Foundation work began on June 2, 2026, on Wyoming's next horse betting and gaming facility, according to oilcitynews.com.
The $80 million Wyoming Downs facility in Laramie County, which is one of two the county is investing in the next few years, is expected to be one of the largest of its kind in Wyoming.
The company is aiming for a spring 2027 opening, according to oilcitynews.com.
Groathouse Construction of Laramie, Wyo., is the project's general contractor.
The facility will hold more than 600 historic horse racing machines, Wyoming's largest TV wall and multiple dining options across 58,000 sq. ft.
Additional land was bought for future hotel development, according to oilcitynews.com.
Commuters driving along Interstate 25 between Cheyenne and the Colorado border can see the development, which was intentional, Wyoming Downs and 307 Horse Racing President Kyle Ridgeway said.
"I think that the targeted consumer for this is from Colorado or from the Front Range," Ridgeway told oildcitynews.com. "I anticipate we're going to have plenty of people from Cheyenne come down here to play and enjoy the amenities, but when you look at 600,000 people within a 30-minute drive, that's what justifies this investment and brings all that tax revenue in from another state, which is fantastic."
Ridgeway said that more than 150 permanent jobs will be supported by the facility, along with dozens in the corporate offices and the more than 400 people involved in the project's construction, according to oilcitynews.com.
Ridgeway said the facilities have proven to be effective tax revenue generators for the local governments. The Wyoming Gaming Commission's 2025 report said bettors wagered $2.49 billion on historic horse racing machines last year, up from the $2.11 billion wagered a year earlier.
Wyoming Downs facilities produce approximately $25 million in taxes annually statewide, and Ridgeway estimated that the upcoming facility will generate an additional $3 million for Laramie County after being in operation for a few years.
The new facility is part of a larger project Wyoming Downs is working on over the next few years. according to oilcitynews.com. Construction will begin in early 2027 on a similar facility in Evanston, with crowds from Utah and western Colorado targeted.
Some of the company's existing facilities, including in Casper, Cheyenne and Rock Springs, will see millions poured into renovations. And new, smaller-scale parlors will be built in Gillette and Green River this year, according to a company information packet. ♣
