Wisconsin online sports betting laws

Wisconsin approves sports betting in a historic deal with the Oneida Nation

Since May 2018, when the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), states have been free to legalize sports betting if they wish. However, until recently, Wisconsin has been resolutely opposed to such a notion.

Almost six million people live in the Badger State, and they have plenty of great sport on their doorsteps. Wisconsin is home to the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers in the MLB and, in the NBA, the Milwaukee Bucks, who just won their first NBA championship since 1971.

This makes Wisconsin a natural fit for sports wagering offerings. Now, a recently signed agreement between the state and the Oneida Nation proposes to allow wagering on sporting events at the tribe’s casino and other tribal facilities. The Oneida Casino will be the only casino in Wisconsin to offer sports betting, which the Oneida hope to launch in time for the start of football season. The state has said it is open to reach similar agreements with other Wisconsin tribes, so there could be additional tribal casino locations added later.

The deal would allow wagering on professional sporting events, professional sports drafts and nationally televised award shows, but would not permit bets to be placed on college sports, political elections, or events involving participants under the age of 19.

The proposed revised compact authorizes betting on sports for the first time in Wisconsin, making this an historic moment. The revised compact is now under review with the US Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Wisconsin is one of many states where Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) exists in a legal gray area. It has never been legalized – but at the same time it has never been explicitly banned.

As a result, people in Wisconsin are free to take advantage of games offered by the major DFS operators such as DraftKings.

The Green Bay Packers enjoy huge support in Wisconsin – football is obviously a hugely popular sport for gambling of all kinds across the US. Elsewhere, the Milwaukee Brewers keep baseball’s profile high and basketball fans can root for the current NBA champions, the Milwaukee Bucks.

With several state athletic programs featuring in Division I of the NCAA as well, there are plenty of local options when DFS fans are making their selections.

Even though there is no such thing as legal Wisconsin sports betting, there are several agencies offering help and support to encourage responsible gambling.

However people choose to gamble, it is reassuring to know the cause of doing so responsibly is backed up by a variety of bodies:

• Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling offers education, awareness and resources around problem gambling.

• Wisconsin Department of Health Services carries extensive information including tips for gambling responsibly and insight into the signs of problem gambling.

• Some of the current gambling outlets, such as the Potawatomi Casino , offer insight into how you can gamble responsibly.

• The National Council on Problem Gambling collates the state resources but also offers its own practical assistance, including links to bodies like Gamblers Anonymous.

If their Wisconsin gaming compact amendment is approved by the Federal Government, the Oneida Nation aims to commence sports betting in its main casino this fall and will include retail kiosks and mobile wagering at select locations. It may also offer mobile sports wagering, but all wagers would be required to be placed on tribal lands.

The first wagers will be authorized only at the Oneida Casino, but as agreements are reached with other Wisconsin tribes, the list of sports betting retail locations could grow. A list of the state’s tribal casinos can be found here.