Gov. Tony Evers today signed legislation opening the door to online gaming, though he vowed to only support a system that benefits all of the state’s tribes equally rather than allowing some to “reap great benefits while leaving only crumbs for others.”
The next step is for Evers to negotiate new compacts with the state’s 11 tribes, who are the only entities allowed to offer gaming in Wisconsin. The governor wrote in a message to the Legislature that he backs a joint venture with each tribe contributing and benefiting in equal shares, or a similar model.
“This is an opportunity to avoid the mistakes of past compact amendments that left some Tribes and their members in poverty while only lifting up a few,” Evers wrote. “It is further my expectation that we look beyond mere dollar signs and economics and insist these decisions also be guided by respect, humility, compassion, and solidarity.”
AB 601 changes the definition of a bet under Wisconsin law to cover those placed online. It also allows online bets to be placed so long as the servers are on tribal lands.
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“This legislation is the beginning of a conversation, not the end of one. The real work begins today,” Evers wrote.
