Now, legal sports bets can be placed on the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers by residents of Wisconsin. Tuesday saw the Oneida Nation open its sportsbook in its main casino near Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport in the city of Ashwaubenon. It’s the first Wisconsin location where legal wagering is allowed on professional and college sporting events.
Wisconsin Now Has Legal Sports Betting
At the moment, the Oneida sportsbook is the only one that is legal in the state. Other tribes will eventually seek permission to do the same. Potawatomi Nation in Milwaukee was the first to publicly declare that it has an interest, but Oneida beat the tribe to the finish line.
Oneida Vice-Chairman Brandon Stevens said, “Sports betting is nothing new in the state of Wisconsin. But legal sports gambling is.”
Ho-Chunk Nation is a Wisconsin casino operator with multiple locations, including Wisconsin Dells, Madison, and Tomah. On Tuesday, it announced that it would offer sports betting on multiple gaming sites. Spokesman Ken Luchterhand asserted, “We are going to do it. It’s just a matter of when. It will be a very quick turn-around. We’re going to hit the ground running.”
A Flexible Market, But With Limits
The sports betting legislation permits wagers on sporting events and sports, such as national award shows, professional drafts of sports leagues, and professional sporting games like basketball and football. However, it is prohibited to place bets on games featuring Wisconsin-based college sports and youth sports.
The east side of the Ashwaubenon casino houses the sportsbook. It is near the area where the casino’s bar was located. You can gamble at kiosks on the casino floor. A cashier can also be used to place bets.
Oneida Casino Gaming chief financial officer Chad Fuss stated that the changes to the sports bar will take place in the next two to three weeks in an effort to make it more comfortable for bettors.
For a wager to be placed, the player must be present at the casino. Mobile betting apps are not yet allowed off the casino property. Fuss reported that Oneida’s leadership had intended to open the sportsbook prior to the NFL season start in September. However, supply chain problems slowed down the speed at which the tribe was able to acquire and install equipment.
The casino has created glossy brochures, “Sports Betting 101,” to assist newcomers. Fuss explained that casino staff is also trained to answer the questions of new bettors.
The sportsbook is currently open Sunday to Thursday from 10 AM to 11 PM. On Friday and Saturday, it is open from 10 AM to midnight. On days that the Packers play games at home, the sportsbook will open at 9 AM.