Wisconsin Lawmakers Aim to Legalize Online Sports Betting

Bill awaits governor's signature to allow tribes to offer online sports wagering statewide

Mar. 18, 2026 at 8:06am

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Wisconsin lawmakers have passed a measure that would allow the state's tribal gambling sites to offer online sports betting to people anywhere in Wisconsin, but the bill is contingent on the signature of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. If signed into law, Wisconsin would become the 32nd state to allow online sports wagering, which is how most people place bets.

Why it matters

The expansion of legal sports betting has spread rapidly across the U.S. since the Supreme Court opened the door in 2018. Wisconsin's move to legalize online sports betting could generate significant revenue for the state, but it faces opposition from commercial operators who argue the proposed 'hub-and-spoke' model favoring tribal casinos is not economically feasible for them.

The details

Under the Wisconsin legislation, online sports betting would be allowed only if the infrastructure to manage the bets, such as computer servers, is located on tribal lands in the state. This 'hub-and-spoke' model is already used in Florida. Supporters argue it will allow Wisconsinites to bet legally rather than using offshore sportsbooks or crossing state lines, while opponents say the 60% revenue share requirement for commercial operators makes it unworkable for them.

  • The Wisconsin Assembly passed the sports betting bill on a voice vote in February 2026.
  • The Wisconsin Senate approved the bill in March 2026 with 12 Democrats joining 9 Republicans.
  • Gov. Tony Evers must now decide whether to sign the legislation into law.

The players

Tony Evers

The Democratic governor of Wisconsin who must decide whether to sign the sports betting expansion bill into law.

Robin Vos

The Republican speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly who opposes online gambling but says people are already doing it illegally and he would rather have some state control over it.

Sports Betting Alliance

A group representing major commercial sportsbook operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM, which opposes the Wisconsin bill's requirement that 60% of gambling revenues go to tribal casinos.

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What they’re saying

“It is simply not economically feasible for a commercial operator to hand over 60% or more of its revenue to an in-state gaming entity, just for the right to operate in the state.”

— Damon Stewart, Representative, Sports Betting Alliance

“I would rather make sure that Wisconsinites have some sort of control over that.”

— Robin Vos, Wisconsin Assembly Speaker

What’s next

If Gov. Evers signs the legislation, it could still take months for Wisconsin to launch its new online sports betting program, as is common with the rollout of new gambling initiatives in other states.

The takeaway

Wisconsin's move to legalize online sports betting highlights the ongoing tension between tribal casinos and commercial sportsbook operators over the economic terms of market access. The outcome could set a precedent for how other states approach the expansion of legal sports wagering.