The History of Legal Sports Gambling in the United States. Focusing on Wisconsin and the states surrounding it.
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United States Congress Passes PASPA
The United States Congress enacts the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, (PASPA) which bans all single-game wagering in the United States, outside of Nevada. The judicially-overturned law defined the legal status of sports betting throughout the country. -
The NGISC Investigates Illegal Sports Gambling
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC) investigated the illegal sports gambling market through extensive research. The report provided by the NGISC stated that $ 80 billion to $ 380 billion per year is wagered illegally on sports in the United States through the sports gambling black market. Any sports gambling outside the jurisdiction of Las Vegas, Nevada is considered illegal sports betting. -
The UIGEA is put in Place
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is put into place in the United States. The UIGEA targets online gambling operations. With support from all the major sports leagues such as the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS, and even including the NCAA. The UIGEA monitors betting, receiving, and transmitting bets which are illegal under federal, state, or tribal law. -
The United States Supreme Court repeals PASPA
The United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state of New Jersey in the Murphy vs. NCAA case which argued whether the U.S. federal government has the right to control state lawmaking. The ruling overturned PASPA and cleared the way for states to determine the process and legality of sports betting in their states. The repeal of PASPA set the foundation of sports betting in the United States today. -
Sports Gambling becomes Legal in Iowa
Legal sports betting arrived in Iowa in August, 2019. The first midwest state to legalize sports betting in the state. The decision came three months after Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into a law a comprehensive bill to legalize sports betting in Iowa. The law permits mobile wagering. Betting on college sports is permitted, but certain kinds of in-game prop bets involving college games are banned. The law bestows the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission with authority to regulate sports betting. -
Sports Gambling becomes Legal in Indiana
Legal sports betting arrived in Indiana in September, 2019. The second midwest state to legalize sports gambling. The Indiana Gaming Commission oversees all sports betting regulations and has issued licenses to operators across the state. Wagering on both college and pro sports is permitted, but betting on esports and high school sports is banned. Indiana's law allows for both mobile and in-person wagering. -
Wisconsin State Assembly Representative Starts Conversations for Legalizing Sports Gambling
Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Tyler Vorpagel told Wisconsin news outlet NBC 26 that he began to start conversations for Legalizing Sports Gambling in the state. "People are doing it, and I think it’s just better for us if we make sure that they’re doing it in as safe and responsible manner as possible,” Vorpagel said. The discussions with state attorneys will provide people with the opportunity to legally sports gamble and be protected. "I am certainly pushing for it," Vorpagel stressed. -
Sports Gambling becomes Legal in Illinois
Legal sports betting arrived in Illinois in March, 2020. The third midwest state to legalize sports gambling. The move came less than a year after the Illinois legislature passed a broad gaming bill that allowed for both online and in-person sports betting. With Governor J.B. Pritzker's signature, the new law also provided for betting on-location at venues such as Wrigley Field. Operators and certain data providers are required to obtain a license under the new law. -
Sports Gambling becomes Legal in Michigan
Legal sports betting in Michigan commenced in March, 2020. The fourth and currently last midwest state to legalize sports gambling. The decision came less than three months after Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the "Lawful Sports Betting Act" into law. The law provides for wagering on a wide variety of sports, including college contests. The law permits wagering in-person and done mobile. -
Wisconsin's Legal Sports Gambling Update
As of today, sports betting in the state of Wisconsin is not legal. Wisconsin has not had any publicly-announced bills devoted to sports betting legalization. No attempts have been made to legalize sports gambling in Wisconsin since PASPA was appealed. Considering Wisconsin has yet to submit any bills to legalize sports betting, it's unclear to say when legal online sports betting could launch in Wisconsin. It appears unlikely that sports betting in Wisconsin will be legal in the near future.