A bipartisan proposal to legalize online sports betting in Wisconsin is advancing rapidly through the state Legislature. Introduced in late October, the bill cleared its first major test this week when the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue voted 5–3 to send it to the Senate floor following back-to-back public hearings.
Under the Wisconsin Constitution, gambling operations must be run by federally recognized Native American tribes. Sports wagering has been legal since 2021, but only in person at tribal casinos. The new measure would open online betting through a “hub and spoke” model, where servers for betting platforms are based on tribal lands — a setup mirroring Florida’s deal with the Seminole Tribe.
Backers, including lawmakers from both parties, tribal officials, and professional sports teams, say legalization would redirect hundreds of millions of dollars currently bet illegally online. They argue that regulation would curb the black market, protect consumers, and bring in new tax revenue.
Support and Opposition Intensify
Opponents counter that lawmakers are rushing a complex issue that could heighten gambling addiction and spark legal disputes. Sen. Andre Jacque warned that “this would allow them to place bets by their device anywhere in the state, as opposed to going on site at a casino, at a reservation,” saying such access could “feed more into addictive behavior.”
Even if approved, online betting would not start immediately. The state and tribes must first renegotiate gaming compacts, which would then require U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs approval.
Rep. Tyler August urged quick action before illegal markets grow further. “I don’t gamble, but I think it’s the right thing to do, based on some of the data that we’ve seen,” he said. His district borders Illinois, where online betting is already legal and easily accessible.
Potawatomi attorney general Jim Crawford estimated Wisconsinites wagered about $1 billion illegally online last year.“While online gaming is currently the wild west in Wisconsin with no regulations or protections for consumers,” Crawford said, “it does not have to be.”
Culture Clash Over Widespread Gambling
The debate unfolds as the nation reassesses its comfort with legalized sports betting. “American culture, and American sporting culture is trying to adjust to this new widely legalized moment,” said Dr. Jason Lopez of UW–Madison.
Noah Henderson, director of Loyola University Chicago’s sport management program, noted that online platforms eliminate the “cooling-off period” present at physical sportsbooks. “It’s a lot easier to hide problem gambling or a gambling disorder when it’s only on a mobile device,” he explained.
Dispute Over Revenue Sharing
Major national operators are pushing back. The Sports Betting Alliance, which represents companies such as FanDuel and DraftKings, opposes the bill’s 60-40 revenue-sharing rule requiring tribes to keep most profits. Attorney Damon Stewart argued the measure “will only result in limited choices for customers” and could invite years of litigation.
Tribal leaders say they can manage the market themselves. “It’s a little bit concerning to us, that they are sort of implying that we don’t have the capability of operating statewide mobile sports,” Crawford said, emphasizing that tribal casinos already run successful in-person sportsbooks and can expand that success statewide.
Source:
“Bipartisan online sports betting bill is speeding through the Wisconsin Legislature”, wisconsinexaminer.com. November 10, 2025
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