A proposal that would have brought online sports betting to Wisconsin did not reach a vote in the Assembly on Wednesday, leaving its future uncertain. Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August (R-Walworth) confirmed the measure was removed from the agenda, though he did not provide a specific reason for the delay.
Under current law, online sports betting remains illegal in the state. However, Native American tribes can offer in-person wagers on their lands through compacts with Wisconsin. The proposed legislation sought to expand online betting statewide while preserving tribal sovereignty by requiring that the servers for betting apps be located on tribal property.
The bill had previously sailed through an Assembly committee with a 10–0 vote, reflecting bipartisan support. Had it been brought to the full Assembly, proponents believed it would likely have passed. Even so, approval from the Senate, the governor, and eventual renegotiation of tribal compacts with federal authorization would still have been necessary.
Supporters and Critics Weigh In
Support for the measure came from groups including the Forest County Potawatomi Community, the Ho-Chunk Nation, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, and the Milwaukee Brewers. Advocates pointed to the large sums being illegally wagered online in Wisconsin and argued that the state and tribal governments are losing significant revenue.
Philip Ange, who works at a slots café in Illinois, told supporters: “The government’s going to make money off it one way or the other. You might as well let them do what they want. They’re not harming anyone, bet on it. It will keep more money in your state.”
Opponents, such as the Sports Betting Alliance and the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, raised concerns about the social and financial impacts. Sam Krebs of Wisconsin Family Action noted the risks: “If you look at sports books nationwide, they report a profit of nearly $14 billion last year…for every $1 a household spent on betting, they spent $2 less on investments or savings. The social costs are many, because they can lead to things like family breakdown, lost productivity, addition, bankruptcy.”
Looking Toward 2026
The Assembly’s delay is expected to push consideration of online sports betting to the 2026 legislative session. Dominic Ortiz, CEO of Potawatomi Casinos & Hotels, told The New Normal podcast that Assembly Bill 601 would be addressed in January, describing the proposal as creating “a fair playing field and unites the tribes.”
Ortiz emphasized, “We’re about partnership, not ownership. The clear indication from the SBA is if they can’t have their rules, they’re going to come in and burn down the market.”
Wisconsin already permits in-person sports betting under compacts expanded in 2021. The new proposal would implement a “hub-and-spoke” system, allowing the state’s 11 tribes to partner with sportsbook operators, provided the server is on tribal land. This mirrors arrangements like the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock Bet in Florida.
However, legal questions remain. Prediction markets planned byDraftKings and FanDuel could bypass state regulations, while tribal and state regulators contend these markets may violate gaming laws. Ortiz stated, “Their clear intent is to have ownership of Wisconsin. They’re not here to be our partner.”
Source:
“Wisconsin online sports betting bill pulled, future uncertain”, fox6now.com, November 19, 2025
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