The pace of U.S. gambling reform is picking up again. This week alone, two states moved significant pieces of legislation that could reshape how Americans access both online and land-based gaming. Wisconsin is advancing a tribal-controlled mobile sports betting framework, while Indiana lawmakers are reworking casino licensing rules and moving to eliminate sweepstakes-style online platforms.
Wisconsin Eyes Tribal-Controlled Online Sports Betting
The Wisconsin State Assembly has approved Assembly Bill 601, sending it to the Senate. The proposal would allow federally recognized tribes that already operate casinos to offer statewide mobile sports betting, provided betting servers remain on tribal land. Under the structure, wagers placed anywhere within Wisconsin would legally be considered on tribal property if processed through those servers. Lawmakers have pointed to Florida’s model involving the Seminole Tribe of Florida as a blueprint.
Supporters argue the bill would shift hundreds of millions of dollars currently wagered through offshore sportsbooks into regulated channels. Wisconsin already receives shared revenue payments from tribal gaming, exceeding $66 million in 2024.
However, the required revenue split is drawing scrutiny. Tribes would retain 60 percent of online sports betting revenue. The Sports Betting Alliance has warned that such a structure could discourage participation from major national operators like DraftKings and FanDuel. The Senate now has roughly a month to act. If approved, the measure would head to Gov. Tony Evers, who has previously expressed openness to online sports betting legislation.
Indiana Reshapes Casino Licensing and Targets Sweepstakes Sites
In Indiana, lawmakers are addressing both physical casino development and online alternatives. House Bill 1038 would authorize a new land-based casino in northeast Indiana while allowing Rising Star Casino to continue operating. Instead of relocating an existing license, legislators plan to convert an unused off-track betting license into a casino license overseen by the Indiana Gaming Commission. The license would carry a $150 million fee and require at least $500 million in capital investment.
Debate continues over where the casino could be located. Some lawmakers question why counties such as Marion, home to Indianapolis, were excluded despite strong tourism potential. Others argue that casino licenses are state assets that must be placed carefully to avoid destabilizing existing operators.
At the same time, House Bill 1052 targets online sweepstakes-style casino platforms. The Senate has approved an amended version that would prohibit sweepstakes casinos from operating in Indiana and allow regulators to impose civil penalties of up to $100,000 per violation. Indiana does not currently offer regulated real-money online casinos. If the sweepstakes ban becomes law, one of the few legal-style online alternatives available to residents would disappear, potentially pushing some activity toward offshore operators.
In both cases, the next few weeks will determine how far those efforts go.
