In a state known for tailgating and cheese, Wisconsin is home to many passionate sports fans. Now, there may be a new way for fans to get involved in watching games — online sports betting.
Wisconsin lawmakers first discussed a bipartisan bill Nov. 19 that would allow Wisconsin residents to place wagers online without having to go in-person to a casino, as long as the bets went through servers on tribal lands, a key component in gaining Gov. Tony Evers’ support.
Republican lawmakers debated the legislation, eventually removing it from a scheduled vote because of backlash from conservative groups and concerns from lawmakers.
“We're going to work through those [questions raised], and I expect that we'll be voting on it early next year,” Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August, R-Walworth, one of the bill’s authors, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I'm confident that there's no rush on this. It's the right thing for the state, and I'm confident that we'll get there.”
Corporations like Draft Kings and FanDuel, who do not stand to profit off the law, oppose the bill, while University of Wisconsin-Madison students were split on their support for it.
Sophomore Johnathan Valard said the legislation could bring even more excitement to Wisconsin sports games.
“It gets people to watch sports more because there is a chance you can win big,” Valard said.
Valard said his friend has a Discord account with over 100,000 people who pay a membership to sports bet, so he is no stranger to the game, but emphasized the risk associated with sports betting.
“I think it is great if you have the extra funds,” Valard said.
Senior Cate Whelan said she is also no stranger to sports betting, since she’s from Michigan where sports betting is legal.
“There are a lot of people who bet here illegally, and I like that it would be more normalized to bet legally,” she said.
Audrey Simon said the main issue with the bill comes down to who people believe should profit from sports betting: Native Americans on tribal lands or private corporations.
“I mean, why give capitalists and the big organizations more money when there are people who are probably more knowledgeable and deserve it,” Simon said.
While Valard, Whelan and Simon all say they would participate in online sports betting if legalized in Wisconsin, junior Daniel Stein sees sports betting as violent and addictive.
Stein views the legalizing of sports betting the same way as legalizing marijuana — popular legislation passed in states across the country. However, he said he does not believe in having the ability to bet right in front of you.
“I think the problem is when you can do the game right in front of your phone. It is way too easy to develop a gambling addiction,” Stein said.
He also believes there is a violent aspect to online sports betting.
“At some point, we need to look at the increase in domestic violence where sports betting is legal, and that is probably not good,” Stein said. “I will not be participating in sports betting because the sports I am interested in do not have gambling… shout out Mimi Colyer!”
Studies on the relationship between sports betting and violence are novel but one study from the University of Oregon found that the effect of domestic violence rates increases by about 10% when a professional sports team unexpectedly loses and is amplified in states where sports betting is legalized.
