MADISON, Wis. – A bill that would legalize online sports betting in Wisconsin through a “hub-and-spoke” model centered on Native American tribal land is heading to Governor Tony Evers’ desk.
Assembly Bill 601 was passed by state Senators 21-12 March 17 after a planned vote late in November was called off at the last minute. 12 Democrats voted in favor of the bill, while Republicans were evenly split nine to nine.
“Public revenue built on addiction, family disintegration, and predatory practices is neither moral nor social sustainable. Making gambling easier and more accessible online will only accelerate these harms,” said Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) in opposition; he also called the bill “a dirty deal”.
“[Online gambling] already exists on the edges behind closed doors. It’s already there, and it’s already being abused by some. And that’s not going to change. I would rather us put as many parameters around it as we can to take care of our consumers and keep the revenue in with the family who are our local tribes, who also are then sharing back to the state. It is going to happen in Wisconsin. I think taking control of it at this point is a smarter play for all of us,” countered bill co-author Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D-Appleton).
During the annual State of the Tribes address in February, Nicole Boyd, chairwoman of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians indicated there was support for the bill from Wisconsin tribes.
Wisconsin received $66,328,083 in total Class III gaming revenue sharing payments, with $8,081,936 sent by Native nations to local governments, according to the latest numbers from the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Division of Gaming from 2024. There are gaming compacts between Wisconsin and all 11 of it’s federally recognized Native American tribes that grants the tribes exclusive control over gaming operations in the state in exchange for those payments.
Under the proposed “hub-and-spoke” model that other states have adopted, tribes would operate servers for the betting apps on their property, allowing people to access the app from the mobile devices or computers.
The Sports Betting Alliance, which represents national companies like DraftKings and FanDuel, has opposed the measure, saying the proposed model could limit competition from other sportsbook operators and reduce consumer choice.
While Governor Evers has expressed a willingness to sign the bill in the past provided Native tribes were properly consulted, recent comments indicate he may not be satisfied with the level of outreach.
“We have to engage the tribes on that, and I don’t think there’s been much,” the Governor said during a WisPolitics luncheon event February 26.
Wisconsin is one of 20 states that has not yet legalized online sports betting; the state did legalize placing in-person bets at sports books built within casinos in 2021.
Additional information: Individuals experiencing issues related to gambling are encouraged to seek professional assistance. In Wisconsin, confidential help is available through the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLE-5 or 800gambler.org.
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