- Wisconsin legislators introduce two bills for online sports betting
- Online sports betting would be offered through local tribes
- Current laws allow in-person betting on tribal lands
This week, Wisconsin legislators took a step towards expanding Wisconsin sports betting to include legal online options.
Two bills, SB 592 and AB 601, were introduced. The bills would allow Wisconsin tribes with existing gaming compacts to offer online sports betting as long as their servers are located on tribal land.
How Would Wisconsin Online Sports Betting Work?
Both SB 592 and AB 601 are basically identical bills, one introduced by the Senate and the other by the House of Representatives, respectively. SB 592 is a bipartisan bill sponsored by four senators and 15 House of Representative members.
One of those members, Rep. Robert Wittke, says Wisconsin is looking to match what neighboring states are doing.
“The states around us already have a plan in place. So why wouldn’t we join in on that and legalize it and make it more transparent,” he said.
“The states around us already have a plan in place. So why wouldn’t we join in on that and legalize it and make it more transparent.” — Rep. Robert Wittke.
Rep. Christine Sinicki says legalizing online sports betting would be a win for all parties.
“Win for the tribes, they are going to get a little bit more money out of it, our percentage that we get – the state will get more money out of it,” Sinicki said.
“Win for the tribes, they are going to get a little bit more money out of it, our percentage that we get – the state will get more money out of it.” — Rep. Christine Sinicki.
Sports betting is legal in Wisconsin, however, only when played at brick-and-mortar tribal casinos. While some tribal sportsbooks offer a mobile app, they can only be used while physically located at a tribal gaming location.
The new bills introduced would allow for greater availability of mobile betting. As long as sports bets are placed on an app that has its servers on tribal lands, it would be considered a legal bet. This is also known as a “hub-and-spoke system” which is comparable to how sports betting is offered in Florida.
In Florida, the Seminole Tribe has been offering online sports betting since 2021 through this mechanism. Therefore, there is precedent for this path towards online approval.
What’s Next for Wisconsin Online Sports Betting
Details are limited to the potential for commercial operators to partner with tribal sportsbooks for online sports betting in Oklahoma. In Florida, Hard Rock Bet is the only platform available through the Seminole Tribe.
The bill is currently sitting with the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue. Further discussions could be held during a legislative session in November. Proponents will advocate for tax revenues for tribal development, public programs, and state infrastructure projects.
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