Online Casinos for players from Wisconsin in 2025

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.

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.

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!

Sweepstakes casinos

While traditional online gambling is largely prohibited in Wisconsin, social and sweepstakes casinos operate by adhering to the state’s sweepstakes guidelines. They offer games where participation doesn't require payment, and any in-game purchases are optional and not necessary for winning prizes.

In Wisconsin, any promotion that includes all three elements—prize, chance, and consideration—is considered an illegal lottery. To comply with state law, online sweepstakes casinos must eliminate one of these elements, which is typically consideration, by offering free methods of entry. This ensures that participants can enter without making a purchase or providing something of value, which keeps the sweepstakes in a grey zone - they are not explicitly legal, but they also aren’t outright illegal, as long as they follow certain rules.

1. Players can win real cash or prizes.
2. Games are based on luck.
3. No mandatory payment is required to play. Players can get free Sweeps Coins through promotions.

Since there is always a free entry method, these gaming sites don’t count as gambling under Wisconsin law. That’s why they are allowed to operate, even though they aren’t officially regulated. If Wisconsin ever updates its gambling laws, this could change. But for now, sweepstakes casinos continue to operate without direct regulation in the state.

How can you play casino games for free and still win real money?

Ever wonder how sweepstakes casinos let you play slots, blackjack, and poker just like a real online casino, BUT without depositing money—and still allow you to cash out if you win? It all comes down to a legal loophole that makes them different from traditional gambling sites.

Virtual coins instead of real money:

Sweepstakes casinos don’t let you deposit money to gamble directly. Instead, they use two types of virtual currency: Gold Coins are the standard currency used only for gameplay - you can’t redeem GC for real cash; Sweeps Coins are where things get interesting, as they can be redeemed for real cash once you meet the minimum withdrawal amount.

How to get free Sweeps Coins:

Since real gambling requires you to wager your own money, sweepstakes casinos get around this by making sure you can always get Sweeps Coins for free through sign-up bonuses – most sites give you free SC just for creating an account, social media giveaways & promotions – some casinos run contests where you can win more SC.

If you do choose to buy Gold Coins, they often come with bonus Sweeps Coins, but buying isn’t required.

Once you have SC, you can use them on all the same games you’d find at a regular online casino—slots, blackjack, poker, roulette, and more. The gameplay is exactly the same as real-money casinos, just using virtual currency instead.

How do you cashout winnings?

If you win enough Sweeps Coins, you can redeem them for real money. Most sites have a minimum withdrawal amount with KYC procedures in place, and payouts can be sent via:

• Bank transfer
• Gift cards
• Cryptocurrency on some platforms

There may be other payment options available, but in US-facing social casinos and sweepstakes, the above are usually the main ones. 

Typically, 1 Sweeps Coin equals $1 USD when redeemed, but the rate depends on the site. 

Since you don’t have to pay to play, sweepstakes casinos aren’t classified as gambling under U.S. law. It’s the same legal model that companies have used for years in sweepstakes contests, where you can enter for free but still win prizes.

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.

Conclusion

In Wisconsin, online casino gambling is currently not allowed, so options remain limited to the state’s tribal casinos for real-money gambling. These casinos, operating under state compacts, offer slots, table games, poker, and now sports betting as well, thanks to recent agreements allowing on-site sports wagering apps. However, it’s worth noting these apps only work within the casinos themselves.

World Casino Directory is an excellent source of information on Wisconsin land-based gambling and legal gambling options. 

For players looking for an online experience, social casinos and sweepstakes can be a legal alternative. These platforms simulate casino play without involving real-money gambling, which some find to be a fun and low-risk option. 

Another option is to look for reputable casinos outside of the United States - even though they’re not licensed locally, you can still find many great gaming sites licensed by jurisdictions outside the US. 

To help you find the best options for Wisconsin players, we’ve created a list that includes details on trusted casinos welcoming players from the state. You can filter this list based on your preferences—select for specific games, bonus types, banking methods, or mobile app casinos. Each listing provides key information, like bonus offers, deposit and withdrawal options, and whether the casino caters specifically to US players.

To explore, click on any casino name to view a full review with insights into game selection, promotions, and more. This makes it easy to compare and find the right fit for your needs, whether you’re interested in a casino with great slot options, specific live games, or flexible banking.

Written by: Michael Shackleford