Online Casinos for players from Wisconsin in 2024

Introduction

Thanks to its reddish sandstone, the state of Wisconsin got its name from the Native American word Meskonsing, which means "it lies red" or "this stream meanders through something red."

It is interesting to note that Wisconsin's nickname, the Badger State, isn't given after the Badgers that live across the state. According to the legend, the nickname was given to the 19th-century miners who carved into the hills of Wisconsin looking for lead and then slept in their caves while working.

Wisconsin has more lakes than Minnesota, known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, which is another reason why the state is so popular. Lakes in this area were carved out by glaciers during the last Ice Age about 12,000 years ago.

In addition, the state is famous for its cheese, which is so popular that it has its own museum!

This beautiful state is bordered by Lake Michigan in the east, Iowa and Minnesota in the west, Illinois in the south, and Minnesota, Michigan, and Lake Superior in the north.

But while all the facts mentioned above are attractive, we are more interested in the state laws, particularly those concerning in-person and online gambling in Wisconsin!

The beginning of gambling can be said to have occurred in 1965 when voters approved five constitutional amendments allowing some forms of gambling in the state. Nowadays, tribal casino venues and state lottery generate the most revenue!

Tribes pay Wisconsin around $50 million annually to operate casinos in the state. The state-sponsored lottery began in 1987 and has relieved, on average, about 2% of residential property tax levies since 2001!

However, Wisconsin is slightly unique when it comes to sports betting. That means sports betting is legal but in an atypical way!

Sports betting is allowed in most states through legislative actions, such as a proposal, bill, or constitutional amendment. Their purpose is to change the fundamental statutes concerning gambling inside their state lines in order to allow sports betting.

In Wisconsin, federally recognized tribes are allowed to negotiate with the state to change existing state compacts. Therefore, under tribal jurisdiction (under these amendments), sports betting is now legal.

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History of Gambling in Wisconsin

The card game faro originated in France and was one of the most popular games of chance throughout the state during the 1800s, causing respectable residents to wager their money.

In the 1870s, a game similar to the lottery gained immense popularity, and police ignored it until a state anti-policy law led to a crackdown in the 1880s that ended up relegating it to the underground.

As a result of a significant vice squad raid in 1892, eleven gambling dens that had offered poker, roulette, craps, and Faro were shut down. Throughout the 1900s, the movement continued, and the election of Socialist Emil Seidel in 1910, who ran on an anti-corruption platform, ended the days of widespread illegal gambling.

In 1965, state voters approved five constitutional amendments allowing residents to participate in sweepstakes and promotional contests.

Bingo was permitted eight years later, raffles in 1977, pari-mutuel on-track betting, and a state lottery a decade later! It was 1988 when scratch-off lottery tickets were introduced, and 1989 when number-matching games were introduced.

In 1991, a court ruled Indian Gaming in Wisconsin legal, and 11 tribes resulted in over twenty casinos across the state! Two years later, an amendment clarified that all forms of gambling are illegal, except for bingo, raffles, pari-mutuel on-track betting, and the current state-run lottery.

Compacts with tribes were renegotiated at the beginning of the 2000s, allowing them to expand and grow. In 2021, they were allowed to include on-premise sports betting at casino venues!

In 2016 and 2017, bills to legalize Daily Fantasy Sports were introduced by the Wisconsin State Assembly.

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Sports Betting Legalization & Current Legal Gambling Options in Wisconsin

It is noteworthy that Wisconsin is an unusual state in terms of legal sports betting. Although it is not permitted to bet on sports under Wisconsin legislation, sports betting is legal and thriving.

Since the Supreme Court allowed states to open sportsbooks, some Wisconsin Republicans have suggested federal regulation of sports betting, but nothing has materialized.

The only legal way to bet on sports is at one of the state’s in-person sportsbooks (run through several Native American casinos) or via one of the state’s unique in-person sports betting apps.

In Wisconsin, there are three professional sports teams: the Packers of the NFL, the Bucks of the NBA, and the Brewers of the MLB. However, due to the lack of legal sports betting, fans could be prevented from engaging more with these teams and other teams in general.

The introduction of amendments started in 2021 when an agreement was reached with the Oneida Indian Nation, allowing it to begin offering sports betting in Wisconsin, followed by a partnership between the Forest County Potawatomi Community and the Kambi Group the following year that allowed the tribe's sportsbook to offer a full range of sports betting services.

In 2024, the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians made an agreement with the federal government, while the St. Croix Casino in Hertel began offering in-person sports betting.

So, what options do gamblers have?

As already mentioned, Wisconsin does not have commercial casinos but many tribal-owned gambling venues, some of which feature slot machines, poker, bingo, keno, and table games!

Regarding horse betting, while Wisconsin has no horse tracks, people can bet on horse races online.

Lastly, Daily fantasy sports and the state lottery are allowed, the latter offering popular Powerball, Mega Millions, and many other draw games!

If you prefer to play bingo, off-track betting, the state-run lottery, or raffles, you must be older than 18 years old, while you must be 21 years old to enter a tribal casino!

Wisconsin Recommended Online Sports Books

Wisconsin Recommended Online Poker Rooms

Depositing and Withdrawing when in WI

Please see below for a table of the withdrawal/deposit and banking term rankings. Click on the casino name for a detailed look at the withdrawal and deposit score of each casino and how we determined each. More information about deposit and withdrawal terms for US players can be found here.

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Written by: Michael Shackleford