MADISON, Wis – On Monday, the Supreme Court struck down a 1992 federal law that prohibited all states except Nevada from allowing sports betting.
New Jersey led the lawsuit, with the support of 18 other states that want to use sports gambling for college and professional teams to bring in more tourism and tax revenue.
A representative with the Wisconsin Department of Administration said “sports gaming is prohibited by the Wisconsin Constitution, state law, and is not allowed under the state tribal compacts.”
“Between the constitution and the compacts that are in place already in the state of Wisconsin, it really won’t have a bearing one way or the other,” said Gov. Scott Walker.
First, Walker is morally opposed to the expansion of gambling, so he’s not going to try to move mountains to get it in Wisconsin. Second, the state compact with the Tribes that protect their gambling monopolies can’t be reopened without the Tribes agreeing. There isn’t much incentive for them to do so with a Republican administration.
A Native American tribe in northern Wisconsin is following through on its promise to withhold nearly $1 million in casino revenue from the state. The payment of $923,000 dollars is due today.
The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians is withholding the money because of the expansion of a nearby casino in Wittenberg run by the Ho-Chunk Nation, according to tribe President Shannon Holsey.
“What I’m saying is until our dispute can be resolved, we have the ability to withhold it within our gaming compact and that’s what we intend to do,” Holsey said.
Wisconsin’s racist laws toward gambling are outdated and counterproductive. In Wisconsin, it is illegal to operate a gambling establishment – unless you are a Native American tribe… then it’s OK. They get a pass and they do not have to pay taxes on their profits. Instead, they pay an agreed-upon tribute in lieu of taxes that they can withhold at whim, as these folks are doing now. The state has almost no recourse to force them to pay like every other profitable Wisconsin business.
Wisconsin’s ban on gambling is rendered completely meaningless in the presence of giant Native American casinos and a state-sanctioned lottery. Let’s just abandon the ridiculous pretense and legalize gambling for anyone. That way, at least, the competition will serve as a check against behavior like this.
