Overview
- Gov. Tony Evers signed the bill Thursday, allowing statewide mobile bets only if the app’s servers are on tribal land, making Wisconsin the 33rd state to permit online sports wagering.
- Betting will not start right away because the state must negotiate new agreements with all 11 tribes and obtain required federal approval for those compacts.
- Evers said each tribe must benefit on equal terms and floated a shared, joint-venture model so smaller nations are not left behind.
- Major operators represented by the Sports Betting Alliance opposed the plan, arguing federal rules that direct about 60% of revenue to tribes make partnerships unworkable, and a conservative legal group signaled possible constitutional challenges.
- Supporters, including tribal leaders and the Milwaukee Brewers, say the model keeps revenue in Wisconsin and could bolster mental health and opioid programs, while critics warn easier phone access could worsen problem gambling.