Wyoming’s Gambling Boom Threatens Tribal Casinos with Steeper Losses
A recent statewide gaming assessment in Wyoming has sparked concerns among tribal leaders. The Northern Arapaho Business Council criticised the report, which was prepared by Global Market Advisors (GMA) in early 2025. Tribal casinos have already faced steep declines in visitors and revenue since Wyoming legalised historical horse racing (HHR) in 2013.
The report suggested that further expansion of HHR would not harm tribal casino earnings. But Northern Arapaho spokesman Travis McNiven called parts of the study misleading and warned of even greater losses if online gambling were legalised.
Since 2013, tribal casinos in Wyoming have struggled. Visitor numbers dropped by 66%, and gaming revenue fell by 34%. Around 500 jobs have been lost as a result.
The Spectrum Gaming Group report, commissioned by the Wyoming Gaming Commission, claimed that expanding HHR would not hurt tribal casinos further. However, McNiven disagreed, arguing that tribal sovereignty does not shield them from market competition. He also warned that mobile casinos would directly compete with physical locations, offering 24/7 access from phones. McNiven highlighted that the study ignored the real economic and cultural impact on tribal gaming. He urged lawmakers and report authors to visit the Wind River Hotel and Casino to see how Class III gaming operates. He also pointed out that a separate study by McNiven showed tribal profits could fall by another 11% if online casinos were legalised. Matthew Roob, an advisor to Spectrum, stayed two nights at Fremont County tribal casinos but clarified that the Gaming Commission’s work did not cover tribal properties. GMA, the firm behind the report, had consulted with the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes before publication.
The dispute centres on how Wyoming’s gambling expansion affects tribal casinos. With visitor numbers and revenue already down, tribal leaders fear further losses if online gambling is introduced. The Northern Arapaho Business Council has called for a closer look at the economic and cultural role of tribal gaming before any new laws are passed.
