Why aren’t candidates pushing legalized sports betting in Wisconsin?

Candidates for Governor in Wisconsin are campaigning on many issues. Health care, the economy and social issues. But one issue that not one of the nearly one dozen candidates have even brought up is the notion of legalizing sports betting in Wisconsin. The United States Supreme Court has opened the doors for states to begin offering legalized sports betting. Some states are getting an early start. New Jersey and Delaware have passed laws to legalize betting on sporting events. There has been no movement on legalizing such betting in the Badger state, and there are a number of hurdles to doing so. Foremost, the state’s constitution would have to be changed. Currently the constitution prevents any legal games of chance other than bingo and the lottery. Compacts with the state’s native American tribes allow them to operate casinos. Changing the constitution would not be easy, or quick. But it is possible. Yet not one candidate for Governor is making legalizing sports betting a campaign issue. Despite the fact that if sports betting was legalized in Wisconsin, it could bring in billions of dollars in new revenue. People like to gamble. Just look at all the office pools during March madness, or all the people throwing a few bucks on the final score of the Super Bowl. If just one candidate got behind the idea, the notion of legalized sports betting would begin to get some traction, and at least begin the discussion. Which would be at least farther along than we are now.