Wisconsin Bill Proposes Tribal-Operated Online Sports Betting
A new, bipartisan bill has been introduced in Wisconsin that aims to legalize mobile sports wagering across the state. The proposed legislation seeks to align Wisconsin with the majority of other states that already offer online sports betting. However, the plan maintains a unique regulatory structure, allowing online wagers only if the governing servers are located on tribal lands.
Expanding Access Through Tribal Platforms
The central mechanism of the proposed law would grant tribal casinos the authority to roll out their own online platforms or apps. This change would make sports betting “a lot more accessible” to residents. Currently, the only legal sports betting in Wisconsin is conducted in-person at tribal casinos, such as the Potawatomi Sportsbook in Milwaukee.
A key limitation of the bill is that it does not apply to major national sports betting apps like DraftKings or FanDuel. These national operators currently display notifications that their services are unavailable in Wisconsin.
The Chairman of the Forest County Potawatomi Community expressed support for the bill. He called the measure “the first step in bringing Wisconsin in alignment with the large majority of other states who already offer mobile sports wagering.” Proponents emphasize the need to modernize gaming access, with one advocate noting, “We’re in the 21st century in 2025, where everything is on our phones and our computers, we should be able to do it.”
Addiction Concerns Challenge Accessibility
The push for accessibility is met with strong concerns over problem gambling. Opponents argue that making betting easier to access online will inevitably increase the rate of addiction.
A study from the National Library of Medicine supports this concern. It found that 28% of online gamblers believe it is easier to spend more money when betting remotely. Furthermore, 15% of respondents considered online wagering to be more addictive than placing bets in-person.
While supporters acknowledge the risks, they suggest moderation is key. One resident remarked that everything “is good in moderation if you know what you’re doing, if you know where to hold yourself back, you’ll be alright.” The bill now moves forward with the task of balancing the modern demand for mobile accessibility against the risks associated with expanded gambling.
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