badger state sports betting?

Wisconsin took a big step toward statewide online sports betting as a Senate committee advanced SB 592, a bill that would let residents place mobile wagers through the state’s federally recognized tribes. The proposal uses a “hub-and-spoke” structure: bets placed anywhere in Wisconsin are legally deemed to occur on tribal lands because they’re routed through servers located there. Even if the bill passes both chambers, launch would still require amended tribal-state compacts and federal sign-off.

Supporters argue the plan would shift wagering now happening on offshore sites or across state lines into a regulated market that keeps revenue, consumer protections, and tax benefits at home. Tribal leaders back the approach as a natural extension of existing retail sportsbooks and as a model that respects sovereignty and current gaming frameworks.

National sportsbook brands are less enthusiastic. Representatives from major operators have warned they might skip the market if forced to operate exclusively under an Indian Gaming structure, saying the economics—revenue splits and operational control—could be unfavorable. Lawmakers acknowledged that friction but voted to move the bill forward.

Bottom line: SB 592 is alive and trending positive, with a tribal-led mobile model at its core. The remaining questions are speed—how quickly compacts get revised—and who ultimately decides to compete in Wisconsin’s market.