WisconsinWisconsin lottery drawings require random results and independent yearly audits
Wisconsin’s lottery law requires the Department of Revenue to arrange independent audits of drawing processes and security at least once a year.
What it does
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue must arrange independent audits of how it conducts lottery drawings at least annually. Reviews must cover technology, security, and randomly selected drawings.
Wisconsin lottery drawings must choose winning results at random. The Department of Revenue may use mechanical devices, electrical equipment, or computers to make those selections.
Argument forIndependent audits could help the Department of Revenue find weaknesses in drawing technology and security that threaten fair results for lottery players.
Argument againstReviewing a random sample could leave problems in other lottery drawings undetected, putting players’ trust in the results at risk.
More detail
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue must hire an independent firm to audit how it conducts lottery drawings. The requirement covers Wisconsin state lottery drawings. The audit must review drawing technology, security procedures, computer and system security, and randomly selected drawings. For any drawings conducted, the department must arrange an audit at least once a year.
Wisconsin state lottery drawings must select winning results at random. The allowed methods use mechanical devices, electrical equipment, or computers. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue may choose among the allowed drawing methods.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 3Published 4-4-2026Latest
- Apr 3Report approved by the Governor Tony Evers on 4-3-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 198Became Law
- Apr 2Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026To Governor
- Mar 23Report correctly enrolled on 3-23-2026Minor
- Mar 18Received from Senate concurred inMinor
- Mar 17Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 17Senator Smith added as a cosponsor
- Mar 17Read a third time and concurred inPassed Senate
- Mar 17Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Mar 17Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Mar 17Read a second timeMinor
- Mar 16Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 11Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 8, Noes 0. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 11Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 8, Noes 0Minor
- Mar 11Executive action taken
- Mar 10Public hearing held
- Feb 16Read first time and referred to committee on Agriculture and RevenueMinor
- Feb 13Received from AssemblyMinor
- Feb 12Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 12Read a third time and passedPassed Assembly
- Feb 12Rules suspended
- Feb 12Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 12Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 11Representative Udell added as a coauthor
- Feb 10Placed on calendar 2-12-2026 by Committee on Rules
- Feb 6Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Feb 3Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Consumer Protection, Ayes 6, Noes 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3Report passage recommended by Committee on Consumer Protection, Ayes 6, Noes 0Minor
- Feb 3Executive action taken
- Jan 29Public hearing held
- Jan 29Representatives Ortiz-Velez and Brill added as coauthors
- Jan 27Representative Stubbs added as a coauthor
- Jan 26Read first time and referred to Committee on Consumer ProtectionMinor
- Jan 26Introduced by Representatives Piwowarczyk, Bare, Knodl, O'Connor, Penterman, Steffen, Armstrong, Dittrich and Murphy; cosponsored by Senator TomczykIntroduced
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