Milwaukee's Potawatomi Casino Hotel to open temporary sportsbook

Wisconsin’s Potawatomi Casino Hotel has announced that its retail sportsbook will be opening its doors to the public today, March 31. The new amenity will be opening in a temporary capacity, as work continues on the permanent location in the northwest corner of the casino.

The Milwaukee property will have two temporary locations with 20 kiosks. The kiosks will be located near the former Fire Pit Sports Bar & Grill and off the skywalk on the property's second level. Mayor Cavalier Johnson will place the first bet Friday around 10 a.m. 

Near the former Fire Pit Sports Bar & Grill, in addition to kiosks, guests will find a full bar, eight HD televisions, and one large LED screen. Both temporary locations will provide odds boards. Sports betting guests will also find 20-minute dedicated parking spots in the structure. 

Rendering for the full Potawatomi Casino Hotel sportsbook

Construction of the sportsbook comes in the midst of the property’s $100 million renovation to its second level, expected to be completed in phases during the summer and fall of 2023. Upon completion, guests will enjoy “a modern space” with new gaming, a high-limit room, and Rock & Brews – a restaurant founded by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of the band KISS.

“This is a transformational time at Potawatomi Casino Hotel,” said Dominic Ortiz, Potawatomi Casinos and Hotels’ CEO. “For more than three decades, we have served as a leader in Tribal gaming. With the addition of sports betting, we’ll be providing our guests with even more options and welcoming new visitors to the property and the Menomonee Valley.”

Kambi Group is set to provide the technology for retail initially and eventually online sports betting sites at the Potawatomi location. “Kambi’s proven track record will be beneficial as we introduce this new gaming amenity to our millions of annual visitors from throughout the region,” Ortiz said at the time of the partnership’s announcement.

Wisconsin marks the 22nd state to use Kambi, which will provide live odds boards and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) technology to Potawatomi sports bettors. Since legalization in November of 2021, sports betting in Wisconsin has only allowed Native American licensees to operate sports betting at tribal-owned properties. 

Sports betting coming to Milwaukee – the largest city in Wisconsin – is a big step for the Potawatomi tribe and the state’s market, as the city is home to a large population and boasts the NBA’s Bucks and the MLB’s Brewers. 

Before this launch, the Oneida Casino in Green Bay was the only option to place retail wagers. Mobile sports betting is also available through the Oneida Nation’s app, but wagers can only be placed within the physical limits of the tribe’s seven truckstops and two other Oneida-owned casinos.