Online Sports Betting Wisconsin: No Legal Wisconsin Sportsbooks
Wisconsin is a state that was never too eager to legalize sports betting. PASPA calmed local supporters until it was repealed in 2018. Punters in the state are about to witness a major change. The sports betting Wisconsin map is going to change, but what about betting sites legalization?
- This Site Contains:
- Current Online Betting Legislature in WI
- Legal Gambling Forms in the State
- History and Future Plans for Legalization
We’ll acquaint you with all forms of gambling legalized by the Wisconsin Government through the years in the next lines. We can’t say that the state is very restrictive, especially in comparison with Utah or South Carolina. However, legislatures are ready to tolerate the local Indian tribes and no one else.
The Midwest, where Wisconsin is also located, is known for its horses. The local breeding industry is estimated at about $1.5 – $2 billion in generated revenue. So, the residents’ passion for horse racing isn’t surprising. Anyway, Wisconsin laws strictly forbade betting, land-based and online, at least until recently.
The Legal Status of Online Sports Betting Wisconsin Bookmakers
Until the last months of 2021, punters in Wisconsin were not able to wager on sporting events. However, as of the end of November, the first state retail center was opened in Oneida Nation’s biggest casino in Green Bay. Even so, online sports betting Wisconsin remains illegal.
Legal Options for Wisconsin Residents
Although online sports gambling Wisconsin was prohibited for centuries, residents of the Badger State have alternative options. The most obvious one is, of course, the tribal gaming establishments. They reopened in 2003 after being closed for a decade by the Gambling Expansion Prohibited Amendment accepted by the state’s Government in 1993.
Charitable gambling has been legal since 1973, and the Wisconsin Lottery was launched in 1988. DFS and pari-mutuel wagering are the only forms of online sports betting that aren’t prohibited by the law. Keep reading and find out detailed information about all wagering opportunities in Wisconsin.
Land Based Casinos & Retail Sports Shops in Wisconsin
Oneida Casino in Green Bay became the first legal sportsbook Wisconsin. Punters are now able to place wagers on sports events as well as play gambling games on an area of more than 50,000 square feet. Other tribes are also interested in renegotiating their compacts, so we may see other land-based sportsbooks soon.
Wisconsin is a home for 21 brick-and-mortar casinos. They are owned and operated by the native tribes, and any gambling activity outside these establishments is strictly outlawed. Punters will find lottery games, charitable bingo, slots, video poker, and other table games, like blackjack, roulette, and dice.
Daily Fantasy Sports Sites in Wisconsin
Since sports gambling was prohibited for so long, the US punters’ love of Daily Fantasy Sports is understandable. Thousands of Wisconsin contestants take advantage of the absence of DFS laws in the state. Officially, they are legal under UIGEA and many legalized or banned them explicitly.
Together with several other jurisdictions, the Badger State still refrains from making such a decision. Currently, DFS is in a grey area providing an excellent alternative form of legal sports betting Wisconsin. Punters can train their teams and participate in many contests on sites like DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo Fantasy.
Horse Racing in Wisconsin
Horse racing, simulcast, and on-track pari-mutuel betting are legal in America’s Dairyland. However, off-track betting is prohibited! Wisconsin had a few horse and greyhound racetracks in the past, which attracted many fans. However, in the ’90s, the last one closed for good, leaving punters with not many options.
Today, they have access to all racing tournaments, like Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup, Belmont Stakes, and Preakness Stakes. That is possible online via the US-licensed apps. Amwager, TwinSpires, XpressBet, and other sites offer great odds and a good variety of wagers. Punters can download the apps and never miss a race.
Playing Poker in Wisconsin
Professional poker rooms and betting sites offering card games are prohibited by the WI gambling law. Nevertheless, pokerists and international tours can use the special gaming halls reserved by the biggest tribal casinos. The one in Milwaukee, Potawatomi, hosts some of the most popular series of poker.
Over 20 tables are at players’ disposal 24/7, offering games to both beginners and professionals. Rake is not allowed in the cash poker rooms across Wisconsin. Players pay an entry fee, and that’s the only profit for the House. Charity poker games are also regularly organized to support the communities.
| Betting Type | Legal | Regulatory Body |
|---|---|---|
| 🏈 Online Sports Betting | No | None |
| 🎰 Online Casinos | No | None |
| ⚾ Daily Fantasy Sports | No | None |
| 🏢 Land-Based Casinos | Yes | Office of Indian Gaming and Regulatory Compliance |
| 🏨 Land-Based Sportsbooks | Yes | Office of Indian Gaming and Regulatory Compliance |
| 🃏 Poker Rooms | Yes | Office of Indian Gaming and Regulatory Compliance |
| 🏇 Racetrack Betting | Yes | Wisconsin Department of Administration |
| 🎫 State-Sponsored Lottery | Yes | Wisconsin Department of Revenue |
Offshore Betting Sites Legitimacy in Wisconsin
The offshore sports betting online sites are also prohibited by the law. However, like everywhere else, they are widespread tempting punters with exciting bonuses and beneficial odds. Currently, the online gaming market is unregulated! Remember that any unlicensed site can be a scam, and therefore, it’s not worth using its services.
The lack of an explicit law prohibiting sports betting on offshore sites creates an illusion of impunity. Indeed, Wisconsin isn’t interested in punters playing online but in individuals operating such platforms. Still, wagering online deprives you of consumer protection. So, you could lose a lot more than a few bucks in fines.
Status of Sports Gambling Wisconsin
In the second half of 2021, Gov. Tony Evers agreed to allow the first legal sports betting Wisconsin center. Negotiations with Oneida Nation, which lasted six months, finally led to the long-awaited change. Quickly after the announcement, more tribes asked for a chance to change their compacts too.
The biggest land-based establishment in the state, Potawatomi, will most probably be the next WI land-based sportsbook. And while this news was expected, the Citizens Against Expanded Gambling are worried about an idea that isn’t public yet. The legalization of online betting in Wisconsin may be closer than expected.
The WI legislators were never discussing, officially, changing the status of the sports betting sites. Probably the idea is to first test how the community will react to the establishment of land-based sportsbooks. However, the Citizens Against Expanded Gambling representatives are sure that it’s just a matter of time.
An important reminder is that the Wisconsin neighboring states, including Iowa and Illinois, allow online sports gambling. Opponents of the idea are worried about the impact on the community. They point out the fact that online betting is faster, and there are very few obstacles for players to lose control of.
Prior Legalization Attempts in WI Gambling History
We believe that online sports betting Wisconsin won’t be legalized unless a referendum or a large public hearing is organized. From the Government’s perspective, and more precisely the Gov. Tony Evers point of view, this could be beneficial for punters. They will be better protected from fraud!
However, voters might have something to say as well. Going back to history, we can see the first huge gambling change in the state, dating from 1973. Voters pass a constitutional amendment legalizing charitable gaming. This was huge progress, and residents were allowed to play non-profit bingo and other games.
Of course, the state can show evidence for opposite actions aiming to protect the WI families. The Gambling Expansion Prohibited Amendment from 1993 shut down the tribal gambling centers. They became a massive 22 in just a couple of years, threatening to create more problems than benefits.
After ten years of negotiations and important concessions accepted by the tribes, the status of sports gambling Wisconsin was restored. From another perspective, Wisconsin isn’t a state waiting too long to make a decision. Unlike other states, the submitted proposal for retail betting legalization was discussed and finalized in less than a year.
Current Laws in Wisconsin
With the first sportsbook in Wisconsin, the state might have opened the door for a more complete change. Lawmakers did not introduce a bill for the legalization of online bookmakers. At least not yet! The opinion that this will lead to fewer scamming sites is controversial.
No countries or US states with more liberal laws have proof of such a thing. However, we may witness a significant spike in the levels of addiction. Something that the Citizens Against Expanded Gambling worries about the most. Anyway, online wagering on athletic events online is still prohibited in Wisconsin.
- Increased tax revenue
- More jobs in Wisconsin
- Safer betting environment
- Potential regulatory issues
- Potential for increases in gambling addiction
- Won’t eliminate scam betting sites
If we put aside the doubts we expressed above and the possible regulatory issues, we might be able to see some positive sides. The decriminalization of online sportsbooks usually leads to job creation and increased revenue for the state through taxes. Well, in the Wisconsin case, betting sites are not banned!
They are just not legalized, which puts them in the grey area, together with the offshore platforms and DFS operators. So, what will actually change? The biggest supporters of the idea say that people will benefit by being able to choose and do what they do on regulated and safe sites.
The Outlook for Potential Legislation
Wisconsin is surrounded by states allowing online betting. So, eventually, the state’s Government will accept the amendment as well. The question is how long the interested parties will wait and how the market will be regulated. Perhaps the land-based sportsbooks will receive a chance to launch online apps.
Surely, massive operators established outside the Badger State will also apply for licenses. In light of that, the land-based sports betting Wisconsin centers may experience a shrinking revenue. Before all, public organizations like CAEG must be answered and even be involved in the process. Otherwise, lawmakers will face endless hearings and no results.
The Outlook of Online Sports Betting in Wisconsin if Legalized
The future online sports betting Wisconsin sites will be most probably identical to those in the neighboring states. The main elements of a sportsbook are the odds board, promotions suit, and a betting slip. Usually, players are able to see all supported sports and markets to the left on their screens.
The mobile compatibility of the online sportsbooks is crucial. Nowadays, we use our smart devices for everything, and gambling must be one of them. Many punters visit land-based retail shops and compare the odds of the events on their phones. The best coefficient wins unless an arbitrage is possible!
By bringing online bookies into legal play, Wisconsin will significantly increase the state’s tax revenue. Besides the license fees, operators must pay additional taxes according to the local legislature. Punters will also have to pay a percentage of their winnings to the state’s budget. We can hardly predict how much that will be!
The 24% Federal Tax is unavoidable for profits of 300x the wager or higher. The Wisconsin income tax rate of 6.27% to 7.65% is also applicable since punters must include gambling winnings in their income tax returns. Payors will be obliged, as usual, to provide a W-2G form.
Additional Plans for Online Betting Sites Legalization in Wisconsin
What Makes Online and In-Person Betting Different
Now that the debut sportsbook Wisconsin is a fact, the topic of online betting is becoming more relevant. In the next lines, we’ll try to highlight the main reasons for punters to choose either online or in-person wagering. When you open a betting site, the first thing you see is the massive library.
Most virtual bookies offer 25-30 sports on dozens of markets. The total number of events often exceeds several thousand, while the land-based books offer a few hundred at best. The severe online competition determines the next huge advantage of betting sites – better odds and more lucrative payouts.
The brick-and-mortar books compensate with some exciting offers, especially if you like betting on horses. Similar opportunities are available online as well! But the retail shops offer a unique option – free cancellation of tickets. They will return your money if you change your mind before the game begins.
Online sportsbooks do not currently offer such a service, and all confirmed wagers are final. Instead, they provide extra features, like live streaming, in-play wagering, same-game parlays, and early cashouts. The news feed and statistics boards are also quite useful. The next element,w e would like to point out, is the bonuses!
In the near future, every legal sports betting Wisconsin site will welcome the new punters with free bets, parlay insurances, or other exciting rewards. Regular promotions and bonuses will make them come back for more, every day. The land-based betting shops provide promo deals as well, but they are not really competitive.
If you cherish the individual approach, you’ll appreciate the online platforms. Lastly, we’ve saved the most important reason why people continue to drive miles to visit a racetrack or a ground-based sportsbook. The opportunity to meet other passionate bettors, talk to them, grab a drink, or just suck some luck is unique!
It looks like online sports betting sites have many more benefits compared to traditional land-based shops. So, let’s summarize the benefits then. Going online provides you with a better variety of sporting events to bet on. The number of betting types, extra features, and quality of odds are also impressive.
The newly signed punters can claim excellent welcome packages and continue afterward with the loyalty promotions. They can count on the sharpest odds and cash more massive winnings. In return, the land-based betting establishments answer with a better social element and the ability to cancel your tickets.
Legalizing online sports betting will increase the overall service quality. Gamblers will still pay for the risk they take but will do it in a regulated and safe environment. Bookmakers will have to cover strict requirements to become eligible for the WI license, which we’ll explain a little later.
But most importantly, users will have the right for a legal recourse. It’s unlikely for the state to penalize you even with the online betting legalization still pending. However, you may take more severe damage from the bookmaker, and there is nothing you can really do.
If punters get lucky, Wisconsin will fully repeal the ban on sports gambling for good. Then, it will depend on their preferences and wishes which form of betting to choose. The 24/7 service is a massive advantage of online sites, but it’s irrelevant in Wisconsin.
In the Badger State, the tribal establishments do not close. If the land-based books are located on their floors, players will have 24/7 access. Even so, online gambling continues to have too many advantages. It’s not a surprise why operators are so eager to step into America’s Dairyland.
Online Sports Gambling & Retail Alternatives Timeline in Wisconsin
Charitable gambling is the first form of gaming for many states, including Wisconsin. It was legalized in the 1970s on a referendum initiated by voters. Only a few years later, the state-sponsored lottery was launched as well. It brought a more significant diversity of games to the WI residents.
However, real gambling was approved in 1991, and 11 tribes were given the right to establish and operate land-based casinos. People got access to slot machines, video poker, blackjack, and roulette games. The most recent decision of lawmakers was the partial legalization of sports betting Wisconsin.
Wisconsin is another state ready to legalize sports betting only a few years after PASPA’s revoke. The Bradley Act was accepted in 1992 to ban all wagering on athletic events on the territory of the United States. The only exception was Nevada and its licensed sports pools.
The sports lotteries in several states, pari-mutuel betting, and Jai Alai also remained intact by PASPA. With the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act by the US Supreme Court in 2018, every jurisdiction received the right to legalize sports betting, partially or in full.
Licensing Requirements for Future WI Betting Sites
If online sports betting Wisconsin sites go live, someone must look after them and be responsible for their licensing. The task may be given again to the Department of Revenue or not. The role of the regulator is key to the successful management of such a complex market as online sports gambling.
If the WI Government decides to give exclusive rights to the Indian tribes, it will be easy. However, there will be many bookmakers willing to receive a license. In light of that, the House must decide whether it’s a good idea to put such restrictions on an industry with massive potential.
The native tribes will be thrilled by the idea to run the whole sports gambling Wisconsin sector. However, the competition is useful, and punters might prefer trusting recognizable brands. Anyway, the regulator body must make such decisions, check the applicants, and oversee their performance.
The collection of taxes and fees is the other essential task of the chosen authority. Keep in mind that the only safe way to gamble online is via licensed and regulated bookmakers. Underdogs are illegal under UIGEA and can scam you easily since you don’t have a legal recourse in case of a dispute.
Black Market Bookmakers Currently Operating in Wisconsin
Those online betting sites that are not supervised by higher authorities are free to do whatever they want. It may sound a little too much, but it’s true! Even if the black-market sportsbooks offer unfair games or impossible odds, there will be no penalties to them.
They don’t answer in front of the American Government, and you can’t ask for legal defense. Your winnings may be held by the operator and never paid. Unfortunately, that’s not the worst you can suffer from fraudulent companies. They may use your personal data and bank information to benefit.
Identity theft has been a frequent crime in recent years! Unlicensed and unregulated sites are dangerous, not only if they are scams. The parent companies may be legit in other states or countries. However, by operating in the grey area, they can offer bonuses or special offers with unreasonable or even impossible conditions.
You can always find the illegal online betting sites in Wisconsin on our page. No sites have licenses, so we publish only the most popular ones for the time being. If the Government changes the status of online betting in the future, we’ll regularly update this table to keep you well-informed!
- ⛔️ 1XBet
- ⛔️ Bovada
- ⛔️ BetOnline
- ⛔️ BetDSI
- ⛔️ SportsBetting.ag
- ⛔️ CarbonGaming.ag
- ⛔️ MyBookie
- ⛔️ BetUS
- ⛔️ Xbet
- ⛔️ 22bet
- ⛔️ 5Dimes
Conclusion – Wisconsin Online Bookmakers are Illegal
We did our best to deliver the newest information about sports betting Wisconsin. The situation is fast-changing, and very soon the Government may announce more news. Given the fact that the surrounding states allow online sports gambling, it’s unlikely that the Wisconsin Governor will wait too long.
The coronavirus pandemic and expected financial crisis increase the pressure on the Government. Lawmakers can’t miss such a chance that can bring billions in the budget and local businesses. But whatever we say remains the fact that betting sites in Wisconsin are currently illegal.
You can expect from us regular updates on online sports betting Wisconsin. If anything happens, we’ll be among the first to let you know. Meanwhile, our advice is to avoid the online platforms accepting wagers on sporting events. You can participate in Daily Fantasy Sports contests, bet on horse races, and play lottery games.
If you want to put a few bucks on the Packers or the last-year NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks, make a trip to Green Bay. Undoubtedly, more tribal establishments will join the Oneida Nation soon. Stay safe by using the service of licensed and regulated sportsbooks only!
FAQs
The last piece of the sports betting Wisconsin puzzle may be in the following Frequently Asked Questions section. Usually, we receive many inquiries from our readers, and you can see our detailed replies to some of them below. Click on the inserted links if any topic seems intriguing to you!