Wisconsin’s Oneida Nation announced July 1 that its Oneida Casino will be the first in the state to offer sports betting. The announcement followed the signing by the tribe and Governor Tony Evers of amending state tribal gaming compact.
The change allows for “event wagering” including sports betting and televised events such as award shows and sports league drafts.
The amended compact must still be reviewed and approved by the Department of the Interior, which has 45 days to make that determination.
Tribal Chairman Tehassi Hill said in a statement: “The Oneida Casino aims to commence sports betting at its main casino in early fall 2021 which will include retail, kiosks, and mobile wagering at select locations.”
Hill continued, “Thirty years ago our Nation signed its first gaming compact in 1991. At that time we were a reservation struggling but fighting to grow our economy to ensure a better quality of life for our people. Since that time we have grown tremendously and I thank those who came before us for laying the foundation so that we can offer a better way of life for our tribal members today.”
The governor declared, “Today, Chairman Hill and I will sign the compact amendment to allow event wagering from Packers’ games to the Oscars to occur in the state of Wisconsin. This will be the first time that event wagering will be permitted in Wisconsin in recent history.”
The tribe said it plans to have a temporary sports bar operating by the fall and that later the sports bar will be remodeled and converted into a permanent sportsbook.
Tribal spokesman Chad Fuss told Native News Online: “I think a lot of our general tribal council members, or membership, understands that as we can provide more opportunities for customers to come to visit Oneida Casino, that it really helps our economy within the Oneida Nation as well as the greater Green Bay area.” The tribe will manage day to day operations of the sports betting but partner with a provider of sports betting data, which will also manage mobile wagering.
