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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Today the state assembly will vote on a sports betting scheme for Wisconsin. It is, indeed, a scheme, perhaps illegal.
Under Wisconsin’s state constitution sports betting is allowed only on tribal lands. The legislature’s proposed work-around is that the computers that process the bets would be on tribal lands. But the actual bets could be placed from anywhere through apps on your cellphone.
This also begs the question, ‘what about other types of gambling?’ Can I use an app to play a virtual slot machine or video poker from anywhere, so long as the computer that’s running the game is on tribal lands. That would open the door for 24/7 gaming anywhere in the state.
Consider what a cesspool sports betting has become. Among the low-lights this year: a group of college basketball players have been kicked off their teams for point shaving. An NBA coach and player are the front men for rigged mafia poker games. College wrestlers from Rutgers were running their own sports betting operation. Two Cleveland Indians pitchers are suspected of intentionally throwing balls on pitch-by-pitch bets. Members of the LA Lakers have been told to turn over their cellphones as part of a gambling investigation.
Remember, a big gambling scam is unlikely to be run through a high profile app like FanDuel or Bally or MGM. They’d be too likely to pick up on players who always win. The con would be run through smaller, secondary betting platforms – perhaps like the types being contemplated in Wisconsin.
And why is our state wading into the bog? Well, because there’s money to be made. The state would share it with the tribes. Of course, the state’s cut is to be spent. There’s no talk whatsoever about how much of this bounty might go for tax relief.
I have little interest in Wisconsin getting into the sports gambling business. If betting on games is so important to you – move to a state where it’s allowed. The only sure bet is the state wants more money to spend. Where it comes from is secondary.
Chris Conley
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