Wisconsin Legislature sends statewide mobile sports betting bill to governor for final decision

A bipartisan proposal to allow statewide mobile sports betting in Wisconsin has cleared the Legislature and is awaiting action from Gov. Tony Evers, following a 21-12 vote in the state Senate.

Assembly Bill 601 would permit wagers to be placed anywhere in the state via mobile devices, provided that the servers processing those bets are located on tribal lands. The bill passed with support from 12 Democrats and nine Republicans, while nine Republicans and three Democrats voted against it.

The measure now heads to Evers, whose position remains uncertain. He has indicated support for expansion tied to tribal agreements, but recently said he is “not really excited about what's coming out of the Legislature,” citing concerns about whether there is sufficient backing from Wisconsin tribes.

Tribal framework and market structure

Under current law, sports betting in Wisconsin is limited to in-person wagering at tribal casinos. The proposed legislation would extend that model by allowing tribes to offer mobile betting statewide through a “hub and spoke” system, where servers remain on tribal land while users access platforms across the state.

The framework aligns with a federal court-approved model used in Florida by the Seminole Tribe.

“I really think that this moment is about collective assertion of tribal sovereignty and the preservation of exclusivity that tribes have fought decades to establish,” said Democratic Sen. Dianne Hesselbein.

The bill requires tribes to renegotiate gaming compacts with the state, with final approval subject to the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. Wisconsin’s existing compacts already allow certain tribes, including the Oneida Nation, Forest County Potawatomi, and Ho-Chunk Nation, to offer on-site sports betting following prior amendments.

Industry opposition and competitive concerns

Major sportsbook operators, including DraftKings and FanDuel, have opposed the bill’s structure because it would require the bulk of revenue generated by mobile sports wagering to stay with the tribes, leaving them sidelined in Wisconsin and potentially limiting the size of the new legal market.

Republican Sen. Steve Nass raised concerns about market access and competition.

"Competition is nil," he said, adding that entities offering similar services would be excluded unless they reach agreements with tribes “at great expense.”

Some lawmakers also questioned the legislative process. The Senate, which holds an 18-15 Republican majority, passed the bill with a coalition that included more Democratic than Republican votes, prompting internal criticism. Nass called the vote a “dirty deal” and said, "as the campaigns proceed, follow the money."

Policy debate and consumer considerations

Supporters of the bill argue that mobile betting is already occurring through offshore platforms and prediction markets, and that regulation would allow the state to capture revenue and implement consumer protections.

"If we’re going to have online gambling – which we are. It already exists on the edges, behind closed doors. It’s already there. And it’s already being abused by some, and that’s not going to change. I would rather us put as many parameters around it as we can to take care of our consumers and keep the revenues [in Wisconsin]," said Sen. Kristin Dassler-Alfheim.

Backers also include several tribal governments and business groups, such as the Milwaukee Brewers, the Tavern League of Wisconsin, and regional commerce organizations.

Opponents, however, cited concerns about access and potential social impact tied to expanded digital wagering.

"Voters didn't elect Democrats and Republicans to bring more gambling to the state of Wisconsin," Nass said. "In fact, public revenue built on addiction, family disintegration, and predatory practices is neither moral nor sustainable. Making gambling easier and more accessible online will only accelerate these harms."

"When sports betting is confined to casinos, it is bounded by location, by time, by effort. A person has to make a deliberate choice to go somewhere and eventually, to leave," Republican Sen. André Jacque said. "That friction matters. It creates natural limits. This bill removes those limits."

A recent Marquette University Law School poll found that 64% of Wisconsin voters oppose legalizing online sports betting, compared with 34% who support it.

Despite that divide, lawmakers cited requests from tribal governments as a factor in advancing the legislation. In a recent State of the Tribes address, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Chairwoman Nicole Boyd urged passage of the bill.

The timeline for implementation remains uncertain, as it depends on gubernatorial approval and subsequent renegotiation of tribal-state compacts.