Senate Bill 811 would allow online sports betting in Wisconsin. The measure is currently awaiting Governor Tony Evers’ signature. Eight of 11 Wisconsin tribes sent a letter to Evers, expressing their support for SB 811.
In the letter to Gov. Evers, tribal leaders emphasized a shared priority of preserving their central role in gaming while adapting to online betting, stating:
“Our nations share a collective mission of working to strengthen tribal sovereignty, maintaining the tribal nations’ role as the primary operators and regulators of gaming in Wisconsin, and accomplishing a framework with mobile sports betting that benefits all Wisconsin tribes.”
While Evers had previously signaled support for SB 811, he has recently taken a more cautious stance, indicating he wants to consult with tribes that have not yet endorsed the bill.
The eight supporting tribes include the Bad River, Forest County Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk Nation, La Courte Oreilles, Red Cliff, Sokaogon Chippewa, St. Croix Chippewa, and Stockbridge-Munsee. The remaining tribes have not formally opposed the proposal but have yet to publicly back it.
By sending this letter, the supporting tribes are signaling a unified effort to advance online sports betting while reinforcing their authority over gaming operations and shaping how the market evolves in Wisconsin.
Sports betting in Wisconsin is currently limited to in-person wagering under tribal-state agreements updated in 2021. If SB 811 were signed into law, it would broaden that framework by redefining what qualifies as a legal bet, allowing mobile wagering so long as the transaction is processed through servers located on tribal land. This structure mirrors models used in other states, where digital betting is permitted while maintaining tribal oversight.
A clear example of this is in Florida, where wagers placed on mobile devices are legally processed through servers located on tribal land, allowing the Seminole Tribe to maintain control over statewide betting through its Hard Rock Bet platform.
The Sports Betting Alliance has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of Senate Bill 811, raising concerns about both the structure and economic viability of the proposal. The group, which represents major operators such as BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics, and FanDuel, has actively lobbied against the bill and publicly criticized how it was advanced.
In testimony and public statements, the alliance argues the proposed framework would heavily favor tribal operators and limit competition. A central concern is the revenue-sharing model, which could require sportsbooks to return roughly 60% of their revenue to tribal partners, something the group says is not sustainable in a low-margin industry.
The SBA believes that the bill would reduce options for users, since the model wouldn’t be economically feasible for other prominent operators like FanDuel and DraftKings.
