MADISON, Wis. — Governor Tony Evers put his signature on legislation Thursday that authorizes online sports wagering in Wisconsin, bringing the state into a group of 33 that permit the activity.
However, Wisconsin residents shouldn’t expect to place legal online bets anytime soon. The legislation, which received support from both parties in the state legislature, mandates that Wisconsin must first hammer out fresh agreements with Native American tribes who will operate the sports wagering platforms.
The governor emphasized his commitment to fair treatment across all tribal nations in the negotiation process.
“The real work begins today,” Evers stated. “Each of the 11 Tribes must now work diligently-and together-to shape the future of sports betting in Wisconsin. … An approach that exacerbates long-standing inequalities among Tribal Nations is not good for Wisconsinites or Wisconsin. I will not entertain it as governor.”
Currently, Wisconsin permits gambling exclusively on tribal territory through special agreements between the state and tribal governments. Sports wagering is restricted to specific tribal gaming facilities, while online betting remains prohibited.
The newly enacted legislation would permit online sports wagering only when the technological infrastructure managing the bets, including computer servers, operates from tribal lands within Wisconsin. This system, called the “hub-and-spoke” approach, has already been implemented in Florida.
Wisconsin’s tribal agreements require tribes to share a portion of their gambling profits with the state government. During 2024, tribal casinos contributed more than $66 million to state coffers.
Evers highlighted that the new legislation creates opportunities “to support mental health programs and to combat the opioid crisis, two issues that I know plague both Tribal Nations and communities across our state.”
The legislation gained backing from multiple Wisconsin tribes and the Milwaukee Brewers. Advocates argue that residents are already wagering through overseas betting sites, prediction platforms, or by traveling to neighboring states like Illinois where it’s permitted.
Opposition came from the Sports Betting Alliance, representing major companies including FanDuel, DraftKings, bet365, BetMGM and Fanatics. These companies claimed partnering with Wisconsin tribes wouldn’t be financially viable since federal regulations require tribes to receive 60% of gambling revenues. They favored a state constitutional amendment that would open sports betting to all operators.
Evers, who won’t seek a third term this year, initially pledged to sign the bill if Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized tribes supported it. He later expressed reservations when some tribes remained uncommitted. On Thursday, the governor confirmed that all 11 tribes are now actively discussing implementation details.
Nationwide, regulated sportsbooks processed approximately $167 billion in wagers last year, producing nearly $17 billion in revenue after paying customer winnings, according to the American Gaming Association. This represented almost a 23% jump from the prior year.
