TLDR
- Wisconsin’s Assembly Bill 601 passed the state Senate 21-12 and now awaits Governor Tony Evers’ signature
- The bill allows online and mobile sports betting statewide but only through tribal operators with servers on tribal land
- At least 60% of revenues will stay with tribal operators, with the state receiving a share decided later through compact updates
- Major sportsbook companies like DraftKings and FanDuel oppose the tribal-only model, and a Marquette poll shows 64% of voters against legalization
- Governor Evers has five days remaining to sign or veto the bill and has previously signaled support if it had bipartisan and tribal backing
Wisconsin is on the verge of legalizing online sports betting after Assembly Bill 601 cleared the state Senate by a vote of 21-12. The bill passed just moments before the legislature closed its regular session for the year.
The legislation now sits on Governor Tony Evers’ desk. His signature is the only remaining step before it becomes law.
If signed, Wisconsin would become the first U.S. state to approve new sports betting legislation since Missouri did so in late 2024. The bill had bipartisan support in both chambers of the state legislature.
What the Bill Allows
AB 601 would let Wisconsin residents place sports bets online or through mobile devices anywhere in the state. However, all wagers must be processed through servers located on tribal land.
This makes it a tribal-only sports betting bill. Wisconsin’s constitution prohibits most forms of gambling outside of tribal lands, so the legislation was designed to work within that framework.
The model is similar to the hub-and-spoke system used in Florida. Tribal operators would retain a minimum of 60 percent of revenues generated from online sports betting.
The state would also receive a share of the revenue. The exact split will be determined later through updates to existing tribal compacts.
Wisconsin has tribal compacts with 11 federally recognized tribes that date back to the early 1990s. Those agreements grant tribes sovereignty over gambling in exchange for revenue payments to the state.
There are currently 26 tribal casinos operating across Wisconsin. Recent amendments to tribal agreements, negotiated by Governor Evers, have already allowed the Oneida Nation, Forest County Potawatomi, and Ho-Chunk Nation to offer in-person sports betting at their casinos.
Opposition From Commercial Operators and Voters
Wisconsin’s tribes have supported the bill as a source of economic growth and development funding. Chairwoman Nicole Boyd of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa said the bill would increase state revenue and give consumers legal protections for fair play.
Ho-Chunk Nation legislator Kyle WhiteEagle said mobile sports betting would help direct funding where it is most needed in tribal communities. He acknowledged it would not solve all problems but called it a step forward.
On the other side, major commercial sportsbook companies have pushed back against the bill. DraftKings, FanDuel, and the Sports Betting Alliance, a U.S. operator trade group, have all opposed the tribal-only structure.
A recent Marquette University poll of 818 registered voters found limited public enthusiasm for legal online sports betting. The poll showed 64 percent of respondents opposed legalization, compared with 34 percent in favor.
Despite that opposition, the bill secured enough legislative support to pass both chambers. Governor Evers has previously indicated he would likely sign the bill if it had both bipartisan backing and tribal support.
Both conditions have now been met. Under Wisconsin rules, the governor has six days to approve or veto new legislation.
As of now, Governor Evers has five days remaining on that clock.
