Wisconsin Lawmakers Propose Online Sports Betting Expansion

Bill awaits governor's signature to allow tribal casinos to offer online sports betting statewide.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 4:18am

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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, pending the signature of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. The bill is contingent on the state negotiating new deals with American Indian tribes to run the sports betting operations, which could take months to implement.

Why it matters

The expansion of online sports betting in Wisconsin would provide a new revenue stream for the state, with tribes paying a percentage of their gambling earnings to the state. However, the bill has faced opposition from some commercial operators who argue the revenue-sharing model is not economically feasible for them.

The details

The Wisconsin legislation would allow online sports betting 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 this would capture bets that residents are already placing with offshore sportsbooks or crossing state lines to make. But the Sports Betting Alliance, which represents major operators like FanDuel and DraftKings, opposes the bill, saying the 60% revenue share requirement for tribes makes it unworkable for commercial operators.

  • The Wisconsin legislature gave final approval to the sports betting bill on March 18, 2026.
  • The bill now heads to Gov. Tony Evers, who has raised some concerns about the level of tribal support.

The players

Wisconsin Legislature

The state legislature in Wisconsin has passed a bill to allow online sports betting through the state's tribal gambling sites.

Gov. Tony Evers

The Democratic governor of Wisconsin must sign the sports betting bill for it to take effect, but he has raised concerns about the level of tribal support.

Wisconsin Tribes

The tribal gambling sites in Wisconsin would be allowed to offer online sports betting under the proposed legislation.

Sports Betting Alliance

A group representing major commercial sports betting operators like FanDuel and DraftKings, which opposes the Wisconsin bill due to the 60% revenue share requirement for tribes.

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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, Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker

What’s next

If Gov. Evers signs the bill, Wisconsin residents may still have to wait months for online sports betting to launch, as new programs often take time to implement.

The takeaway

The proposed expansion of online sports betting in Wisconsin highlights the ongoing debate between tribal gaming operators and commercial sportsbook providers over the economic viability of revenue-sharing arrangements. The outcome could set a precedent for how other states approach the legalization of mobile sports betting.