Wisconsin Moves Toward Legal Online Sports Betting

On the final day of its 2026 session, the Wisconsin State Assembly approved Assembly Bill 601, which would bring legal online sports betting to the state for the first time.

The Assembly passed the bill via voice vote, although some representatives voiced displeasure with the measure. The bill will now move to the Wisconsin State Senate, where it faces an uncertain future.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) has said that he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk. But Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) has previously said that he doesn’t know if he has enough votes to pass the bill in the Senate.

“I think from a policy standpoint, it makes sense," LeMahieu told the MacIver Institute. "I don't know if we can get it across the finish line."

Republicans narrowly control both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature, so any effort in the Badger State must be a bipartisan one.

The Wisconsin Senate is expected to take up AB 601 sometime in March.

What is The Current State of Sports Betting in Wisconsin?

Currently, sports betting in Wisconsin is legal, but only in person at tribal casinos. Evers signed an amendment to add sports wagering to the state’s gaming compact with Wisconsin’s tribes in July 2021, and sports betting went into effect four months later. Out of 26 tribal casinos in the Badger State, six offer legal sports betting in person.

Wisconsin law only allows gambling to take place on tribal lands. However, online sports betting would follow a loophole previously used by Florida. In 2021, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe of Florida successfully argued that as long as the server was on tribal land, online sports betting would follow established law.

The sides added sports betting to Florida’s compact, and AB 601 would follow the same precedent if passed. Bettors would need to be at least 21 years old to play, per tribal laws.

Why Do Sportsbooks Oppose AB 601?

A major sticking point for AB 601 is the distribution of revenue from online sports betting in Wisconsin. Federal law requires that at least 60% of all revenue from tribal gaming operations remain with the tribe, and that has sparked opposition from the Sports Betting Alliance.

The Sports Betting Alliance, made up of DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Bet365 and Fanatics, spoke against the bill at a public hearing in Wisconsin. Spokesman Damon Stewart served as the only speaker in opposition, and did so specifically in regards to the revenue distribution requirement.

If the 60% requirement remains in place, the SBA has said it will not plan to do business in Wisconsin. That, too, would follow Florida’s model. The Sunshine State only has one sportsbook, Hard Rock Bet, which is operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Under this law, Wisconsin tribes would either need to partner with non-SBA sportsbooks or own and operate their own books.

Could Online Sports Betting in Wisconsin Come Without Tribes?

It’s pretty unlikely. In order for that to happen, Wisconsin’s legislature would need to pass an amendment to the state’s constitution in two consecutive legislative sessions. Such a vote would then go to the voters of Wisconsin to approve at the next scheduled election.

The Wisconsin State Constitution says the legislature cannot authorize gambling in any form, so any bill that doesn’t include the tribes would have to be approved by Wisconsin voters.

How Likely Is Passage?

It’s about a coin flip. The voice vote made clear that some legislators are uncomfortable with expanding tribal gaming while furthering the tribes’ monopoly on legal gambling in Wisconsin. However, sports betting already brings in $60 million a year for Wisconsin, and adding an online avenue would help increase the Badger State’s revenue streams.

With both parties offering both supporters and detractors, the Assembly’s voice vote was only the beginning of what could be a contentious fight regarding online sports betting in Wisconsin.