Gambling Laws In Wisconsin
There are a number of federal laws in the United States which affect gambling such as the Federal Wire Act and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). These particular laws focus on outlawing the facilitating of bets and engaging in the business of gambling to turn a profit. These laws are intended to put a stop to organized crime and racketeering while leaving the common citizen largely unaffected. The laws do not criminalize the simple act of making a wager and leave it up to each individual state to develop their own laws in regards to gambling.
Wisconsin is one such state which has expanded upon federal law to provide detailed rules and regulations within the Wisconsin gambling laws. This page is dedicated to residents of the Badger State who wish to understand their own gaming laws and make a wager safely and legally if they so wish.
In Wisconsin state legislation, a 'Bet' is defined in the Wisconsin Statutes under 945.01(1). The language of the laws explains that this constitutes a class B misdemeanor which is punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a fine of up to $1000 or both. This is not too specific as the only mention is 'Bet' and not 'Gambling' in the language and it also seems to be more relative to 'chance' and not 'skill'.
Beyond this is another level of betting titled "Commercial Gambling" which is a far more serious offense which could garner Class I felony charges. Essentially, it follows suit with the federal laws already in place that the business of gambling and the facilitation of bets is a major crime which could result in a $10,000 fine or up to 3 ½ years' imprisonment. This is the least serious felony charge in Wisconsin but it is clear that the business of gambling is strictly prohibited, none the less. While simple bets appear to go unenforced by authorities, gambling to turn a profit will undoubtedly be prosecuted.
Although all forms of gambling in Wisconsin are deemed unlawful and punishments are written into the gambling laws in Wisconsin, there have not been any recorded cases of participants being arrested or fined. It is indeed commercial gambling which appears to be the target of Wisconsin authorities as no Green Bay fans are being carted off for making casual bets while tailgating outside of the big game. There are no office pools being raided while friends fill out NCAA tournament brackets nor is there a police stake-out looking to bust the home poker game with the guys.
Gambling in America's dairy land is not entirely prohibited, however. The State of Wisconsin does regulate some forms of gambling such as greyhound race tracks, charitable games such as bingo for favorable causes and a state lottery. There are, however, no state licensed casinos or poker rooms. This isn't a big deal for residents as the state hosts more Native American tribes than any other state east of the Mississippi River. The 11 tribes present in Wisconsin currently operate over 17 casinos which offer all forms of gambling ranging from table games, slots, live poker and electronic games which residents of the Badger state are able to take full advantage of, legally and safely, due to exemptions from state legislation provided by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Land-Based Gambling In Wisconsin
Even though gambling is not technically legal in the state of Wisconsin, that does not mean that there isn't plenty of legal gambling options which are spread throughout the state. Sporting the largest group of Native American tribes operating this side of the Mississippi, there are 27 locations which one can go to place a bet. Green Bay hosts a few casinos all within its own area with Oneida Casino being among one of the more popular destinations. Residents are free to play a huge amount of slots, table games such as blackjack and baccarat, live poker such as exciting Texas Hold'em tournaments or intense Omaha action, bingo and even off-track betting. Unfortunately, as is the case with most locations across the country outside of Nevada, sports betting is not available. Land based bets on a sporting event will have to be kept to quiet and discreet wagers made in private.
Online Gambling In Wisconsin
Although there are no state licensed online gambling options in the state of Wisconsin, this does not mean there are zero options for residents. There is no reference made to online gambling in the Wisconsin gambling code so one must look to the federal laws in place to help guide them in what they can and cannot do. As stated above, the business of facilitating bets is a major crime, but the simple act of placing a bet is not. If placing a bet is fine, it is only finding a legal location to place it which is the problem.
Luckily, with the advent of the internet, one can visit a vast number of online gambling sites which are in legal operation outside of both Wisconsin and federal jurisdiction. So long as the site is not based in U.S. territory, they are not punishable by any American laws in place and exist under their own host nation's gambling laws. Online gambling sites in Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and South America are all available to American residents and are even specifically designed to be so in some instances. What's more, is that these sites are able to offer every major form of wagering whether it be traditional casino games, poker or even sports betting. Many of these sites have been in business for decades and enjoy a level of respect throughout the world with many millions of users touting positive experiences and a steady stream of payouts after winning bets.
Popular Gambling Options In Wisconsin:
Online Sportsbooks - Online Casinos - Online Poker
One such online gambling site which remains immensely popular with the American audience is Bovada.lv. Initially an American company, Bovada was forced to move to Canada after changing federal laws made it unlawful for them to facilitate bets online while based inside of the United States. They continue to specifically host American bettors from their new home outside of Montreal and have one of the longest track records for secure and reliable payouts as well as uncanny customer support. Bovada is known to have one of the most state of the art page designs and user interface in the industry as well as they offer every type of gambling.
Whether residents of Wisconsin are looking to play casino classics like blackjack or join one of Bovada's many online poker rooms, users will find a vast array of betting options for either low or high stakes. The online sportsbook is one of the tops in the world with major companies such as USA Today, CBS Sports and even ESPN relying on their constantly update betting lines and odds even over the lines from Las Vegas. Residents in Wisconsin will find that they are able to sign up and use the service within minutes while finding an impressive 50% increase to their first deposit worth up to $250. That's quite a bit of free money to wager on the Packers taking next year's Super Bowl and plenty of chances for big payouts.
| Best Overall Betting Sites | Sports? | Casino? | Poker? | Horses? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| BetOnline | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| SportsBetting | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
The legal gambling age in the state of Wisconsin is 18 years of age or older although some casinos may have their age restrictions set at 21 due the sales of alcohol. The legal gambling age for those wishing to wager online with one of our recommend Wisconsin gambling sites is 18 years of age or older.
Best For All Gaming Types
