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The majority of Wisconsin’s federally recognized tribes support an online sports betting bill that would allow them to operate mobile sportsbooks. The Legislature passed the bill in March, and it is currently awaiting a decision from Gov. Tony Evers. Eight of the state’s 11 tribes expressed their support in a letter sent to the governor and the Senate last week.
“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 in a PBSWisconsin news article.
Evers hesitates as three tribes remain silent
While the governor initially indicated he would sign the bill, he recently expressed concerns, noting he prefers the backing of all 11 tribes. According to a Legal Sports Report news post, Evers said:
“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. And so, we’ll be doing some talking with tribal leaders, and hopefully we can get something done.”
The eight tribes in support include:
- Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
- Forest County Potawatomi Community
- Ho-Chunk Nation
- Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
- Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
- Sokaogon Chippewa Community
- St. Croix Chippewa Indians
- Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians
While only eight tribes signed the letter, the remaining three—the Menominee, Oneida, and Lac du Flambeau—have not explicitly opposed the expansion.
‘Hub and spoke’ model for Wisconsin online sports betting
In-person sports betting at casinos was legalized in 2021 through amended tribal compacts. Assembly Bill 601 expands this by redefining the term “bet.” Under the new definition, mobile wagers are permitted if the server processing the bet is located on tribal land. This follows the “hub and spoke” model used by Florida’s Seminole Tribe for its Hard Rock Bet platform.
The Sports Betting Alliance—which represents bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics, and FanDuel—opposes the bill. The group argues the revenue-sharing model makes operating costs too high; the framework, created under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, requires 60% of revenue to go to the tribes.
The road to AB 601: A bipartisan March finale
Rep. Tyler August, R-Lake Geneva, introduced AB 601 in late 2025 but briefly withdrew it to allow for inter-session discussion. The Assembly eventually passed the bill by a voice vote in February.
The bill faced a rocky path in the Senate in March, where disagreements briefly threatened the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu. Ultimately, LeMahieu joined Democrats to pass the bill with a 21-12 bipartisan vote. LeMahieu has since announced his retirement.
