It is no secret that Wisconsin is a very passionate sports state. The Green Bay Packers and the Milwaukee Brewers, in particular, are very popular teams. When the Packers won the Super Bowl in February, the town of Mt Horeb, near the Canadian border, had to close down its movie theatre because everyone wanted to watch the game. There are even betting books at some book stores where bets are accepted on the outcome of the games.
Although most of the attention in Wisconsin is focused on sports betting, it is important to realize that this is just the surface of a larger gaming issue. Back in August, the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature passed a bill that would have legalized sports betting in the state. Unfortunately, even though the bill had passed the Assembly, it died in the Senate in the spring of 2019. Now that the season is over, it is safe to say that Wisconsin will not see legal sports betting anytime soon.
What is The Current Law In Wisconsin?
The existing casino and poker law in Wisconsin was originally made in 1992 and was last updated in 2018. Under this law, it is currently illegal to manufacture, sell, or offer to bet on games of chance in the state. It is also against the law to allow others to engage in such activities on your behalf. Anything related to games of chance is considered “Auctioneer Wagering,” which is a form of wagering that involves the placing of bets on the outcome of gambling or betting events.
In a nutshell, sports betting is considered a form of gambling, which is already prohibited by law. The law also makes it illegal for any business or individual to facilitate or encourage sports gambling in any way. In addition, it is a Class B misdemeanor to promote or advertise sports gambling in Wisconsin. The existing law makes it clear that sports betting is an illegal activity in Wisconsin.
Are There Any Signs That The Ban On Sports Gambling Will Be Lifted?
Unfortunately, there aren’t any signs that the ban on sports gambling will be lifted any time soon. The only way that the law would be changed is through a lengthy and contentious campaign to amend the constitution and remove the prohibition on gambling in Wisconsin. Even then, it would not be guaranteed that sports gambling would become legal. The last time that Wisconsin voters had the opportunity to approve or disapprove of a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have lifted the ban on sports gambling, they turned down the proposal by a large margin (59%-41%).
This rejection was certainly a blow to the efforts of those advocating for an end to the state’s ban on sports gambling. However, it should not be viewed as a complete loss. The 59% vote against the proposal was comprised of sports gamblers who were not interested in seeing their favorite teams compete under a federal law that prohibits them from betting on those games. As a result, those voters effectively killed the amendment by voting against it. The fact that 59% of Wisconsin voters were against the proposal does not mean that 40% of Wisconsin voters were in favor of the amendment. It means that if every voter in Wisconsin had voted in favor of the proposal, it would have passed.
On the bright side, the amount of voters who were against the proposal means there are a lot of potential voters who did not vote on the issue, or who were not even aware of it. Many voters who do not like to gamble may have felt that voting against the proposal was the same as voting in favor of allowing sports gambling. As a result, those voters may have decided that they did not want to be involved in the legal process of betting on sports games, and so they voted against the amendment.
What Is the Current State of Gaming In Wisconsin?
For a state that is home to the largest casinos in North America, it is rather surprising that Wisconsin does not have a stronger gaming law. Under federal law, table games that allow players to wager money are prohibited, except for blackjack and roulette. The only other form of gaming that is legal in Wisconsin is slot machines. These are games of chance that are linked to jackpots or progressive jackpots, which are usually won by randomly generated numbers. It is highly unlikely that these jackpots will be won by consistent patterns or predictable events, which greatly reduces the risk of fraud.
The ability to win prizes through random number generators has made slots very popular in Wisconsin, and not just at the casinos. Some taverns in the state now offer slot machines for patrons to play. It is also possible to install slot machines in bars and restaurants that do not have liquor licenses due to the increased revenue that they generate. The state of Wisconsin receives about a billion dollars in annual revenue from casinos and other forms of gaming. This revenue supports a number of governmental services, including schools, roads, and public safety.
What is The Next Gaming Law In Wisconsin?
Although the state of Wisconsin does not yet have legal sports betting, the situation is unlikely to change in the near future. The existing law in Wisconsin makes it clear that sports betting is against the law. In addition, it is an unfair practice for a business to take sports bets on their behalf, even if the customer is aware that this is against the law. Even worse, it is a crime for individuals to engage in such activities, which can result in severe penalties, including jail time and large fines. Despite the fact that Wisconsin is home to some of the greatest sports teams in the country, the law does not reflect this. It is time for the state to catch up with the times and pass a law that supports legal and fair sports betting.