Wisconsin Mobile Betting Bill Advances Through State Senate

The committee voted 5-3 in favor of the bill during an executive session on Thursday, November 6, 2025. Introduced by Senator Howard L. Marklein, the bill aims to modernize the state’s gambling offerings. If the bill passes the full Senate and Assembly, it would permit federally recognized Native American tribes to renegotiate their gaming compacts to offer mobile wagers. A core provision requires that all online bets be processed by a server or device physically located on tribal lands.

Legal Mechanism: The Hub-and-Spoke Model

SB 592 establishes a “hub and spoke” model for online betting, similar to the system used in Florida. Under this structure, a bet placed anywhere in Wisconsin is legally recognized as occurring on tribal territory if the transaction flows through a tribal-based server. This is the key condition for legalizing off-reservation mobile wagering.

The legislation is procedural; full implementation requires further steps. Tribes must renegotiate existing gaming compacts with the state. The revised compacts then need approval from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (U.S. Department of Interior) before the system can launch.

Supporters, including major state sports teams like the Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Green Bay Packers, argue this expansion will move an estimated $1 billion in annual illegal wagers into a regulated market. Representative Christine Sinicki explained the consumer access: “I could be sitting in my house, placing a bet online… As long as that server is on tribal land… it’s legal.”

Industry Opposition to Revenue Share

Despite broad support for legalizing mobile betting, the bill faces strong opposition from the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA). The SBA represents the nation’s largest bookmakers, including DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM.

Their central objection is economic: the legal framework under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) would likely require operators partnered with tribes to remit at least 60% of gross revenue to their tribal partners.

Damon Stewart, counsel for the SBA, called the 60% revenue share requirement “economically unfeasible.” He argued that online sports betting is a “low margin, capital-intensive business” and that such a high revenue share would prevent national brands from entering the Wisconsin market.

Stewart warned that if the bill passes in its current form, consumers will continue using “illegal offshore sites” or drive “across the state line to Illinois” for access to major brands. The SBA also criticized the bill’s “dubious legal underpinnings” regarding state constitutional compliance and noted the proposal “feels rushed” since sponsors did not consult the Attorney General.

Tribal Capability and Next Steps

The tribes have defended their ability to run the online betting platforms. Jeff Crawford, Attorney General for the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe, took exception to the SBA’s insinuation that tribes could not successfully operate a statewide sportsbook. He emphasized the tribe’s established history of running successful gaming facilities. Both the SBA and tribal representatives stated a desire to find a way to work together to enable full legalization.

As the bill proceeds, its unique tribal-exclusive model remains the central conflict point. The issue now moves to the full Senate for consideration, where lawmakers must weigh the guaranteed tribal exclusivity against the economic concerns raised by major national betting operators.