As Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers weighs whether or not to sign online sports betting into law, a majority of the state’s tribes have expressed their support to the chief executive.
Eight of the state’s 11 tribes sent a letter to Evers and the state Senate last week urging the Governor to sign the Wisconsin sports betting legislation. Earlier this month, the legislature passed AB 601, which would allow the state’s tribes to operate online sportsbooks.
”Our nations share a collective mission of working to strengthen tribal sovereignty, maintaining the tribal nations’ role as the primary operators and regulators of gaming in Wisconsin, and accomplishing a framework with mobile sports betting that benefits all Wisconsin tribes,” the letter reads.
Governor wary about adding signature
Evers had indicated he would sign the tribal-focused sports betting bill.
More recently, however, the governor has indicated he needs the backing of all tribes.
“I’ll have to take a look at what the bill actually says, but also talk to those people from whichever tribal nations haven’t signed on where they are at,” Evers said, per WBAY-TV. “And so, we’ll be doing some talking with tribal leaders, and hopefully we can get something done.”
Tribes support sports betting
A majority of the state’s tribes support the bill.
The eight tribes that signed the letter to Evers:
- Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
- Forest County Potawatomi Community
- Ho-Chunk Nation
- La Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
- Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
- Sokaogon Chippewa Community
- St. Croix Chippewa Indians
- Strockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians
The other three tribes in the state are not explicitly against the expansion of sports betting, per the Milwaukee Sentinel Journal.
What the sports betting bill does
Wisconsin tribal compacts were amended in 2021 to allow for in-person sports betting at casinos. AB 601 expands that by changing the definition of “bet” to allow for mobile wagers as long as the device processing the wager is on tribal land. The “hub and spoke” model is similar to the system set up in Florida for the Seminole Tribe and its Hard Rock Bet.
The Sports Betting Alliance offered testimony against the bill, as it creates the framework under the Indian Regulatory Gaming Act, which require 60% of revenue to go back to the tribes. The SBA represents bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics and FanDuel.
The representative argued the revenue share makes the cost of doing business in Wisconsin too high.
Wisconsin sports betting journey
Rep. Tyler Austin introduced the Wisconsin sports betting bill in late 2025, but pulled it in favor of more discussion between sessions. The House discussed the proposal behind the scenes until the final day of the session in February, when the chamber passed it by unanimous voice vote.
Entering into the final stretch of the Senate’s session this month, there was political infighting, including the threatened ousting of Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, a Republican. Instead, LeMahieu worked with Democrats to pass the bill with the necessary bipartisan support and has since announced his retirement.
Ultimately, 12 Democrats and nine Republicans voted to pass the bill. Nine Republicans and three Democrats voted against AB 601. Evers is a Democrat.
