Wednesday, March 18, 2026

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Legal online sports betting in Wisconsin would have to go through in-state tribal computer servers, under a bi-partisan bill given final okay by the state legislature Tuesday.

Chuck Quirmbach reports.

Supporters and critics of online sports betting acknowledge it frequently occurs in Wisconsin.

Gamblers go through commercial companies like Draft Kings, but the Wisconsin Constitution says most legal betting can only occur on sovereign tribal properties here, regulated by state-tribal gaming compacts.

The just-passed bill by the legislature attempts to reinforce that online sports bets in the state must go through the 11 federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin.

Shannon Holsey is President of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians. She says the new legislation is good public policy.

“It provides clarity, respect to tribal sovereignty, and it strengthens Wisconsin’s long-standing state and tribal partnership. Especially for our tribe and all tribes. It really creates opportunity, while allowing us to grow responsibly, securely and on our own terms.”

Holsey says any additional revenue for the Stockbridge-Munsee would go toward funding things like tribal housing, health care and public safety.

Remarks opposing the Wisconsin sports betting bill center on what critics like State Sen. Steve Nass (R-WI) say is the possibility of more people becoming addicted to gambling.

“Making gambling easier and more accessible online will only accelerate these harms-family breakdown, lost productivity, addiction treatment.”

But other supporters of the sports betting bill say more ways to prevent problem gambling could now be negotiated with the tribes.

Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI) still has to sign the legislation and the federal government has to approve amended gaming compacts.

Pete Kaiser leaving Unalakleet checkpoint. (Courtesy Iditarod Insider)

Jessie Holmes was the first musher to reach the end of the 1000-mile trail from Anchorage to Nome, winning his second consecutive Iditarod.

KNBA’s Rhonda McBride reports.

Four of the race’s Indigenous mushers were still out on the trail Wednesday morning.

Pete Kaiser (Yup’ik) from Bethel and Ryan Redington (Iñupiat) were finishing up their mandatory eight-hour rest in White Mountain, one of the last two checkpoints in the race.

Both former champions were hoping for a repeat, b But Kaiser says his team contracted stomach virus on the trail, so he rested them more to give them time to recover. Kaiser told the Iditarod Insider this changed his focus.

“I’ve been kind of reminiscing and soaking in the sights more than ever, trying to be in the moment more than stressing out about placement and different things like that. So of course it would be fun to be further up, but that’s not always in the cards. I’ve had a good trip.”

Kaiser’s team is positioned to finish in the top ten. He says the cold dry snow on the Bering Sea Coast was one of the biggest challenges, because it sticks to the sled runners.

Redington, who is not far behind Kaiser, told the Iditarod Insider this last stretch of the trail also tested his team.

“Hopefully we get a little less wind. If it is windy, I’m going to take a lot more rest.”

Ryan Redington talks about the strong Bering Sea winds are slowing his team down. (Courtesy Iditarod Insider)

There were also three rookie Indigenous mushers in the race.

Jesse Terry, an Anishinaabe from Ontario, is in 16th place and Kevin Hansen, an Iñupiaq from Kotzebue, is in 21st place.

Jody Potts-Joseph, a Hän Gwich’in from Eagle Village, who had to contend with bison on the trail, pulled out of the race after her team came down with kennel cough. She said she had to put her team first.

Iditarod Trail officials praised her handling of the dogs.

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