Wisconsin tribes get 60% of mobile bets; Ohio GOP seeks ban

Gov. Tony Evers signed legislation that requires mobile sports‑betting apps to route wagers through servers located on tribal land and allocates 60% of mobile sports‑betting revenue to Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized tribes. The law establishes a hub‑and‑spoke structure that places the technical host servers on tribal territory.

Brooks Boyd, chairman of the Forest County Potawatomi Community, praised the bill: “This bipartisan legislation respects tribal sovereignty and keeps the economic benefits of mobile sports betting in Wisconsin.” Tribal leaders endorsed the arrangement after bipartisan negotiations in the state legislature.

The statute directs a majority share of mobile wagering proceeds for tribal distribution and specifies that wagering traffic must flow through servers hosted on tribal land. National sportsbook operators typically use different commercial partnerships and fee structures, and the new technical and revenue rules change how operators would structure agreements for the Wisconsin market.

In Ohio, Majority Whip Riordan McClain and state Representatives Gary Click and Johnathan Newman announced plans to introduce legislation that would remove online sports betting and confine legal wagering to four brick‑and‑mortar casinos. The lawmakers’ proposal follows public comments last year by Gov. Mike DeWine expressing regret over the state’s earlier legalization of online sports wagering. The bill has not yet advanced through committee.

Supporters of the Wisconsin framework say routing wagers through tribal servers enhances tribal oversight and directs revenue to tribal governments for services and development. Opponents contend high tribal revenue shares could affect operator margins and the range of app choices available to bettors.

Industry groups, tribal governments and state regulators are expected to review both measures as officials implement the Wisconsin law and as the Ohio proposal moves through the legislative process. Legal challenges or regulatory reviews could follow as stakeholders assess compliance, licensing and tax arrangements.