SPORTS BETTING IN WISCONSIN????!!!!

This came out of nowhere today, and jolted me this morning. In a great way.

Gov. Tony Evers and Oneida Chairman Tehassi Hill today signed a historic compact amendment that expands allowable gaming at Oneida Nation casinos and affiliate locations in the state of Wisconsin to include event wagering. This compact amendment will be the first to allow event wagering, including sports betting, to occur in Wisconsin. Following today’s signing, the compact amendment will be sent to the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs for a 45-day review.

“I’m grateful to Chairman Hill and the Oneida General Tribal Council for their partnership on this historic compact amendment,” said Gov. Evers. “The Oneida Casino is a critical source of revenue and employment for Oneida Nation and this expansion will bring new opportunities for employment and revenue growth to the Tribe.”

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BOOM. Oneida Nation adds sports betting. Hopes to be up and running by the start of football's regular season. Converting its sports bar at the casino to a sportsbook. https://t.co/MF8AeUo1qG

— Jeff Ash (@jeffash26) July 1, 2021

HELLLLL YESSSSSS!!!! What am I able/not able to bet on?

“Event wagering,” as defined by the compact amendment, can include sports and events betting such as wagering on nationally televised award shows, professional sports league drafts, and professional sporting events such as the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball. Event wagering has expanded in states throughout the Midwest in recent years, including Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. The current compact amendment does not allow for wagering on Wisconsin college athletics. Wagering is also prohibited on the outcomes of elections for public office and for events with participants under the age of 19.

That last sentence makes me wonder about college sports that do not involve Wisconsin teams (like most of March Madness and all non-UW college football), but I assume that will be cleaned up.

The direct impact on the state budget may not be all that much from the bets themselves, as the tribes pay the state a certain percentage of profits from gambling (I don’t know if sports bets would be put in a different category). But the real bump may come from increased traffic at the casinos in general, and more money spent at the other businesses on-site at Oneida, such as the new sportsbook and the other Oneida lands where people can bet.

According to the press release, the US Bureau of Indian Affairs has 45 days from yesterday to approve or disapprove of the change allowing sports betting. And 45 days from June 30 is in mid-August, before the start of the NFL and college football seasons, which is a big deal since football is the sport that has the most betting action in America, and you’d think that would be especially true at a casino that is 5 miles from Lambeau Field.

I’m amazed this story didn’t slip out yesterday, when the Oneida Nation’s Business Committee met in an emergency meeting to discuss amendments to their gaming compact with the state. And even more impressed that the Evers Administration and the Oneida kept such a tight lid on this over the months this change was being worked out.

Cagey stuff, Tony!

Now let’s see if Evers works to have the other tribes in the state follow suit by allowing sports betting at their casinos as well, and soon enough so that we can have the betting in place by the first kickoffs (I’m especially looking at you, Potowatomi and Ho-Chunk!). That better happen, both for my personal reasons, and because it'll be good politics to let others in on the fun that Oneida is now able to have.