News writer, Interviewer
Wyoming is about to join the rest of the country. Starting July 1, 2026, it will be legal for retailers to accept debit card payments when selling lottery tickets. This will end the state's status as the lone holdout on electronic payment.
WyoLotto CEO Jon Clontz confirmed the change in an exclusive statement to LotteryUSA:
The Wyoming Legislature recently passed, and the Governor signed into law, a measure allowing the use of debit cards for lottery purchases, which will be effective July 1, 2026. With this change in statute, WyoLotto will become the 45th of 46 U.S. lotteries to accept debit cards.
WyoLotto is now evaluating the appropriate timing and approach to implement debit card acceptance at our retail locations in a way that best serves our players and retail partners.
How it happened
The Wyoming Legislature passed Senate File 24, amending state statute W.S. 9-17-108 to permit debit card payments for lottery ticket purchases. The bill cleared both chambers and was signed into law by the Governor.
Wyoming was the only state with a lottery that had no electronic payment option. Of the 46 U.S. states with lotteries, all but Wyoming and Tennessee had accepted debit cards. Tennessee, however, offers an app with ACH payments.
The backstory
The Wyoming State Liquor Association had blocked similar bills in previous years. The association set three conditions before it would back the legislation: no credit cards, the Wyoming Lottery must cover debit card transaction fees, and retailers must have the option to opt in or out.
The Wyoming Lottery Board passed a resolution addressing all three. That cleared the path.
Clontz told the House committee that accepting credit cards was never on the table.
"I think that would be the wrong thing to do," he said. The push for debit cards, he explained, came down to one thing: convenience. Many Wyoming residents simply don't carry cash anymore.
What changes for retailers
Retailers won't pay transaction fees. Card-reading terminals will be provided and kept separate from other point-of-sale transactions. This way, lottery purchases won't mix with food or beverage sales.
There's another upside for store owners: less cash on hand. Clontz noted that debit card acceptance would reduce cash exposure at retail locations.
One dissenting voice
Not everyone was enthusiastic. Sen. John Kolb, R-Rock Springs, raised a concern from the Senate floor.
He questioned whether making it easier to spend money on lottery tickets was a good thing, noting that cash creates a natural pause before a purchase. Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, pushed back, pointing out that debit card statements offer more transparency than cash ever could.
The House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee voted unanimously to advance the bill.
What's next
The law takes effect July 1, 2026. WyoLotto is still working out the timeline and rollout plan for debit card acceptance across retail locations.
When it launches, Wyoming will no longer be the odd one out.
