What stays in Wyoming stays in Wyoming.
That’s how lawmakers see the potential of a Class 3 gaming proposal from the Northern Arapaho Tribe.
House Bill 287 empowers the State Board of Land Commissioners to create up to two gaming districts in two separate counties. These counties must lie within 100 miles from a major metro area, which means Laramie and Uinta counties, Rep. Steve Harshman said.
“This is very targeted (and) very limited,” he said. “Really, it’s around population areas.”
Those population areas—Denver and Salt Lake City—are located outside Wyoming which means revenue from the gaming venues would come from visitors and tourists passing through on I-80, according to County 10.
“Ninety percent of it is going to be out-of-state dollars,” Harshman said. “It’s really an incredible opportunity.”
As for the gaming operator, that’s pretty specific. A Wyoming business that has operated two or more gaming venues for at least 10 years.
In other words: Northern Arapaho tribe.
The intent was to keep dollars in Wyoming,” state Senator Stephan Pappas said. While 35 percent of revenue remains with the state, the balance goes to the tribe.
“I prefer this methodology, rather than opening it up to just anybody who wants to do gaming in Wyoming,” Pappas said.
Northern Arapaho Business Council co-chair Karen Returns to War said a portion of the gaming revenue will support social service programs for Tribal members, but the main source will fund K-12 education in the state.
“We are deeply concerned by the state’s education funding shortage and the impact it is having on our tribal youth,” she said. “To our Tribe there is nothing more vital than the welfare of our children. They are our most precious resource. … We need to empower (them).”
“We believe this bill is good for Wyoming,” Returns to War said. “It will address the deficit in the state’s K-12 education funding. It will create jobs. … It will stimulate economic development and growth (and) keep the money here in the state.”
A report from the Innovation Group consultant firm forecast $90 million a year in revenue in Laramie County with another $100 million in economic impact. And this does not include hotel or restaurant business.
“(That would) be on top of all of these numbers,” he said.
