Most Wisconsin residents oppose the legalization of online sports betting, according to a Marquette Law School poll.
The university released a poll in late February showing that 64% of Wisconsin voters oppose legalizing online sports betting, while 34% are in favor.
Opposition is bipartisan, with 61% of Republicans, 66% of Democrats, and 74% of independents opposed.
The poll came as state policymakers considered Assembly Bill 601. This bill would allow tribal casinos, which can already offer retail sports betting, to operate online gambling products.
Problem gambling could grow significantly in the state with the expansion of legal betting.
Betting App Industry Opposition
The 2025/26 Wisconsin sports betting bill is opposed by DraftKings, FanDuel, Bet365, Fanatics, and BetMGM. The Milwaukee Brewers and tribal casinos are among the groups supporting it.
Those online sportsbooks spent more than $260,000 lobbying against AB 601 and its companion bill last year, according to Wispolitics.com.
The betting apps argue that they wouldn’t earn significant profits from legal online sports betting in Wisconsin under AB 601’s framework. They say the legislation gives the tribes a “monopoly” on online betting.
The Sports Betting Alliance, the lobbying group representing the apps, wrote in testimony that the bill could force them to give tribes 60% of their online betting revenue from Wisconsin bets.
“Online sports betting is a low-margin, capital-intensive business. It is simply not economically feasible for a commercial operator to hand over 60% or more of its revenue to an in-state gaming entity, just for the right to operate in the state,” the group said.
The SBA stated that major online gambling brands might not do business in Wisconsin.
Zooming Out on Wisconsin Sports Betting
Typically, legalizing online sports betting is not as unpopular as the Marquette poll found it to be.
A growing number of Americans now view sports betting as bad for society, according to the Pew Research Center. However, polls on whether betting should be legal are usually more favorable to the industry.
The betting app industry’s opposition to Wisconsin’s bill could be influencing public opinion on the issue.
To legalize online sports betting, the Sports Betting Alliance usually organizes campaigns. These urge voters to contact lawmakers in support. This has not happened for Wisconsin AB 601.
Should Online Sports Betting Be Legal in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin voters don’t want online sports betting, and the Marquette poll doesn’t specify a regulatory framework for the industry.
If AB 601 falls short, the betting app industry may attempt to shift public opinion in favor of legalization.
There is an economic perspective that AB 601 could keep more sports betting revenue within the state than a different legal framework.
Wisconsin Majority Leader Tyler August called the leading gambling apps “outside interests” and said the Sports Betting Alliance has “no real presence” in the state.
Online betting products have been associated with population-level financial harm, prompting states such as Colorado to consider consumer protections. Wisconsin may experience fewer negative impacts from online sports betting if it is not legalized.
Betting addiction statistics show that half of online bettors chase losses. Recently, FanDuel acknowledged that its users lost too much money on their NFL bets.
Prediction Markets in Wisconsin
Right now, residents can bet on sports, casino games, and other real-world events through unlicensed gambling platforms.
Notably, federally regulated prediction markets allow stock-market-style online betting on sports. Critics argue that this form of sports gambling is illegal.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo announced in February that he invested in Kalshi, a leading prediction market.
DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics also offer prediction products for Wisconsinites. However, they seemingly prefer traditional house-banked online sports betting, as it’s more lucrative than prediction markets.
