A bipartisan proposal to legalize online sports betting in Wisconsin has triggered a dispute among tribal leaders, national gambling companies and state lawmakers as it awaits further action in the Senate. The measure would permit residents to place wagers on their phones or computers, provided the bets are processed through servers located on federally recognized tribal lands and comply with existing state gaming compacts.

The legislation cleared the Wisconsin State Assembly through a voice vote last month and now sits before the Wisconsin State Senate, where Republican members are expected to discuss it in caucus. Whether the bill will receive a formal hearing or floor vote remains uncertain.

Tribal Leaders Push for Mobile Betting Access

At present, Wisconsin law allows sports betting only at tribal casinos, with online wagering largely prohibited outside those facilities. Supporters of the bill argue that the state already loses substantial sums to unregulated platforms operating beyond its borders.

During the State of the Tribes Address, Nicole Boyd, chair of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, urged lawmakers to approve the proposal. “I ask you to approve the legislation currently before you that will bring Wisconsin tribes one step closer to offering mobile sports betting in Wisconsin,” Boyd said according to WLUK.

Boyd told lawmakers that Wisconsin residents spend an estimated “hundreds of millions of dollars” annually on illegal sports betting platforms that offer little benefit to the state. She said those operations provide “little to no legal protection” for users and leave consumers vulnerable to fraud.

“By allowing a legal framework for mobile sports wagering through Wisconsin’s tribes, the state will see increased revenue through the state gaming compacts, and consumers will have the legal protection needed to ensure they receive fair play,” Boyd said.

Under the bill, tribes interested in offering mobile wagering would need to renegotiate their gaming compacts with the state. Those updated agreements would also require approval from the federal government, according to testimony from Sen. Howard L. Marklein, R-Spring Green.

Several tribes have publicly backed the proposal, including the Forest County Potawatomi and the Ho-Chunk Nation. Tribal representatives described online wagering as a potential source of funding for community needs.

Edward Mullen of the Ho-Chunk Nation Legislature testified that the tribe’s current casino revenue falls short of meeting community demands. “The Nation does well with our current casino gaming operations, and we are thankful for what we have. However, with 8000 tribal members, we are still woefully short on providing what is needed,” he said.

Kyle WhiteEagle, also a Ho-Chunk Nation legislator, cited challenges facing tribal communities. “Giving tribes in Wisconsin the right to conduct mobile sports betting isn’t going to solve these problems completely, but it will help significantly, and will be funding well spent,” he said.

Industry Lobby Warns of Monopoly and Process Concerns

National sportsbook operators have organized against the measure. The Sports Betting Alliance, which represents companies such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Fanatics Sportsbook and Bet365, has criticized both the substance of the bill and the manner in which it advanced.

The group’s president, Joe Maloney, accused Assembly lawmakers of acting without sufficient transparency after the voice vote on AB 601. “The people of Wisconsin unfortunately don’t have the benefit right now of knowing how their elected representatives voted,” Maloney said, describing the vote as “another instance of backroom dealing in Wisconsin that residents are continuing to resent more and more.”

Maloney argued that granting tribes primary control over mobile betting would restrict competition. “When we’re driving more competitors into the marketplace, we’re just delivering a better product for the consumer, and that’s delivering more back to the state, as opposed to monopoly or duopoly operations that won’t have the opportunity,” he said. He added, “The consumer sees a number of benefits in any competitive marketplace, and (that’s) certainly not exclusive to online sports wagering.”

The alliance testified that the proposal would require sportsbook providers to direct at least 60 percent of revenue to tribes. In written testimony, the group said the industry operates on narrow margins and that such a requirement is “not economically feasible.” The organization reported spending $262,603 last year lobbying against the bill and its Senate companion.

Maloney said member companies could potentially partner with tribes but prefer a legislative process that includes recorded votes and open negotiations. “We work through tribal compacts and with tribes in certain states, and we’re happy to build upon that record in the state of Wisconsin,” he said. “We’re going to look to the Legislature for that leadership, and hope to see it here over the next several weeks and be a part of the process that can platform a compelling and competitive product.”

Lawmakers and Public Opinion Weigh In

Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August defended the voice vote procedure. “The reality is that some groups are upset because they didn’t get their preferred result. But Wisconsin’s legislative process isn’t controlled by outside interests, and it’s not for sale. Our responsibility is to the constituents we serve,” August said, adding that a voice vote signals broad support among members.

Four Republican lawmakers later registered opposition in the Assembly Journal. Meanwhile, Rep. Kalan Haywood, the lead Democrat on the bill, did not immediately comment publicly.

Public opinion polling suggests significant resistance statewide. A recent survey by the Marquette University Law School found that 64 percent of Wisconsin voters oppose legalizing online sports betting, including majorities of both Republicans and Democrats.

As the Senate deliberates, the proposal faces competing pressures from tribal governments seeking expanded gaming authority and national operators pressing for a broader competitive framework. The outcome will determine whether Wisconsin joins other states in allowing residents to wager on sports from their mobile devices under a new regulatory structure.