SWEETWATER COUNTY — Wyoming Downs LLC is seeking Sweetwater County Commission approval to open a new satellite location in Rock Springs to conduct pari-mutual wagering on horse racing.
The Sweetwater County Commission will meet Tuesday, May 17, at 8:30 am at the Sweetwater County Courthouse in which they will consider Wyoming Downs’ request.
The location of the proposed satellite location is 63 Center Street, which is the old Sears building. Wagering will be conducted on live horse racing, historical horse racing, and simulcast events. Wyoming Downs currently has 14 off-track wagering locations throughout Wyoming, including one in Rock Springs.
According to meeting documents, a purchase agreement has been negotiated by Wyoming Downs LLC at 63 Center Street, and it is expected to close within the next 60 days with construction beginning shortly thereafter. Wyoming Downs plans to have approximately 10 to 17 live simulcast races to be displayed for each day, and approximately 140 historic horse racing terminals upon approval from the Wyoming Gaming Commission.
Wyoming Downs expects about 150 customers per day with proposed business hours 10 am to 12 am, seven days a week. Additionally, they anticipate about 10-15 new jobs would be generated in the county, and approximately $22,000 would be wagered each day, with anticipated operating costs to be approximately $15,000 a day.
According to the documents, 1 percent of historical race terminals or the total amoung wagered goes to the county and city in equal shares distributable by the State of Wyoming Treasurers office.
“We are estimating an annual $600,000 in annual taxes to be split 50/50 between city and county ($300,000 to City of Rock Springs and $300,000 to Sweetwater County),” Wyoming Downs LLC states in the documents.
To view the full meeting agenda, click here. To view the full meeting packet, click here.
