Despite previously indicating support for online sports betting expansion in the past, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is still weighing the issue as he waits for the bill to reach his desk.
The Wisconsin Senate sent Evers AB 601 with a 21-12 vote Tuesday. The bill would grant the state’s 11 tribes the ability to launch online Wisconsin sportsbooks.
Evers said Tuesday he needs to hear from tribal leaders before he signs the bill.
“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.”
Once Evers formally receives the bill, he has six days excluding Sundays to sign or veto it before it would become law without his signature.
Wisconsin sports betting details
AB 601 legalizes online sports betting through a “hub-and-spoke” model similar to Florida. The language requires bets be processed on a server on tribal land.
Wisconsin receives a percentage of tribal gambling revenues, including $66 million in 2024.
While most of the state’s tribes are for the plan, Evers’ hesitation comes as not every tribe registered as in support.
Should the bill become law, the state would also need to renegotiate its compacts with the tribes, which then would require federal approval.
Bipartisan cooperation passed sports betting bill
Entering into Tuesday’s floor session, there was plenty of political intrigue to the potential sports betting vote. Republican opposition threatened that Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu could lose his position if he worked with Democrats to pass the legislation. LeMahieu, however, appears as though he will not seek reelection.
In the end, LeMahieu and Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein came up with a bipartisan deal to pass the bill. Twelve Democrats and nine Republicans voted to pass the sports betting legislation out of the Republican-controlled Senate. Nine Republicans and three Democrats voted against the bill. Evers is a Democrat.
The House passed the legislation by a unanimous voice vote last month. Rep. Tyler Austin introduced the bill in 2025, before pulling it for more discussion on the issue between sessions. The House discussed the proposal behind the scenes until its final day of the session.
Plenty of opposition
During a hearing last year, the Sports Betting Alliance opposed the proposal. The SBA represents bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics and FanDuel. The opposition was because of a component that 60% of revenues is shared with the tribe.
“It is simply not economically feasible for a commercial operator to hand over 60 percent or more of its revenue to an in-state gaming entity, just for the right to operate in the state,” Sports Betting Alliance representative Damon Stewart said in submitted testimony opposing the bill.
Multiple senators also spoke out against the bill during Tuesday’s floor session.
