Wyoming Charitable Bingo, Raffle, Pull-Tab Law

Wyo. § 6-7-101(a)(iii) defines "gambling" as risking property for gain on chance, then carves out specific charitable exceptions rather than banning nonprofit fundraising games outright. S. 11-25-104(n); only volunteers or paid staff of the organization run the games; players are eighteen or older; at least 65% of gross sales are redeemed as winnings each month; and of the net proceeds left after paying winnings, no more than 40% goes to equipment distributors while 75% of what remains must be donated within one year to a bona fide charitable purpose.

Paragraph (F) applies a parallel license-and-payout structure to calcutta wagering on rodeos, cutter-horse and dog-sled racing, and golf tournaments run by veterans', religious, fraternal, or civic nonprofits, capping prize payouts at 90% of wagers and requiring at least 10% of the pool donated within a year, thirty days' advance notice to the host county or municipality, and IRS wagering-tax compliance. Raffles get simpler treatment under paragraph (H): no state license is required, but 100% of net proceeds after costs and prizes must go to a charitable purpose.

Paragraph (M) folds in whatever else the Wyoming Gaming Commission separately authorizes under Title 11, Chapter 25, the chapter that actually houses the licensing mechanics referenced throughout § 6-7-101. Anything falling outside these carve-outs, or run by an organization that never obtains its Commission license, forfeits the exclusion and becomes ordinary or professional gambling under § 6-7-102.

A charitable game that skips the Wyoming Gaming Commission license, misses the payout or donation percentages, or lets a paid outside operator run it loses its § 6-7-101(a)(iii) exclusion entirely. Because the organization profits from facilitating the game, prosecutors can charge it as professional gambling under § 6-7-102(b), a felony carrying up to three years in prison and a $3,000 fine. An individual player in an unlawful game instead faces § 6-7-102(a) misdemeanor gambling: up to six months in jail and a $750 fine.