How Wyoming Redefined “Friendly” Poker With Senate File 44

How Wyoming Redefined “Friendly” Poker With Senate File 44
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Iva Dozet News Editor
Fact Checked: PokerListings
  • Updated: March 21, 2026
  • Read time: 2 min

The last time we talked about poker legislation, we were looking at how Indiana is attempting to dismantle the social casino model. Now, almost a month after that article, it’s actually Wyoming that’s turning heads, at least as far as the physical felt goes. Earlier this month, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed Senate File 44 into law, as an attempt to tighten the state’s “friendly game” exception that applied to long-standing small-town poker nights.

Before the new rules come into effect and change the game this summer, here’s everything you should know about Senate File 44.

Why Senate File 44 Came to Be…

Senate File 44 (SF 44 for short) came about as a direct response to “poker palaces” popping up across the Cowboy State. What investigations into these venues revealed were places skimming profits and hosting recurring high-stakes poker games left and right under the presumption of private social play.

The results of this investigation are what prompted State Senator John Kolb and Wyoming Gaming Commission Director Nicholas Larramendy to push for Senate File 44 in the first place, which passed the House and Senate with overwhelming support earlier this month.

And What It Means for Wyoming Poker

When Senate File 44 takes effect on July 1, 2026, live poker in Wyoming will begin to function under some clear ground rules, including a strictly defined “no-go” zone for commercial hosts. Here’s a condensed version of what that would look like on paper:

  • To fall into the category of a legal private game, a poker game must be “incidental to a bona fide social relationship.” This basically means participants have to have an established knowledge of one another that was not formed specifically for the purpose of gambling.
  • The law bars any form of compensation for facilitating a game. This translates to no profits for hosting the game and no cut of the pot for the venue.
  • Public invitations, social media “shout-outs,” or maintaining blogs to recruit players are also out. If you have to advertise to find players, the state no longer considers it a “private” game.
  • Apart from poker, the bill also targets raffle-style tournaments like “Queen of Hearts”. Now, 100% of net proceeds are required to go to the actual charity, without a cut for the venue.

For years now, venues like Yo’s Poker Palace operated under a mantra where “no rake” meant “no problem.” However, under SF 44, what constitutes as profit has been expanded to include any financial gain beyond the direct realization of winnings. That leaves Wyoming players and bar owners with a very narrow window to adjust before the law becomes effective in just a few months.