Wisconsin Senate Passes Bill to Add Online Sports Betting

• AB 601 passed the Senate 21-12

• The bill would create a tribal-run mobile sports betting market

• Governor Evers has cooled on his support for expanding sports betting

It looks like online sports betting is finally coming to the Badger State

The Wisconsin Senate passed AB 601 on Tuesday by a vote of 21-12. The bill received bipartisan support as lawmakers from both parties acknowledged that mobile betting is already happening through sports prediction markets and offshore sportsbooks 

"If we’re going to have online gambling, which we are. It already exists on the edges, behind closed doors. It’s already there. And it’s already being abused by some, and that’s not going to change. I would rather us put as many parameters around it as we can to take care of our consumers and keep the revenues [in Wisconsin]," said AB 601 co-author Sen. Kristin Dassler-Alfheim before the vote.

If Governor Tony Evers signs off on the bill, it would establish that the act of placing a mobile wager takes place at the location of the sportsbook server. That means gaming tribes can host the servers on their lands, creating a hub-and-spoke model, similar to Florida’s market.

The proposed framework has drawn much criticism since its introduction. 

Some lawmakers fear adding a mobile market will lead to a massive spike in problem gambling. While they acknowledge that many residents are finding ways to wager on sports, they don’t believe the solution is legalizing the act.

FanDuel and DraftKings also shared their opposition to the bill, claiming the tribal-centric market will lead to a lack of competition and deliver disappointing tax revenue numbers.

Governor’s Signature Now in Question

Governor Tony Evers has been supportive of expanding Wisconsin's sports betting market, previously saying he would sign a bill if it reached his desk.

However, Evers’ stance appears to have shifted over the last month. Earlier this month, he confirmed he didn’t like the market AB 601 would create. He has also suggested that he doesn’t see as much support for the bill as he had hoped, leaving the door open for a veto.

Evers’ concerns aren’t without merit, as a study conducted by Marquette University Law School found a shift in public views on the issue. According to a poll released late last month, 64% of voters said they oppose legalizing online sports betting. That will put pressure on the Governor and other Democrats as they hope to retake control of the state during November’s midterm elections.