Wisconsin Online Sports Betting Vote Delayed to 2026

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Wisconsin Online Sports Betting Vote Delayed to 2026

Wisconsin lawmakers have halted discussions on legalized online sports wagering, delaying a key vote until early 2026. The interruption comes amid growing tension over a proposal that would reshape how US online sportsbooks might operate in the state.

What Is Assembly Bill 601 About?

Assembly Bill 601 (AB 601) seeks to open the door for statewide online sports betting under a framework that privileges Wisconsin’s Native American tribes. Under this bill, bettors could place wagers from anywhere in the state, as long as the bets are processed by servers located on tribal lands. 

AB 601 would amend state law to allow mobile wagering through tribal compact arrangements. The design follows a “hub-and-spoke” system: the “hub” servers would sit on tribal land, while the “spokes” would reach out to bettors across Wisconsin. 

Importantly, the proposal allows Wisconsin’s 11 tribes to partner with sportsbook operators.  Through such partnerships, tribes could host sportsbooks or license commercial operators to run wagering platforms, creating joint ventures between tribal governments and big-name operators. 

Why Delay Wisconsin Online Sports Betting Talks Until 2026?

Lawmakers abruptly pulled AB 601 from the Assembly calendar, postponing the vote until the next legislative session in early 2026. Majority Leader Tyler August said the pause followed weekend conversations with colleagues who raised new concerns. 

He emphasized the delay was not about constitutional issues but to work through sticking points. Some of the opposition stems from the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA), a coalition of major national sportsbook operators. 

Representative Damon Stewart said that the SBA’s member sportsbooks are open to tethering to state tribes, but that the likes of FanDuel and DraftKings could not do business in a market in which they had to pay the majority of their betting revenue to tribal partners.

The SBA argued that a restrictive model would prevent Wisconsin bettors from being able to use market-leading sportsbooks and thus would do little to raise revenue for the state or curb the black market. 

Some conservative lawmakers also raised worries about expanding gambling too broadly, while legal experts flagged potential constitutional and regulatory risks under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). 

What’s Next for Wisconsin Online Sportsbooks?

With debates on hold until 2026, stakeholders now have a window to renegotiate revenue-sharing terms, refine the hub-and-spoke design, and potentially win over holdout lawmakers. Tribal leaders, state officials, and industry groups all say they will intensify talks to resolve differences. 

Meanwhile, US online sportsbooks are watching closely. A final deal could decide whether major national brands gain access to Wisconsin, or remain locked out under the proposed tribal-centric model.

In the meantime, for Wisconsin bettors, they could check out our curated  list of US online sportsbooks for their betting needs.