Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 592, which would permit online sportsbooks to operate through the state’s Native American tribes, provided betting servers are located on tribal land.
The move signals a new chapter for wagering policy in Wisconsin, offering a path for tribes to expand into mobile betting under federal and state oversight.
What Senate Bill 592 Is All About
An analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau says that under current law, placing a sports bet is a Class B misdemeanor:
“This bill excludes from the definition of ‘bet’ an event or sports wager made by a person physically located in this state using a mobile or other electronic device if the server or other device used to conduct such event or sports wager is physically located on a federally recognized American Indian tribe’s Indian lands.”
The bureau noted wagers must follow a tribal-state compact under the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act established before April 1993.
In essence, SB 592 would amend Wisconsin’s gambling statutes to carve out a limited exception. It would permit online wagers that satisfy two key conditions: (1) the wagering server must sit on tribal land, and (2) the activity must adhere to a compact between the tribe and state under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
The bill’s authors propose a “hub-and-spoke” model, mirroring systems already approved in other states. Under that framework, tribes would host servers (the hub), while bettors across Wisconsin access the sports betting interface (the spokes).
Senators Howard Marklein, Kristin Dassler-Alfheim, Dan Feyen, Spreitzer, and Testin introduced SB 592 on October 24, 2025. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, with a public hearing scheduled for early November.
Potential Impact on Wisconsin’s Online Sports Betting Industry
If SB 592 becomes law, it could reshape how Wisconsin residents access online sportsbooks. Currently, wagers must be placed in person at tribal casinos or via out-of-state platforms.
The bill would allow state residents to place bets from home, so long as those bets route through a tribe’s server.
Additionally, tribes could partner with established commercial operators to supply interfaces, while controlling infrastructure. That model balances regulatory oversight with tribal sovereignty.
For bettors, legalization through tribal servers would offer legitimacy, consumer protection, and greater transparency. It could draw patrons away from offshore or black-market sportsbooks. Revenue generated could channel toward tribal development, state programs, and oversight initiatives.
If SB 592 passes and gains the governor’s approval, Wisconsin would join states already allowing online sports betting. Moreover, the bill’s progress may hinge on committee votes, amendments, and stakeholder negotiations in the coming months.
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