CHEYENNE – Wyoming’s lottery bill became law on Monday, though it could be several months before retailers will be able to sell tickets to the public, the Billings Gazette reports.

An official launch day might not happen until early 2014, when several hundred retailers are expected to provide ticket sales. 

As a first step, officials must establish a framework for the state’s first lottery. Governor Matt Mead will appoint the lottery’s nine-member board of directors, which is expected to come soon. 

Once the board is appointed, it will hire a chief executive offer. Together, they will develop a budget to operate the lottery, because the Legislature has not allocated any state money for the venture.

Nephi Cole, policy adviser to the governor, said the Legislature deliberately established the lottery corporation to be separate from state government.

"This lottery will have to sink or swim on its own," Cole said, adding it success will reflect the motivations of its board members.

The state’s new lottery law allows Wyoming to participate in any or all multi-state lottery, including Powerball. However, the board could decide to have state-only lottery.

Wyoming is the 44th state to authorize a lottery. The version adopted by the state Legislature this past winter succeeded because it did not include gambling that offers so-called instant gratification.

“That was the only way we could get that passed,” said State Rep. David Zwonitzer, the main sponsor of the bill. “We’re not into scratch tickets or any kind of video lottery — anything that might be considered instant gratification."

The new state law prohibits instant lotteries, scratch-off tickets, video lottery terminals or any other electronic game involving physical contact between players and machines.

All sales for tickets or shares must be cash only. Prizes will be limited to $600 but the lottery board can authorize a limited number of retailers who can pay prizes of up to $5,000. Retailers will earn no less than 6% of gross sales.