TLDR
- Two conservative groups sued Wisconsin over its new online sports betting law
- The suit claims the law breaks a 1993 constitutional amendment on gambling
- Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed the case for two taxpayer groups
- DraftKings and FanDuel are not part of the lawsuit, despite opposing the original bill
- Governor Tony Evers’ office says it will fight the legal challenge
Two conservative groups have filed a lawsuit against Wisconsin’s new online sports betting law. They argue the law goes against the state constitution.
The lawsuit was filed by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty. It represents the Brown County Taxpayers Association and Citizens Defending Liberty.
The case targets a law passed in March. That law changed how the state defines a “bet.”
Under the new law, wagers placed on sporting events are treated differently if the servers processing them sit on tribal land. That land is recognized by the federal government.
The lawsuit points to a 1993 constitutional amendment. Voters at that time limited legal gambling in the state to bingo, raffles, and the state lottery.
What the Lawsuit Claims
Attorneys for WILL say that amendment took away lawmakers’ power to approve new types of betting. They argue this includes online sports betting, no matter how the law is written.
WILL attorney Lucas Vebber explained the group’s argument to Wisconsin Public Radio. He said changing the definition of a bet still counts as allowing something that used to be against the law.
The lawsuit does not name any national sports betting companies. Vebber confirmed that companies like DraftKings and FanDuel are not part of the case.
Those two companies did oppose the original bill when it moved through the legislature. Wisconsin’s tribal nations supported the law instead.
Tribal leaders viewed the law as a way to bring betting that was already happening into a system with clear rules. The law ties the servers used for online bets to tribal land.
The bill had a narrow path to passage earlier this year. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu worked with Democratic lawmakers to get enough votes.
Wider Effects on Wisconsin Gambling
The lawsuit focuses on the sports betting statute. It does not directly ask the court to cancel any existing gaming agreements with tribes.
Still, WILL has raised broader questions in its public statements. Attorney Dan Lennington wrote earlier this year that a challenge to the sports betting law could call into question all gambling in the state.
Lennington said the legal ground under Wisconsin’s casinos is already shaky. That comment came before this lawsuit was filed.
The lawsuit asks a Waukesha County judge to declare the sports betting law unconstitutional. It also asks the court to block any plan to add sports wagering into future tribal agreements.
Governor Tony Evers’ office responded on social media. Spokesperson Britt Cudaback described WILL as a right-wing group working against tribal sovereignty in Wisconsin.
Cudaback said Evers would fight the lawsuit at every stage. The case now sits with a Waukesha County court.
