Wisconsin Online Sports Betting Bill Passed by the Assembly

The Wisconsin State Assembly has passed a bipartisan bill that would legalize online sports betting. The bill passed with only a handful of objections and without floor debate, although its path forward in the Senate remains unclear.

The expanded Wisconsin sports betting bill had initially been scheduled for a vote in November. However, it was delayed due to a number of Republicans raising constitutional concerns and questioning whether the plan would create what they described as an ‘unfair monopoly’ for tribal operators. Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August said he had been working to address those concerns.

Democratic Governor Tony Evers is expected to sign the measure if it reaches his desk. However, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu says Senate Republicans have not devoted significant time to the issue, casting doubt on whether the bill will pass before adjournment.

Under Wisconsin’s constitution, betting is illegal except on sovereign tribal lands. Gaming compacts established in the early 1990s give the state’s federally recognized tribes exclusive gambling rights in exchange for sharing a portion of revenue with the state. 

A 2006 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision confirmed that the tribes have the ability to renegotiate compacts with the governor, subject to federal approval, and recent amendments have allowed the Oneida Nation, Forest County Potawatomi Community, and Ho-Chunk Nation to offer on-site sports betting at casinos. Mobile betting, however, remains illegal.

The proposed legislation would allow individuals in Wisconsin to place bets on mobile devices, provided the servers are located on tribal land.  

Supporters say residents are already using offshore sportsbooks and prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket, and that regulation would keep revenue in-state. 

At the same time, opponents, including sports betting companies DraftKings and FanDuel, which have recently launched their own prediction market apps, as well as anti-gambling advocates, say the bill raises constitutional and competitive concerns.

South Carolina gambling expansion bills face early resistance

Meanwhile, in South Carolina, gambling legislation has hit an early roadblock in the 2026 legislative session. Senate Bill 444, which would legalize sports betting, and House Bill 4176, authorizing the building of a casino along Interstate 95, remain stalled in committee.

Supporters of the new casino plan say it would generate more than $100 million annually in tax revenue and stimulate economic growth. A proposed amendment to the bill would also direct 35% of tax revenue to the South Carolina Conservation Bank and 30% to the Veterans’ Trust Fund. 

Opposition remains strong, however. The Palmetto Family Alliance and other religious groups warn of social costs tied to gambling expansion. State behavioral health officials have also raised concerns, including the director of the Office of Substance Use Services, Sara Goldsby, who said gambling activates the same dopamine-driven reward pathways as drugs and alcohol.

Additionally, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has in the past made it clear that he would veto any bills legalizing gambling in the state. The result is that the expansion of the gambling industry in the state remains in limbo, and lawmakers have yet to schedule votes on either bill.