Wisconsin Senate Votes in Favor of Mobile Sports Betting

Bettors in the Badger State may soon be able to bet on sports online.

The Wisconsin Senate has passed AB 601, which would allow the state’s gaming tribes to offer online sports betting. The bill is modeled after the Florida market, which successfully established that a wager is placed at the server’s location. 

Florida’s success allows other states to expand online sports betting under the Indian Regulatory Gaming Act rather than requiring a constitutional amendment. 

The bill will now head to Governor Tony Evers for his signature before becoming law.

Tribal-Centric Market Was Wisconsin’s Only Option

The proposal to allow tribes to run the state’s mobile market has faced considerable opposition. Some lawmakers have argued that it will limit tax revenue from the market, echoing warnings from sports betting industry leaders such as DraftKings and FanDuel. That’s led to calls to allow Wisconsin voters to decide on the proposal, but the effort failed to gain enough support to force the issue.

Wisconsin’s tribal gaming lobby holds a lot of sway with lawmakers in Madison. This allowed them to defeat any effort to bring in commercial operators, as they did when the state legalized retail betting. That left Wisconsin with just one option to legalize online sports betting, leading to the passage of AB 601.

Will Evers Sign Off on AB 601?

Wisconsin Governor Evers has suggested he would sign off on any expansion of sports betting as long as it has support from the tribes and Wisconsin residents. However, his stance has been shifting in 2026.

Evers has made no promises to sign off on AB 601, instead sharing his concerns over the proposal. While the bill has the support of tribes, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Tavern League of Wisconsin, the Governor hasn’t seen the same level of public support.

A February poll conducted by the Marquette University Law School found that the majority of voters oppose mobile sports betting. Here are the numbers from the poll:

• 64% of voters oppose mobile sports betting
• 61% of Republicans 
• 66% of Democrats 
• 74% of independents
• 34% of voters support legalizing mobile sports betting

That leaves many wondering if the Governor will sign off, or use his veto power to force lawmakers to find more support.

Unregulated Mobile Betting Already in Wisconsin

While AB 601 has passed both chambers in Madison, several supporters shared that they remain concerned about its impact. They fear that the bill will directly hurt populations vulnerable to problem gambling, resulting in life-altering consequences.

As serious as those fears are, several lawmakers still voted in favor of the bill. They cited the rise of sports prediction markets and the ever-present illegal market to support the bill. While it will surely increase problem gambling, it will also provide Wisconsin with funding to better support those already struggling. 

As many moral and financial concerns remain over the proposal, lawmakers have been clear that they believe a problem gambling crisis is already brewing.