A proposal to expand sports betting in Wisconsin to the online space was removed from the Wisconsin Assembly’s agenda on Wednesday. The decision to delay the vote came as the state looks towards the full legislative session beginning in early 2026.
As the Wisconsin Assembly’s closed caucus meeting unfolded on Wednesday, Dominic Ortiz, CEO of Potawatomi Casinos & Hotels, revealed in a discussion on The New Normal podcast that Assembly Bill 601 would be tabled until the legislative session in January. Ortiz emphasized that the bill is aimed at creating a “fair playing field” while unifying the tribal entities, in contrast to the framework proposed by the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA).
“We’re about partnership, not ownership,” Ortiz noted during the podcast. He expressed concerns that the SBA’s approach suggested they would disrupt the market if their preferred rules weren’t adopted.
Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August confirmed during a morning press conference that the sports betting proposal had been pulled from the agenda. He stated confidence that the bill would have passed if a vote had been held. However, with the Senate not scheduled to reconvene until January, the decision was made to delay.
August circulated a memo this week advocating for legislative support, emphasizing the importance of retaining sports betting revenue within Wisconsin as such markets grow nationwide. “There’s really no rush on this,” August remarked at the news conference. “After discussions over the weekend, new considerations were raised, and we need time to address these. I anticipate a vote early next year.”
In-person sports betting has been legal in Wisconsin since 2021, following Governor Tony Evers’ agreement to amend tribal compacts to include sports betting. Evers commented on UpFront Sunday that maintaining tribal control over sports betting remains “the ultimate goal.”
The proposed bill seeks to establish a “hub-and-spoke system” for online sports betting, allowing the state’s 11 tribes to partner with sportsbook operators, provided that servers are located on tribal lands. This setup mirrors the Seminole tribe’s arrangement in Florida with Hard Rock Bet, which holds a monopoly on the market there.
Ortiz mentioned that the Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks fully support the tribal-focused proposal, noting that the initiative aims to generate revenue to counteract inflation and rising costs. The Potawatomi tribe has long been a sponsor of both teams.
The bill stipulates that tribes must renegotiate their gaming compacts with the state, with further approval required from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Earlier this month, discussions on expanding sports betting in Wisconsin began among lawmakers. Senator Howard Marklein informed the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue that the proposal would legalize activities that many Wisconsinites are already engaging in illegally.
However, several lawmakers have voiced concerns about legalizing additional forms of gambling within the state. The Sports Betting Alliance, comprising major national sportsbook operators, supports expanding sports betting in Wisconsin but disagrees with the existing legislative proposal. An SBA representative stated that operators would need to allocate 60% of their revenue to partner tribes under the proposed framework.
The SBA representative highlighted Michigan’s tribal-commercial partnership model as a preferable alternative.
Ortiz remarked that the emergence of national sportsbook operators like DraftKings and FanDuel, which plan to introduce prediction markets, signals a potential circumvention of Wisconsin’s regulations. Prediction markets, regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, can operate nationally, adding complexity to the Wisconsin market.
There are ongoing legal debates where state regulators argue that sports event markets breach state gaming laws. Tribes, including Wisconsin’s Ho-Chunk Nation, have also filed lawsuits, arguing that prediction markets violate the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Regulators have cautioned sportsbooks that their licenses may be at risk if they venture into prediction markets.
“They have clearly stated their intention to operate prediction markets where sports betting isn’t legalized,” Ortiz commented regarding major commercial sportsbooks. Their aim is to dominate Wisconsin’s market, not to collaborate as partners.
Amid differing views, the delay in the vote reflects the complexities of expanding sports betting within a framework that respects tribal sovereignty while addressing fears of market disruption. As the debate continues, Wisconsin lawmakers and stakeholders are set to shape the future of sports betting in the state when sessions resume in 2026.
4.1/5
