MADISON, Wis. — A conservative legal organization is challenging Wisconsin’s new online sports betting law, arguing it violates both the state and federal constitutions.
The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) filed a lawsuit in Waukesha County Circuit Court seeking to block implementation of the law, which Governor Tony Evers signed in April. The law would allow people to place sports bets anywhere in Wisconsin, provided the wagers are processed through servers located on tribal land.
WILL argues the law illegally expands gambling beyond what is allowed under a 1993 amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution. The lawsuit also contends the law violates the Equal Protection Clause by granting exclusive statewide mobile sports betting rights through Wisconsin’s tribal gaming system.
The law firm is asking the court to declare the law unconstitutional, prevent Governor Evers from negotiating updated tribal gaming compacts and stop state officials from authorizing statewide online sports betting.
Supporters of the law argue it complies with the Wisconsin Constitution because betting would be conducted through tribal gaming compacts. All 11 federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin have urged the governor to move forward with implementation.
The lawsuit comes as Wisconsin prepares to become one of the latest states to legalize statewide mobile sports betting.
