Wisconsin was not a state that appeared ready to offer sports betting of any kind, but that changed earlier this week. The Oneida Nation and Governor Tony Evers agreed to an amended gaming compact, and retail sports betting will be offered.
Green Bay will be the official home to sports betting in the state as the Oneida Casino is the only one approved in the state to offer this form of betting. Green Bay is, of course, home to the NFL’s Packers, and that will be the most popular team to wager on in the state.
This new compact will now be sent to the U.S. Department of Interior, where the Bureau of Indian Affairs will have 45 days to approve it. If that decision is made, the Oneida Nation could begin offering sports betting as soon as the end of 2021.
Professional games and events will be legal in Wisconsin if this compact is approved, but there will not be any betting on college athletics allowed. This move could eventually lead to state-wide sports betting, but that is not in the plans at this time.
Online Betting Offered… But Limited
According to the language in the new compact, betting from mobile devices will be allowed, but only on land owned by the Native American tribe. This will allow an online sportsbook operator to launch an app in the state, but geolocation services will track a specific location.
The Oneida Nation will look to partner with a sports betting operator, and it could attract some of the biggest names in the industry. Sports betting kiosks are expected to be set up on Oneida property, along with a retail sportsbook.
Permanent Site Under Construction
According to a release from the Oneida Nation, there are plans in place to develop and open a brand new sports betting lounge. It is unclear how long this will take, but the tribe will set up a temporary retail sportsbook in the meantime.
The Oneida Main Casino already has a sports bar open for its customers, and that is where the new sportsbook will be built. The Office of Indian Gaming and Regulatory Compliance will be performing checks to ensure that the tribe is following the rules of the compact.
Plenty of Competition
Wisconsin is not going to become a large sports betting market, but the state was always facing a tough challenge. This state is surrounded by states with legal sports betting, including some of the top betting markets in the United States.
Illinois borders Wisconsin to the South, and it has become one of the top-three biggest sports betting markets in the United States. Illinois does still have some restrictions on this industry, but the rules are much more favorable to bettors and to sports betting operators.
Other states such as Michigan, Indiana, and Iowa in the Midwest also have legal sports betting and have markets that are established. If Wisconsin ever looks to establish full sports betting, it will be hard to keep up.
