Wisconsin Betting Sites: Laws, Betting Options, and Future Plans

Looking for the best betting sites Wisconsin offers? You’re in the perfect place. On this page, we’ve featured an extensive guide to legal Wisconsin online sports betting, providing readers with information about everything you need to know to get started betting legitimately in the state.

On this page and the sections to come, you’ll find details about all of the most essential Wisconsin betting laws. This includes info pertaining to current Wisconsin betting laws and options, casino and land-based betting, and other licensed and safe betting alternatives.

When it comes to placing bets in the state of Wisconsin, there are plenty of legal betting options to choose from. Players won’t find any Wisconsin betting sites, including any Wisconsin online sports betting options.

However, there is a tribal casino where players can place sports bets in the state, and there are also plenty of casino gambling and horse race betting options.

Is Daily Fantasy Sports Betting Legal in Wisconsin

Players who have sought out sports betting options in states like Wisconsin and elsewhere are probably aware of the sometimes complicated rules surrounding online sports bets. In the case of Wisconsin, unfortunately this also extends to Daily Fantasy Sports betting options, the laws surrounding which are somewhat blurry.

What this means is that Wisconsin does not explicitly outlaw Daily Fantasy Sports betting, but it also features no explicit laws which permit it.

This means that players will find Daily Fantasy Sports options, and those same operators may well provide the best betting sites in Wisconsin if laws change in the future.

Are there Legal Offshore Sites for Wisconsin Players?

When it comes to placing bets online in a state which does not provide any legalized online betting options, players will often naturally find themselves accessing offshore betting sites which aren’t limited by geography, but this is not advisable.

While these sites may be appealing in the absence of Wisconsin online sports betting, keep in mind that most offshore betting sites are not licensed for play by individual location.

So what are the implications of this for Wisconsin players? Well, for starters, sites such as BetOnline, MyBookie and Bovada are not considered technically illegal or illegal, and they aren’t monitored or regulated by the state. So these sites aren’t considered safe and legal to play, and we can’t recommend them.

Land-based Casinos

Despite the lack of some betting features and no online betting options, players will be happy to find that there are plenty of casinos based in Wisconsin. Not only that, but these casinos are feature rich and offer slots, poker, cards and more, with a grand total of 25 casinos and pari-mutuel providers across the state.

Wisconsin is a state which is not particularly well-known for providing sports betting options. However, players may be surprised that there is one land-based casino which provides Wisconsin sports betting – the main Oneida Nation casino in Green Bay.

Despite the lack of Wisconsin sportsbooks, players in the state will find plenty of sports betting options at this casino.

Racetrack Betting

Wisconsin is a state which currently provides residents and visitors with a modest but not particularly restrictive selection of betting options. As a result, players will find that there is legal horse race betting in Wisconsin, however there are a few limitations which surround this rule.

Players in the state of Wisconsin need to be at least 18 years old to place bets on horse racing. There are also no live racetracks which currently provide functional racetrack betting in the state. As a result, you’ll need to visit a Wisconsin sportsbook for racetrack betting online, of which you will find plenty are legal and available in the state.

Closest States to Wisconsin with Legal Sports Betting

Although it’s certainly no secret that there are some limitations on what legal betting options players have in the state of Wisconsin, it’s not to worry. Though players in the state can’t currently place any bets on sports online or play at online casinos, there are plenty of nearby options to Wisconsin with legal online sports betting.

So if you’re desperate to place sports bets and participate in online casino gambling, don’t fret. Here, we’ve provided our readers with several of the best and most accessible alternatives to Wisconsin online sports betting, with each of the following nearby states with online sports betting options to keep the games happening.

The prospect for full mobile sports betting in Wisconsin is slowly gathering momentum. Though the general consensus is that legislators are still a number of years away from approving a online sports wagering bill.

Those living in Wisconsin can easily travel across the border to a neighboring state to experience online sports betting. The obvious and popular choice is for bettors to travel to the well established sports betting market in Michigan.

Though it’s impossible to guarantee exactly what will happen in the future of sports betting in Wisconsin, there are certainly enough signs pointing towards more progressive developments for the state. Here, we’ll take a look at the kinds of legal sports betting options online in Wisconsin that players are likely to find in the future.

Wisconsin already allows for some limited sports betting options in the state. This means that players can expect to see, in the event that the state introduces legal online sports betting, similar legal betting options online when playing at future Wisconsin betting sites. Additionally on these sites, players can expect guarantees of fairness, licensing and problem gambling assistance, thanks to gambling boards which oversee regulations.

More specifically at the best betting sites Wisconsin, players are more than likely to be able to find all of the common major league sports available to place bets on, in addition to all of the most common betting types. The leagues you’ll find at the best betting sites Wisconsin will include the NBA, the MLB, the NFL, just to name a few.

What are the Wisconsin Gambling Laws

Players who are interested in getting involved in any forms of betting in the state of Wisconsin will no doubt want to familiarize themselves with the current relevant betting laws in the state. Here, we’ve provided an overview of the most essential basics of Wisconsin state betting laws at the time of writing.

As mentioned earlier in this page, there is legal sports betting in Wisconsin, but this is strictly limited to certain tribal casinos, and the first casino with a full legal sportsbook in the state is the Oneida Casino in Green Bay as of November 2021. There are zero legal Wisconsin betting sites for casino or sports betting options.

Betting Type Law
Sports Betting Legal
Online Sports Betting Not Legal
Land-based Casino Legal
Online Casino Not Legal
Poker Legal
Racetrack Betting Legal
Wisconsin Gambling Age 21+, 18+ for Lotto and Horse Racing

Overall, the betting laws in Wisconsin are fairly normal when weighed up to other states in the USA. Players can participate in limited poker options, but again only at specific licensed land-based tribal casinos in the state. Racetrack betting is legal in the state of Wisconsin, but there are no betting racetracks which operate within the state.

This means that players can legally place bets on racetrack events through licensed and legitimate online racetrack betting sites in Wisconsin, but there are no in-person live track betting options. Players over 18 can place bets on horse races and the state lottery, but the overall legal age for gambling in Wisconsin is 21 and up.

Overall, the betting laws in Wisconsin are relatively average, players can participate in limited poker options, but only at specific licensed land-based casinos. Racetrack betting is legal in the state of Wisconsin, but there are no betting racetracks which operate within the state.

History of Sports Betting and Gambling in the State of Wisconsin

Like many states across the USA, there is a long and complicated history of gambling laws in the state of Wisconsin. Here, we’ll give readers a detailed overview of the most important and relevant events in Wisconsin’s history with gambling laws, which have very gradually eased in severity over the years.

Since creating statutes in 1848, Wisconsin has taken an overall negative view of gambling, which led to a flat ban on most gambling varieties. Charity gambling was legalized in the state, in addition to the state lottery which was authorized in 1988. This was an essential addition to the state’s betting gamut, opening it up to greater potential.

History of Sports Betting in Wisconsin
  • First Wisconsin Sportsbooks Opened In what was a landmark decision for the state, lawmakers voted to allow individual tribal casinos to apply for sports betting licenses in 2021. As a result, there is now one legal sportsbook officially operating, with more to come.
  • Overturning of PASPA Law In 2018 the United States saw the overturning of the most prohibitive and definitively restrictive sports betting law in the country. The federal government overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, allowing individual states to vote to choose to introduce legal sports betting.
  • Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act Wisconsin reintroduced some forms of legal gambling in the state as a result of the Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988. This saw the state providing gambling licenses to 11 federally recognised tribes, and introducing a legal and regulated state lottery.
  • Statutes Against Gambling In the middle of the 1800’s, Wisconsin lawmakers passed on statute legislation that set the tone of gambling law and gambling options in the state for the coming century, outlawing almost all forms of gambling statewide.

In addition to a legally recognised state lottery, 1988 also saw the introduction of legal gambling across the state as a result of the Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This led to local tribes being able to open up their own legal casinos, which resulted in no less than 11 tribal casinos opening casinos in Wisconsin.

In 2021, the Oneida Casino opened up the first sportsbook in the state of Wisconsin, and two more casinos have been granted license for sportsbooks in Wisconsin. At this point, the state does not allow for any gambling websites in Wisconsin. However, this is all subject to change, and the introduction of legal sports betting at tribal casinos is a sure sign in the right direction.

What is the Future of Sports Betting in Wisconsin?

There’s no certainty when it comes to the introduction of legal sports betting in any state across the USA. However, there are some pretty strong indications that the state of Wisconsin could further expand its gambling options in the future, and the introduction of tribal sports betting licensing is a big step in that direction.

However, while there have been expansions in the world of sports betting in the state of Wisconsin, this doesn’t mean that we’ll be seeing online sports betting any time soon. Sports betting is still outlawed commercially, so only tribal casinos can currently get these licenses in the state. Visit our page on legal sports betting states across the USA to find more great options at your disposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Those who have perused all of the information featured on this page to this point will be more than ready to start betting with legal options in the state of Wisconsin. For some however, the specifics of these laws may be confusing. To help clear things up for you, we recommend reading the following answers to frequently asked questions.

⚖️ Is online gambling and sports betting legal in Wisconsin?

Players who are interested in placing online bets in Wisconsin may find it somewhat difficult. This is because the state doesn’t allow online betting options. This includes online sports and casino betting. However, there are legal sports betting options at land-based casinos in the state. Read up on Wisconsin betting laws here.

🛡️ What is the Wisconsin legal gambling age?

Like many states in the USA, Wisconsin has varying legal gambling ages for different types of betting. Generally speaking, any form of Wisconsin casino gambling requires ages 21 and up, however there are several other betting varieties players can participate in above the age of 18. Visit our section on Wisconsin betting laws to learn more. 

🚨 Are sites like MyBookie and Bovada legal and safe?

When it comes to protecting your data and information online, it’s essential for players to only ever place bets with sites which are legitimate and fully licensed for your specific range of play. That’s why offshore sites can’t be considered legal and safe as they aren’t regionally licensed. Visit our section on legal markets to learn more.

🔎 Can I play at a Wisconsin online sportsbook if I am not in the state?

Sportsbooks have to be licensed for your specific region of play in order for them to be legal and legitimate in your location. As a result, this means that players will find that you can only bet where a sportsbook is licensed for that to be legitimate and protected by law. Check out our page on neighbouring states to learn about neighbouring state options.