Home of the Wisconsin Badgers' football team

Home of the Wisconsin Badgers’ football team (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

Wisconsin lawmakers are pushing a new bill that would finally legalize online sports betting statewide — but not everyone’s on board.

Right now, sports wagers in Wisconsin can only be made in person at tribal casinos. The new bipartisan bill would change that by letting people place bets anywhere in the state using mobile apps. It uses what’s called a “hub-and-spoke” system, where the servers powering the betting apps stay on tribal land, keeping tribes in control of operations.

Supporters say it’s long overdue. Wisconsin residents are already placing hundreds of millions in illegal bets online every year, and the state isn’t seeing a dime of that money. Lawmakers behind the bill argue that legalizing mobile betting would generate tax revenue, protect players, and bring order to an industry that’s already happening underground.

But big sportsbook companies like DraftKings aren’t happy with how the bill is written. The current proposal would require tribes to take at least 60% of the profits, which operators say makes it nearly impossible to make money. Some in the industry claim that could keep major betting brands from launching in the state at all.

There are also concerns from lawmakers and advocates about making betting too easy, with some warning that 24/7 mobile access could increase problem gambling.

Even if the bill passes, it won’t take effect right away. The state would still need to renegotiate its gaming compacts with tribes and get federal approval.

For now, Wisconsin is caught in the middle, trying to balance tribal partnerships, business interests, and player protection as it decides whether to bring mobile sports betting into the fold.

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