Wisconsin lawmakers took a major step Thursday toward legalizing statewide online sports betting, as the state Assembly approved a bill that would allow federally recognized tribes to offer mobile wagering under a framework designed to comply with the Wisconsin Constitution’s limits on gambling.
The proposal passed with bipartisan support and little debate, clearing the Assembly on a unanimous voice vote on the chamber’s final scheduled day in session. The bill now moves to the Wisconsin Senate, where its path remains uncertain, even as Gov. Tony Evers has indicated support for expanding legal sports wagering.
Sports betting in Wisconsin is currently only allowed in person at tribal casinos, under gaming compacts that govern gambling on tribal lands. Online sports betting, however, remains prohibited.
The new bill would update the state’s definition of “bet” to permit mobile sports wagering across Wisconsin if the bettor is physically located in the state and the sportsbook’s servers are located on tribal land. Backers describe the approach as a “hub-and-spoke” model similar to one used in Florida, where the infrastructure is housed on tribal property while customers place bets from elsewhere in the state.
Supporters argue the change is aimed at keeping sports wagering inside Wisconsin’s existing tribal gaming structure while pulling activity away from offshore operators. They also contend that the state is losing business as residents either cross the border to place online bets in neighboring states such as Illinois or turn to emerging alternatives, such as online live betting markets.
Tribal nations have backed the legislation, framing it as a way to protect and modernize their gaming operations as the sports betting market continues to expand nationwide. Roughly two-thirds of states allow legal online sports betting, and mobile wagering is permitted in a large majority of those states.
Still, the bill has drawn objections from lobbying groups representing major national sportsbooks, which have expressed concerns about the financial structure of tribal based mobile wagering.
During committee discussion, Rep. Robert Wittke, R-Caledonia, pointed to testimony from a Sports Betting Alliance attorney who warned that revenue requirements under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act could be too costly for top brands.
Wittke said he believed Wisconsinites were “better served” by keeping the platform within the current gambling framework.
Financial projections included with the legislation estimate the state’s annual shared revenue from gaming could rise by 10 to 20 percent, or roughly $6 million to $12 million on top of the approximately $60 million Wisconsin receives each year. Recent shared revenue payments from tribal casinos have ranged from about $57 million in 2022 to more than $66 million in 2024, though the state does not separately itemize sports wagering payments.
The Assembly also approved a separate bill Thursday setting new state-level rules for name, image, and likeness payments for University of Wisconsin athletes, a measure that passed with only one no vote.
That legislation would allow student athletes to hire agents, permit universities to facilitate NIL agreements, and prohibit endorsements involving tobacco, alcohol, or illegal activities, while shielding certain records from open records requirements when confidentiality is needed for competitive reasons.
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