Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Chairman announced this week the signing of a new compact agreement. The deal allows casinos and affiliate locations in the state that are operated by the tribe to offer event wagering. This covers both sporting events and non-sports.

The agreement must now be reviewed by the United States Department of Interior and approved. The review process can take up to 45 days to complete.

Details on the Amendment

The Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and the Wisconsin Department of Administration Division of Gaming have been negotiating for quite some time to get to this point. The deal was made after the governor and other tribes, including the Oneida Nation and the Forest County Potawatomi, signed similar compacts.

With the amendment in place, the tribe can offer sports betting within its Sevenwinds Casino in Hayward and other types of wagering. Mobile betting is also permitted on other lands that is located within the reservation.

Based on the review timeline, the tribe should be able to launch services during the upcoming football season. Chairman Taylor commented on the agreement stating that it is a great day for the tribe. The amendment will allow the tribe to continue to offer a ‘first-rate gaming experience’ and increase employment opportunities for members of the tribe and the local area.

Governor Evers also pointed out that event wagering will generate additional revenue for the state and the tribe, plus boost tourism and employment in the northern region of Wisconsin.

Important Step for the Lac Courte Oreilles Band

The amendment to the gaming compact was an important step for the tribe and the state regarding remaining competitive in the gaming market. Sports betting is a top earner for states across the United States, and allowing the tribes in Wisconsin to take part puts them on a level playing field with other states.

Kathy Blumenfeld, the DOA Secretary-designee, commented that the group looks forward to its continuing cooperative agreement with the tribe. The tribal gaming operations in the state are overseen by the Office of Indian Gaming and Regulatory Compliance of the DOA.

The group ensures that the language of the tribal compacts is followed. On-site casino audits are completed by the group, certification for gaming vendors, and the collection of revenue payments by the tribe’s operations to the state.