Wisconsin Moves Toward Online Sports Betting Expansion

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Wisconsin's Move Towards Online Sports Betting

In Wisconsin, there's a significant development in sports betting as the state assembly recently passed a bill aimed at expanding gambling operations. This legislation allows 11 state tribes to establish servers on their tribal lands, specifically for hosting online sports betting apps. This model, similar to the system used in Florida, creates a pathway for sports betting to transition from in-person to online platforms.

The bill's progress is urgent, with the legislative session ending March 19th. While the bill has already cleared the assembly, it awaits a hearing in the Senate. It has garnered support from Governor Tony Evers and the tribal communities involved, recognizing the empowerment this bill could provide to the tribes by giving them substantial control over the new betting platforms.

However, there's notable resistance from some Republican members who are concerned about the exclusion of commercial betting companies like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM. These companies, which have significant influence due to their lobbying efforts, are not included in the current framework, which could affect the market dynamics and the landscape of sports betting in Wisconsin. The ongoing debates will determine if Wisconsin can successfully extend sports betting to online models within the tight legislative deadline.