Wyoming gamblers struggling with addiction now have a way to put distance between themselves and the betting window.<\/p>\n
The Wyoming Gaming Commission agreed on Dec. 8 to participate in the National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (NVSEP), which allows players to opt out of wagering activities in 21 U.S. jurisdictions.<\/p>\n
NVSEP enables gamblers to sign up online to ban themselves from placing bets on horse races, online sports, and skill-based games, such as Texas Hold \u2018Em, rummy, and other card games, for periods of one, three, five, or 10 years, or for a lifetime.<\/p>\n
The system works by allowing gamblers or those who aren\u2019t interested in gambling to essentially give the state-backed program their name and identification to create a voluntary ban that prevents gambling services and casinos from allowing them to gamble, give out comps or pay out winnings.<\/p>\n
Most self-exclusion programs cannot be reversed\u00a0until a self-selected time period has elapsed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Wyoming Gaming Commission is committed to fostering an environment of integrity, fairness, and player protection for all participants,\u201d Executive Director Nick Larramendy said in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said joining the program gives problem gamblers the power to curb their addictions by having a system that covers many gambling services in the state \u2014 and in other states, “providing wider geographical coverage than ever before for individuals who feel it is the right step.\u201d<\/p>\n
So far, at least 20 Wyoming residents have signed up for NVSEP, which is operated by idPair, a New Jersey player protection and safer gaming technology company specializing in self-exclusion and risk detection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
More than 100,000 people in the U.S. have used a self-exclusion program.<\/p>\n
Although Wyoming officials maintain that NVSEP will help curb compulsive gambling, addiction experts warn it may offer only limited protection.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt serves as a deterrent or barrier for some who are worried about being caught, embarrassed, and\/or arrested for trespass (at gaming establishments from which they have been banned),\u201d\u00a0 said Lia Nower, who is the director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University. \u201cIf people want to get around self-exclusion, however, they will do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
An April 2025 study by Wallet Hub, measuring 20 key metrics including the presence of illegal betting operations, lottery sales per capita, and the share of adults with gambling disorders, found that Montana is the third most gambling-addicted state, while Wyoming is 17th.<\/p>\n
Google data from within Wyoming indicates consistent growth in year-over-year online searches for \u201cproblem gambling treatment\u201d, \u201ccompulsive gambling treatment\u201d, \u201chow to stop sports betting\u201d, and “how to quit sports betting\u201d, according to Denver-based Kindbridge Behavioral Health.<\/p>\n
Moreover, a 2022 WyoLotto survey found that 2.5% of respondents believe they have a gambling addiction.<\/p>\n
Wyoming Gamblers<\/p>\n
It\u2019s difficult to find gamblers who will publicly discuss their compulsion.<\/p>\n