Wyoming Moves to Let You Buy Lottery Tickets with a Debit Card

Cash may no longer be king at the lottery counter. A Wyoming legislative committee voted Thursday to advance a bill that would let players buy WyoLotto tickets with debit cards, scrapping the state’s cash-only rule,  Wyoming News Now reports.

The Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee backed the draft 12–0 (two excused), sending it to the 2026 session. Lottery officials, lawyers and retailers framed the change as basic modernization, not a money grab.

“We’ll make a little extra money if it passes, but it’s less about that and more about the convenience factor,” said Wyoming Lottery CEO Jon Clontz.

Wyoming is one of just two lottery states that don’t take debit — and the only one with zero cashless option.

What the bill does (and doesn’t)

• Debit only. Legal counsel Matt Kaufman stressed the bill is narrowly written: no credit cards, no crypto, no Venmo.

• Retailer-friendly. WyoLotto pledged to cover all rollout costs, including the 2.25%–2.5% swipe fees, and participation is voluntary.

• Revenue bump, capped by costs. Clontz pegged the net gain at $300k–$400k a year (it could’ve been $800k–$1M without WyoLotto eating fees and equipment costs).

• Existing limits stay. The current $125 transaction cap remains in place.

• No online sales. Officials said app-based or courier ticket sales aren’t allowed and any future risk would be handled by internal rules and tracking.

Retail groups cheered the state covering fees. Mike Moser of the Wyoming State Liquor Association thanked WyoLotto for making opt-in optional and said debit poses fewer fraud worries than credit.

Sen. Wendy Schuler (R-Evanston) said the cash-only rule doesn’t really deter play — buyers just hit the ATM and pay extra fees. Co-Chair Sen. Bill Landen (R-Casper) added that letting stores take cards could reduce large cash piles during jackpot rushes, which is a safety plus.

The cautions

• Problem gambling. Rep. Karlee Provenza (D-Laramie) advanced the bill but flagged concerns about making purchases easier for vulnerable residents:

“I’m voting ‘aye’ today…but I don’t promise an ‘aye’ during the session.”

• Third-party “couriers.” Grier Bailey of the Colorado-Wyoming Petroleum Marketers warned against app-based middlemen mass-selling tickets. Lottery officials said they’ll guard against that via rules and tech.

Bottom line: lawmakers see convenience and competitiveness — plus retailer protections — outweighing the risks for now. If the full Legislature agrees next year, swiping a debit card for a Quick Pick at the corner store could finally be a thing in Wyoming.