Sports Betting Kicks Off in Wisconsin at Oneida Casino

For the first time ever in Wisconsin, legal sports betting is underway, with the initial wagers placed Tuesday at the Oneida Casino in Green Bay.

Alma Webster placed the first bet at the tribe’s main casino near the Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport, according to WFRV-TV. Webster placed an NFL bet on the New Orleans Saints in the team’s home game Thursday at the Caesars Superdome against the Dallas Cowboys. The Saints are 4.5-point underdogs.

Webster and Sandra Brehmer have been dubbed the Oneida “Bingo Queens,” credited with starting a popular bingo game in the state’s pre-casino 1970s.

"It’s awesome to see that we’ve come this far and to see this operation and to be able to employ as many of our own people as we possibly can, I think it’s wonderful,” Webster said.

The tribe employs about 2,000 casino workers.

What’s Available for Betting

Bettors at the casino are permitted to wager on professional sports, including Wisconsin’s Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks and Milwaukee Brewers. The Bucks, featuring star player Giannis Antetokounmpo, are the defending NBA champions.

Betting also is allowed on college sports, though not on in-state college teams, including the Big Ten’s Wisconsin Badgers.

Sports betting at the tribe’s casino is the result of a gaming compact amendment this summer with the state. Oneida Chairman Tehassi Hill and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed the amendment at the Oneida Casino.

Sports betting was scheduled to begin at the casino in time for the first few football games in September but was delayed by problems with equipment delivery.

Sports Betting Legal Across U.S. Market

Across the country, sports betting is legal 30 states and Washington, D.C. It is legal but not yet operational in two other states, Nebraska and Maryland, according to the American Gaming Association.

Among the states with legal sports betting, three border Wisconsin. Those states are Michigan, Illinois and Iowa.

Milwaukee Casino Could See Sports Betting

Nine other tribal nations operate casinos in Wisconsin but have not implemented sports betting sites.

Potawatomi officials have indicated they will seek a compact with the state to operate sports wagering at the tribe’s Milwaukee casino, according to the Green Bay Press Gazette.

“The Potawatomi look forward to bringing sports betting to Milwaukee in the future,” according to a statement from the tribe.