TLDR Wisconsin’s Assembly Bill 601 passed the state Senate 21-12 and now awaits Governor Tony Evers’ signature The bill allows online and mobile sports betting statewide but only through tribal operators with servers on tribal land At least 60% of revenues will stay with tribal operators, with the state receiving a share decided later through compact updates Major sportsbook companies like DraftKings and FanDuel oppose the tribal-only model, and a Marquette poll shows 64% of voters against legalization Governor Evers has five days remaining to sign or veto the bill and has previously signaled support if it had bipartisan and tribal backing
Wisconsin is on the verge of legalizing online sports betting after Assembly Bill 601 cleared the state Senate by a vote of 21-12. The bill passed just moments before the legislature closed its regular session for the year.
The legislation now sits on Governor Tony Evers’ desk. His signature is the only remaining step before it becomes law.
If signed, Wisconsin would become the first U.S. state to approve new sports betting legislation since Missouri did so in late 2024. The bill had bipartisan support in both chambers of the state legislature.
What the Bill Allows
AB 601 would let Wisconsin residents place sports bets online or through mobile devices anywhere in the state. However, all wagers must be processed through servers located on tribal land.
This makes it a tribal-only sports betting bill. Wisconsin’s constitution prohibits most forms of gambling outside of tribal lands, so the legislation was designed to work within that framework.
The model is similar to the hub-and-spoke system used in Florida. Tribal operators would retain a minimum of 60 percent of revenues generated from online sports betting.
The state would also receive a share of the revenue. The exact split