Wisconsin lawmakers have begun discussions on a bill that could expand sports betting beyond tribal casinos by permitting mobile wagering through tribal partnerships. On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue held a hearing to examine Senate Bill 592, marking the first step in the state’s potential online sports betting framework.
Senator Howard Marklein, one of the bill’s co-authors and a committee member, stressed the need for regulation. “If we do this, it will legalise what a lot of people do right now illegally,” Marklein said. “We’ll make this legal and collect taxes on this, which we certainly need.”
The proposal outlines a “hub-and-spoke system,” allowing 11 Wisconsin tribes to collaborate with online sports betting operators, provided that the servers handling wagers are located on federally recognised tribal land. The plan resembles Florida’s approach, where the Seminole tribe operates a near-monopoly. Tribes would need to renegotiate gaming compacts with the state, which also require approval from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Co-authors include Senators Kristin Dassler-Alfheim and Howard Marklein, and Representatives Kalan Haywood and Tyler August. “For too long, illegal, offshore entities have profited from consumers through unregulated sports wagering, without generating revenue for local economies,” Haywood said in a statement last month. “By regulating this multi-billion-dollar industry, we can provide a safer mobile wagering experience for Wisconsin consumers and generate much-needed revenue to invest into our communities.”
Tribal Support and Economic Incentives
Several tribes voiced support for the legislation during the hearing. The Ho-Chunk Nation, which previously sued prediction market operator Kalshi over illegal sports betting on tribal land, highlighted the potential benefits for tribal governance and community funding.
Forest County Potawatomi Community Attorney General Jeff Crawford noted that professional sports teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Brewers, and Packers also back legalisation, citing existing partnerships. He emphasized that Wisconsin residents already place millions of dollars in bets annually, and a regulated market would offer consumer protections, including responsible gambling measures.
Concerns and Opposition
Not all responses were positive. Senator Andre Jacque voiced apprehension about broadening gambling options. Representatives of the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating for major sportsbook operators, expressed reservations about the bill’s revenue-sharing model. Under the legislation, operators would send 60% of revenue to partner tribes—a percentage the Alliance counsel described as “so large, they would lose money – it just won’t work for them.”
DraftKings already collaborates with the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, operating an in-person sportsbook at Lake of the Torches Resort Casino. Governor Tony Evers has previously approved in-person sports betting via tribal compacts in 2021.
Legalization as Regulation
The bill would allow Wisconsin residents to place online bets from home, as long as wagers are routed through tribal servers. Representative Christine Sinicki described the approach as a way to legalize existing behaviors. “What this does is it legalizes online betting. Which is currently going on now – but illegally,” she said. Wittke added: “The states around us already have a plan in place. So why wouldn’t we join in on that and legalize it and make it more transparent.”
Lawmakers highlight the financial benefits for both the state and tribal nations.
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