Wisconsin set for legal sports betting, but doubt remains
Wisconsin will expand into statewide online sports betting after Governor Tony Evers signed Assembly Bill 601 into law, allowing the state’s tribal nations to offer mobile wagering.
The legislation enables bettors aged 21 and over to place wagers via apps linked to servers located on tribal land, marking a significant shift from the current retail-only model in place since 2021. Wisconsin will become the latest US jurisdiction to legalise statewide mobile betting, joining more than 30 states.
Evers, who had previously raised concerns about fairness among the state’s 11 federally recognised tribes, said the bill could help “level the playing field” and ensure broader participation in gaming revenues.
“This bill means a broader collection of Tribal Nations in Wisconsin could reap the benefits of increased gaming revenues,” he said, in a written statement.
“Statewide mobile events or sports wagering could present an opportunity to help level the playing field to ensure every Tribal Nation in Wisconsin can benefit from the increased revenues. This is important.”
However, a launch date for the regulated sports betting industry in Wisconsin remains unclear, with tribes required to renegotiate compacts and secure federal approval.
Questions also remain over operator involvement, as revenue-sharing requirements under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act may deter major sportsbooks, like DraftKings, Fanatics and BetMGM, from entering the market.
Under the current arrangement the tribes must receive at least 60% of the revenue from gaming, which may deter these major US gambling operators from entering Wisconsin.
Evers, a Democratic Governor, said a priority was the industry’s dividends were divided equally among the tribes, rather than creating a two tiered system where some reaped all the rewards.
