The Oneida Nation announced it is the first Tribal Nation in the state to successfully amend its gaming compact to allow Wisconsin sports betting at its locations.

It is the first time an agreement has been reached in Wisconsin to allow sports betting.

Governor Evers signs off on Wisconsin sports betting

In a press release, Oneida National Chairman Tehassi Hill and Governor Tony Evers signed an amendment to the Oneida Nation Gaming Compact to effectively add sports betting to allowable games offered by the Oneida Casino. Hill, the Oneida Business Committee and Oneida Casino leadership hosted the governor Thursday morning for a signing ceremony at the Oneida Casino.

“We anticipate sports wagering will bring new customers who have an interest in legal sports wagering and will offer new gaming opportunities to our existing customers,” Louise Cornelius, Oneida Casino general manager, said in statement.

If all goes well the Oneida Casino hopes to offer sports betting at the beginning of the regular football season. It will be offered at a brick-and-mortar sportsbook at the Oneida Main Casino in Green Bay, which is currently under construction, and at a temporary location also based in the Oneida Main Casino.

Online sports betting will also be offered at select Oneida Casino locations.

Chad M. Fuss, Gaming Assistant and Chief Financial Officer of Oneida Casino, told Saturday Tradition the casino will identify a partner to make event wagering at the casino a success.

“Oneida Casino will start out offering retail bets, bets from kiosks as well as mobile wagering at designated areas that are owned by the Oneida Nation,” Fuss told Saturday Tradition.

Event Wagering will bring a new clientele to Oneida Casino, Fuss said, as well as retain existing customers.

Will federal government approve of the deal?

The amended compact will be sent to the U.S. Department of the Interior for approval. The department will have up to 45 days to approve, deny or take no action on the amendment. If approved by the department, Oneida Casino will be the only casino in the state to offer sports betting.

Recently, Florida approved a gaming compact that gives exclusive sports betting rights to Seminole Tribe controlled sportsbooks, or qualified parimutuel permitholders to offer sports betting at their facilities. However, the legality of online sports betting in the compact is still a concern as the U.S. Department of the Interior reviews the deal.

As written, the gaming compact allows for the Seminole Tribe to offer online sports betting through a “hub-and-spoke” program for qualified parimutuels and online sportsbook operators. However, throughout the process a number of representatives shared concerns that the gaming compact may not fully pass the federal review.