly where to proceed from there.”
Jenkins also expressed the concern that these types of Vegas-style slot machines would take over Wyoming bars like he believes they have in Montana.
“Many casinos have decimated entertainment in Montana’s traditional bars and taverns, replacing pool tables and dart boards with slot machines in every corner of usable space,” Jenkins said.
The commissioners will reassess their decision in July 2021, in which they will look at what the state is doing, the impact the additional locations have on the community, and the impact on the county’s tax revenue.
