Can You Bet on Sports in Wisconsin?
Yes, but it’s complicated. Wisconsin allows in-person sports betting at tribal casinos due to preexisting compacts, not statewide legislation. Currently, three casinos offer retail sportsbooks, but online wagering is restricted to on-site use of the Oneida Nation’s mobile app.
Where to Bet on Sports in Wisconsin
As of July 2024, sports betting in Wisconsin exists in a somewhat limited capacity. While the state itself doesn’t have comprehensive sports betting legislation, wagering is possible due to agreements with Native American tribes. This means your options for placing bets are directly tied to the casinos operated by these tribes.
Here are the locations where you can currently bet on sports in Wisconsin⁚
- Oneida Casino (Green Bay)⁚ This was the first location to launch sports betting in Wisconsin back in November 2021. They offer a retail sportsbook and also have a mobile app for on-site betting. It’s important to note that you must be physically present at the casino to use their app; it won’t work elsewhere.
- St. Croix Casino (Turtle Lake)⁚ This casino joined the ranks of Wisconsin sports betting venues by opening its retail sportsbook in July 2022.
- St. Croix Casino (Hertel)⁚ Expanding its sports betting footprint, St. Croix Casino opened another retail sportsbook at its Hertel location in March 2024.
While these are the only confirmed locations for legal sports betting in Wisconsin right now, there is potential for expansion. Keep an eye out for updates, as other tribal casinos might introduce sportsbooks in the future.
It’s worth noting that if you’re looking for online sports betting options that you can access from anywhere in Wisconsin, you’re currently out of luck. The existing framework restricts online wagering to the Oneida Casino app, which has the on-site limitation. Whether this changes through future legislation or expanded tribal agreements remains to be seen.
History and Current Legal Status of Sports Betting in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s relationship with sports betting is complex and unique compared to many other states. While it’s technically legal, its availability is limited and directly tied to the state’s history with tribal gaming.
For years, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a federal law, prevented states from legalizing sports betting. However, a landmark Supreme Court decision in 2018 (Murphy v. NCAA) overturned PASPA, giving individual states the power to decide on the legality of sports wagering within their borders.
Unlike many states that rushed to pass comprehensive sports betting laws following PASPA’s repeal, Wisconsin took a different approach. Instead of enacting new legislation, the state relied on its existing gaming compacts with Native American tribes. These compacts, which already allowed for other forms of gambling on tribal lands, were amended to include sports betting.
This reliance on tribal compacts has resulted in a limited form of legal sports betting in Wisconsin. Currently, only a handful of tribal casinos offer retail sportsbooks, and online betting is restricted to on-site use of a single mobile app operated by the Oneida Nation.
The future of sports betting in Wisconsin remains uncertain. There have been some legislative efforts to expand its availability, including proposals for statewide mobile betting, but these have yet to gain significant traction. For now, Wisconsin residents and visitors seeking to place bets on their favorite teams and athletes must do so at the designated tribal casinos or explore legal options in neighboring states.
Types of Sports Bets Allowed in Wisconsin
While Wisconsin’s sports betting scene isn’t as diverse as states with comprehensive legislation, the tribal casinos offering sportsbooks provide a decent range of wagering options for enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of the typical sports bets you can place in Wisconsin⁚
- Moneyline Bets⁚ The most straightforward bet, where you pick the outright winner of a game or match. You’ll see odds associated with each competitor, indicating the potential payout.
- Point Spread Bets⁚ Here, the sportsbook handicaps a game by assigning points to the underdog to even the playing field. You bet on whether a team will win by more than (covering the spread) or lose by less than the assigned points.
- Over/Under (Totals) Bets⁚ The sportsbook sets a predicted total number of points, goals, or runs scored in a game. You bet on whether the actual combined score will go over or under that projected total.
- Parlays⁚ Combining multiple bets (moneyline, spread, or totals) into one wager for a higher potential payout. The catch is, all your individual selections within the parlay must win for you to collect.
- Futures Bets⁚ Wagers placed on events or outcomes that will be decided in the future, like predicting a team to win a championship or a player to win an MVP award, usually before or early in the season.
- Prop Bets⁚ These bets focus on specific events or occurrences within a game, rather than the overall outcome. Examples include betting on which player will score the first touchdown or how many strikeouts a pitcher will record.
While these are some common bet types, availability might vary slightly depending on the specific tribal casino and its sportsbook operator. It’s always recommended to check with the casino or browse their betting offerings to confirm the exact types of wagers available.
Future of Online Sports Betting in Wisconsin
The future of online sports betting in Wisconsin remains uncertain. While some progress has been made with in-person sportsbooks at tribal casinos, the path toward legal and regulated statewide online wagering faces significant hurdles.
Currently, the only online sports betting allowed is through the Oneida Nation’s mobile app, and it’s limited to on-site use at their casino. This restriction severely limits accessibility for those who don’t live near or frequent the casino.
Several factors contribute to this uncertain future⁚
- Tribal Gaming Compacts⁚ Any expansion of online sports betting likely hinges on negotiations between the state government and the sovereign tribal nations. Reaching mutually agreeable terms on revenue sharing, regulatory oversight, and the scope of online operations could be a complex and lengthy process.
- Legislative Action⁚ While Wisconsin has yet to pass legislation explicitly legalizing online sports betting, it would likely require such action to create a comprehensive framework beyond tribal compacts. This would involve navigating different political stances and potential opposition from various interest groups.
- Neighboring State Influence⁚ The landscape of online gambling in surrounding states could influence Wisconsin’s approach. As more states legalize and regulate online sports betting, Wisconsin may face pressure to keep pace and remain competitive, potentially impacting its willingness to reach agreements.
While predicting the exact timeline remains difficult, the road to widespread legal online sports betting in Wisconsin appears to be a long one; Factors like evolving public opinion, legislative developments, and the success of online sports betting in other states will likely shape the future of this industry in Wisconsin.