On the last day of the annual session, the Wisconsin State Assembly unanimously passed AB 601 by voice vote, allowing the state's 11 tribes to offer statewide mobile sports betting through servers located on tribal lands. The bill has now been sent to the Senate, but its fate remains unclear — the majority leader admitted he is "not sure if it can cross the finish line." Simply put, the Assembly kicked the ball over before the deadline, and whether the Senate catches it or how they play it remains to be seen. Governor Tony Evers has expressed support for this tribe-specific proposal. Want to know the latest on tribal gaming and online expansion in the US? Follow PASA's official website for continuous updates on state legislative dynamics.
Key Aspect of the Bill: Tribe-Specific, Servers Must Be on Tribal Lands
The key features of AB 601 include:
Operating Entities: The 11 tribes within the state can partner with sports betting operators
Technical Pathway: Mobile betting handled through "central hub" servers located on tribal lands
Legal Amendments: Modifying Wisconsin's definition of "wager" to include mobile and electronic device betting
The bill has bipartisan support and has been endorsed by the tribes and professional sports teams within the state. If passed, the tribes would need to renegotiate gaming compacts and obtain approval from the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Senate Uncertainty: Time is of the Essence, Attitude Unclear
The Assembly completed its annual legislative work on Thursday, meaning the Senate must pass the bill directly without amendments or it will expire. The Senate still has session days scheduled in March, but majority leader Devin LeMahieu last week said the caucus "hasn't spent much time" discussing sports betting and is unsure if the Assembly will submit the bill. He acknowledges the policy's rationale but remains reserved about its final passage.
Controversial Focus: Tribal Monopoly vs. Commercial Opening
The core controversies triggered by the bill include:
Revenue Distribution: The bill proposes that 60% of the revenue go to the tribes, which major sports betting operators (through the Sports Betting Alliance lobbying) consider "uneconomical" from a business perspective
Tribal Monopoly: Some Republican legislators lean towards introducing commercial partners, but opening up commercial operations would require a public vote to amend the state constitution
New Concerns: Micro-betting, problem gambling, and other issues are also reasons for some legislators' hesitation
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos stated last year that tribal monopoly is the "reality" of Wisconsin's gaming, "and we can't change that." He emphasized the need to face and discuss this reality rather than getting stuck on the logic of online or bar betting.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel: https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel: https://t.me/gamblingdeep
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PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
