Dear editor:
Wyoming’s leaders insist we don’t have a gambling problem. But as someone living with a severe gambling addiction, I can tell you: we do.
These so-called “skill games” and “not casinos” are not harmless entertainment. They are predatory, and they are destroying lives in our communities.
I know because I am one of the people they’ve harmed. Gambling has consumed me more powerfully than drugs or alcohol ever did.
It led me to lies, shame, and financial devastation. And I am far from alone.
Across our state, people are losing homes, skipping bills, and hiding their addiction because the stigma is so great. Gambling thrives in secrecy, and secrecy is what makes it so dangerous.
Wyoming is already at risk. We rank number one in the nation for suicide, in the top ten for addiction-related problems, and number four for drunk driving.
We face isolation, long winters, limited recreation, and scarce mental health resources.
When gambling was legalized in 2020, it was a recipe for disaster. Since then, suicides have spiked — 859 from 2020 to 2025 compared to 577 in the five years before.
Officials assured us gambling would fund our schools. Yet in March 2025, a trial court ruled Wyoming was underfunding education.
Meanwhile, the state collects an estimated $1 billion in gambling revenue annually, but spends less than $3,000 a year on problem gambling resources. Where is the rest of the money going?
This is not just a personal failing — it is systemic negligence.
You cannot introduce one of the most addictive vices into a state already overwhelmed with addiction and mental health issues, and then offer no real support when lives fall apart.
Limiting bet sizes does not make gambling safe, just as giving less heroin does not make someone less addicted.
We need accountability. Every official who voted for gambling without building safeguards should answer for the harm done.
We need immediate investment in treatment programs, foreclosure relief, financial counseling, and safe community spaces.
Gambling machines and online platforms should be shut down until real resources are in place.
Gambling addiction has one of the highest suicide risks of any addiction.
Families across Wyoming are suffering while officials sweep the crisis under the rug. Enough is enough.
Wyoming does have a gambling problem. Admitting it is the first step. Taking action must be the next.
Respectfully,
Amber, Green River
