Everything we found in Wyoming
For a simple pool, Wyoming’s rules are short; the two that matter most are how WyoLotto splits a prize between the people who sign the ticket and whether a winner’s name is public. Every fact below comes from WyoLotto’s own pages, FAQ and game rules, the Wyoming Lottery Act (W.S. Title 9, Chapter 17), the Legislature, powerball.com and the IRS, linked in the sources, and each one shows the day it was last checked. Pools can be created in every state that runs a lottery; Wyoming is open.
Is a private pool legal here?
WyoLotto answers the group question on its claim page and in its FAQ. How the lottery handles a group: The pool agreement names who claims. WyoLotto splits a prize evenly between everyone who signs the winning ticket; only a person who signed can claim, and trusts and other entities cannot claim. (WyoLotto claim page and FAQ, checked Oct 8, 2026) The Lottery Act says “No prize, any portion of a prize or any right of any person to a prize awarded shall be assignable,” and when several people are entitled to one prize, “the sole remedy of the claimants is the award to each of them of an equal share in the prize” (W.S. 9-17-119). Nothing in the Act or on WyoLotto’s pages forbids adults from pooling money for tickets.
The word to notice is “evenly.” An even split between signers fits a pool whose members put in the same amount and can all sign the ticket. A pool whose shares are not equal, or whose members cannot all sign, needs its own record and an agreement on who signs. WyoLotto does not publish how it reports a group’s shares to the IRS; ask the lottery directly.
ShareTheWinning is free, takes no cut of tickets or prizes and never holds money. Whether a particular arrangement is lawful is a question for counsel, not for us.
Minimum age
18 or older (Lottery game page, checked Oct 1, 2026). The age is printed on WyoLotto’s pages and set by the Lottery Act (W.S. 9-17-118). Members confirm their age when they join a pool.
Where tickets are sold
Only at WyoLotto retailers, in person. The Mega Millions rules: “Game Tickets must be purchased from a Terminal operated by a Wyoming Lottery Retailer.” The Act requires that “all sales shall be for cash or debit cards only” (W.S. 9-17-108). WyoLotto does not sell Powerball or Mega Millions online.
The Act says “No person other than a duly certified lottery retailer shall sell lottery tickets” (W.S. 9-17-118). WyoLotto does not publish a statement on ticket couriers; ask the lottery directly.
- Powerball multi-draw (Advanced Draws): Up to 20 drawings per ticket (WyoLotto (Wyoming Lottery Corporation) Powerball page, checked Oct 5, 2026).
- Mega Millions multi-draw (Advanced Draws): Up to 20 drawings per ticket (WyoLotto (Wyoming Lottery Corporation) Mega Millions page, checked Oct 5, 2026).
- Group purchase limits: Wyoming caps one transaction at a retailer at $125, so a pool spending more needs more than one transaction. (WyoLotto Powerball and Mega Millions game rules, checked Oct 5, 2026)
Powerball’s Double Play add-on is not offered in Wyoming; powerball.com’s Double Play page does not list it.
Claim deadlines
180 days after the drawing (WyoLotto Powerball game rules, checked Oct 8, 2026). The game rules add a line every traveler should know: “The ticket must be submitted to the Party Lottery that issued it.” A Wyoming ticket is claimed in Wyoming.
Where to claim depends on the prize:
- $599 or less: any WyoLotto retailer, or by mail to the Cheyenne office.
- $600 and up: by mail, or in person at the Cheyenne office by appointment (call 307.432.9300), with the claim form, photo ID and your Social Security card.
- $50,000 and up: in person.
Can winners stay anonymous?
Yes. WyoLotto honors every request for anonymity from winners. (WyoLotto FAQ, checked Oct 8, 2026)Taxes
- State withholding: None: the lottery withholds no state tax (State withholding table, checked Oct 1, 2026). WyoLotto’s tax FAQ lists only federal withholding, and the Legislature’s June 3, 2025 tax summary lists no individual income tax.
- Federal: The lottery withholds 24% federal tax when a prize minus the wager is more than $5,000. A prize of $2,000 or more is reported to the IRS on Form W-2G. (IRS Form W-2G instructions, checked Oct 1, 2026) WyoLotto’s tax FAQ says it withholds under a federal mandate. The final federal tax is settled on your return.
See How a pool claims a prize. The split calculator sets Wyoming’s state rate to zero.
Claim office
The Wyoming Lottery, 808 W. 20th St., Cheyenne, WY 82001. Phone 307.432.9300 or 855.WY.LOTTO. The contact page lists headquarters hours of “8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (with a lunch break from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.)”. Official site: wyolotto.com.
How our pool record helps in Wyoming
An even split works for a pool where everyone put in the same amount. For every other pool, the record is what shows the shares people actually bought. In a ShareTheWinning pool the members, shares and confirmed payments lock before the ticket is bought; the ticket is photographed and recorded before the drawing; and every change afterward is a new entry, never an edit. When a prize reaches the threshold for Wyoming ($600 by default), the round goes on hold and we preserve an export bundle for the lottery, the accountant and, if it ever comes to it, a court.
The “If we win” stop on the Journey shows the deadline and the anonymity rule beside your numbers. For the first 48 hours after a win, read You won. The first five things to do.
