Wisconsin Gambling
There are many forms of legalized gambling in Wisconsin. A state lottery, racing and reservation casinos compete for gaming dollars. There are also a couple of ways Wisconsin players may place a wager over the Internet.
Wisconsin Online Gambling
The only form of online gambling that Wisconsin has formally legalized is horseracing. TVG, TwinSpires and BetAmerica are the major sites that accept action from Wisconsin residents. Wagers may be placed on the company’s websites. Mobile apps on Android and iOS platforms are also offered by these sites.
Daily fantasy sports sites claim a carve out under Wisconsin’s skill game law. No action has been taken by the state’s attorney general or its legislature to make industry observers think the contests are in danger in Wisconsin. In fact, Representative Tyler Vorpagel has introduced an Assembly bill proposing intrastate registration of daily fantasy sports.
DraftKings and FanDuel are the two largest sites that accept daily fantasy sports wagers from players. Yahoo and CBS Sports are the two others with a largest enough player pool to be relevant.
There are more than 100 websites that accept players from Wisconsin for poker, casinos and sports betting. None hold a Wisconsin gaming license.
Online gaming works — it’s been licensed in Europe for years, and in the US it’s already licensed in New Jersey, Nevada, and in Delaware. If you are a resident of the fine state of Wisconsin, don’t just sit there — make your voice heard.
Wisconsin Casinos
There are 17 casinos in Wisconsin. All are on reservations. Each tribe is required to enter into a gaming compact with the state. There is an unusual rule that applies to Wisconsin reservations that is not found in most other states with tribal casinos. Local voters get to decide the extent of the gambling allowed. This creates a situation where the games may vary from one Wisconsin casino to the next.
Most Wisconsin casinos offer a full range of games. Slots, video poker, live poker, craps, roulette, blackjack and other table games that use cards are common. Ho-Chunk in Madison is an example of a casino that offers a limited number of games. This establishment only offers slots and video poker. Ho-Chunk fought the state after it attempted to shut down an electronic poker room in 2014. After losing in the lower courts, Ho-Chunk prevailed in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case.
This permitted video poker and its PokerPro electronic poker room to remain on the floor. Ho-Chunk eventually shuttered its electronic poker room. The video poker games remain.
Ho-Chunk has another feature that sets it apart from its competitors. It is the only nonsmoking casino in Wisconsin. The state’s smoking ban does not apply to reservations and explicitly exempts casinos if they are ever approved statewide. Ho-Chunk decided to take this action to set it apart from the other casinos in Wisconsin.
North Dakota licenses Bet America which accepts legal online wagers for horse racing, dog racing and fantasy sports. This is legal for residents of this state (please read their terms and conditions to ensure this has not changed).
Wisconsin Bingo
Charities are permitted to offer bingo for funding. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act makes commercial bingo legal in the state’s reservations.
Wisconsin Racing
Horse and greyhound racing are legal in Wisconsin. The industry collapsed once casinos were approved on reservations. There are no more operating tracks in Wisconsin. Race books are available at several of the state’s tribal casinos. Bets are accepted on simulcast races at these locations.
Wisconsin Lottery
Voters approved a state lottery in 1988. Scratch-off tickets, lotto games and pull tabs are sold. Intrastate drawings include Mega Bucks, 5 Card Cash, Super Cash, Badger 5, Daily Pick 3 and Daily Pick 4. Mega Millions and Powerball join pools from lotteries across the United States.