Both of Wisconsin’s legislative chambers have passed AB 601, an online sports betting bill, and now it is headed to the governor’s desk for his signature.
Tribal Monopoly
Last month, the Wisconsin Assembly passed the bill without any debate, and this week, the Senate concurred with a vote of 21-12, following a deal negotiated between Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu and Democrat Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein. It is a quid pro quo arrangement that will also allow the University of Wisconsin to establish rules for managing name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights for its student athletes.
Tribes Get Exclusive Mobile Rights
The bill grants the state’s 11 tribal nations exclusive control of the proposed mobile sports betting industry as long as the servers are on tribal land. The tribes currently operate casinos and retail sportsbooks, but this is the first time digital sports betting has passed both chambers and now awaits an expected signature from Governor Tony Evers.
The state’s professional sports teams and the tribes have been proponents of the bill, and in November, Edward Mullen, an elected representative of Wisconsin’s Ho-Chunk Nation, testified before a Senate hearing.
“It would allow the nation, and other tribes, to tap into a new revenue source that can be used to support tribal governmental functions, sustain self-sufficiency, and assist with meeting the needs of tribal members,” stated Mullen.
Wisconsin Sports Betting Revenue Outlook
The addition of mobile sports betting in the Badger State will bolster the tribes’ bottom lines and their partners’. It will also be another gaming industry revenue stream for Wisconsin, as the state collected $66 million in gaming taxes in 2024. Governor Evers’ endorsement of the bill virtually guarantees its passage into law.
Democratic Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim also voiced her support for the bill, stating, “The reality is, Wisconsin is perfectly accepting of gambling. We know this because we have Powerball, we have scratch-off tickets, we have casinos all over the state that are full on a regular basis.”
“This is about having access to something that the world has decided is something that’s fun and entertaining to them, which is the online access on sporting events. So, this just allows Wisconsin to catch up with the rest of the country,” Dassler-Alfheim added.
The mobile sports betting industry is projected to add another $6 million to $12 million to the state’s tax coffers.
Disgruntled Opponents
Naturally, support is far from unanimous, as several legislators expressed their dismay at the bill being passed, including Republican State Senator Chris Kapenga, who highlighted a fracture in the GOP regarding the mobile sports betting bill.
“I’ve heard the word ‘shameful,’ so I will use that in my comments,” Kapenga said. “It’s shameful that when you look at the money that’s behind this, and you don’t have a coalescence of the Republican votes, that’s very concerning to me, so I hope it does not go to the floor.”
As we know now, it not only went to the floor but also passed with room to spare. The aftermath sparked more criticism from Republican Senator Steve Nass, who insisted the bill would do more harm than good.
“Lost productivity, addiction treatment, bankruptcy, increased demand for social services, criminal justice costs, and diminishing household savings far exceed any revenue benefit in the state,” Nass said.
