Badger State bettors received a measure of good news in July 2021. In a surprising turn of events, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced changes to the state’s gaming compact with the Oneida Nation. The modifications allow the Oneida to offer sports betting at their affiliated gaming properties.
Wisconsin lawmakers are eager to see the state get its share of the sports betting spoils from the robust U.S. betting market. Most notably since neighboring Illinois has recorded its first $5 billion in sports betting.
We're following the latest developments and sharing updates on Wisconsin's path to legalization.
Population: 5.9 million
Legal age for sports betting: 21
Online sports betting: Coming soon
Retail sportsbooks: Coming soon
Sports betting revenue: N/A
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No. Legalized sports betting is not yet a viable option for Wisconsinites. However, recent revisions to the state's gaming compact with the Oneida Nation include provisions for event wagering on tribal lands.
What can you expect? Retail and mobile sports betting are on the state's docket, but legal sportsbook apps are still a few months away.
Our U.S. legal tracker includes the latest on each state's sports betting legalization progress.
State leadership's willingness to amend existing gaming compacts demonstrates their eagerness to access the lucrative sports betting markets.
Entering into new gaming compacts with the remaining 10 Wisconsin Native American tribes is indeed on Gov. Evers' agenda. These movements signal expansion and the possibility for WI to launch legalized sports betting in 2021.
Keep track of milestones and notable events leading up to Wisconsin's sports betting legalization efforts:
While no tentative go-to-market date is known, WI state lawmakers want to capitalize on the sports betting revenue-rich NFL season.
Details are murky; beyond the retail presence expected at tribal casinos, Wisconsin retail and mobile sports betting activities will likely be limited to tribal lands.
The minimum gambling age for visitors to WI tribal casinos is 21 years old. With no official disclosure, it is expected that sports betting will get the same treatment.
Sports betting activities will be limited to tribal casinos, meaning you can download the apps anywhere in WI but can only place a wager on tribal lands at affiliated sports betting venues.
Here's a list of what you need to know before placing your first sports wager in the Equality State.
Legal age21 will be the minimum gambling age for sports betting in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin's legal gambling age is 18, but that applies to charitable games and the state lottery. Twenty-one is the minimum gambling age in Wisconsin tribal casinos, which means sports betting will get the same treatment.
Retail sportsbooksNo legal retail sportsbooks currently operate in Wisconsin. However, the Oneida Nation will offer retail sports betting at its Green Bay casino.
Mobile bettingWisconsin will add mobile sports betting in some capacity. International Game Technology (IGT) will support the Oneida Nation's retail sports betting products at its Oneida Casino in Green Bay.
Remote registrationWisconsin may require bettors to register in person. Until the state fully discloses its sports betting intentions and puts legislation in place, it remains to be seen whether it will adopt remote registration.
Within state bordersStates with legal sports betting laws and regulations in place leverage geolocation software. This practice ensures that all WI online sports gambling activities take place within state lines.
Taxable winningsWisconsin gambling winnings are taxable and must be reported on your income tax return. As such, any winnings from your respective sports betting activities will be treated similarly.
While Wisconsinites await the advent of legal sports betting, there are nearby neighborly options.
Illinois has recorded its first $5 billion in sports betting, while Iowa and Michigan have all launched legal online and in-person sports wagering, too.
Wisconsin's ongoing efforts to legalize sports betting are not in vain. State officials are beginning to renegotiate gaming pacts with tribal casinos.
Optimism for legal sports betting in 2021 still runs strong, but any movement before November is unlikely.
Wisconsin bettors may have to register in-person to wager on sports. Retail sportsbooks will be an opportunity for those looking to bet in person. Regardless, we expect in-state bettors to gain the ability to wager with sports betting mobile apps at some point.
Registering with a legal and state-regulated sportsbook is on the horizon. Until then, you can read our sportsbook reviews to learn about their various features and options.
It remains to be seen whether WI sports bettors will have the ability to sign up with a sportsbook from their own home or elsewhere in the state, outside of a tribal casino.
Regardless, you must supply personal information to verify your identity and produce a driver’s license or SSN.
Online sportsbooks consistently attract new players with promotions, bonuses, and perks.
Keep an eye out for risk-free bets, no-deposit bonuses, and deposit matches. The rub here is that the offers are occasionally too restrictive. Reading the fine print is your first line of defense.
Before placing any bets, you'll have to connect any newly created account with a valid payment method, like an electronic wallet or credit or debit card.
Wisconsin sports bettors should gain access to these popular bet types: moneylines, Over/Unders (totals), point spreads, parlays, teasers, futures, and live bets.
Shopping the various betting lines is an excellent tool for your bankroll management strategy. Not all WI sportsbooks will post the same odds, meaning you can likely get a better deal elsewhere.
Once you've narrowed down the field, read through the terms and conditions tied to withdrawing funds from the given sportsbook. Sometimes, these transactions could be immediate or take one to two days to process.
Reading the odds American odds are the default option used by operators across the U.S. The minus (-) and plus (+) signs indicate favorites and underdogs, respectively.
For favorites, the number you see informs you of the amount you would have to wager to win $100. -150 odds show you that a $150 bet would net you $100 in winnings.
Underdogs are treated differently, with the plus sign used to display the amount you would win for placing a $100 bet. As an example, +110 odds tell you a $100 stake would fetch $110 in profit.
Outside of North America, sportsbooks display odds as fractions and decimals. Our in-house odds converter lets you flip through all three types of betting odds.
Wisconsinites cannot legally wager on sporting events yet. However, specific provisions are already in place.
We're monitoring all developments and keeping this section up-to-date as the news becomes available.
PoliticsNo wagering on elections or political events will be allowed.
Entertainment award ceremoniesWagering on entertainment events in Wisconsin, like the annual Oscars, is not permitted.
EsportsIt remains to be seen whether any specific gaming laws will apply to regulating Wisconsin esports competitions.
Wisconsin college sportsBetting on Wisconsin's college teams will not be prohibited, but you will be able to wager on out-of-state college teams.
Despite the vague details of Wisconsin's legalization plans, the major sports will be represented on betting platforms.
Sporting the home team's colors feels good — we're looking at you Packers Cheeseheads — but that personal emotion can hurt your bankroll. Brush up on the basics of sports betting with our how to guides.
Despite its many tribal casinos, pari-mutuel wagering, and the state lottery, Wisconsin does not have a long history with legal sports betting.
CasinoThere are 26 casinos in Wisconsin, plus plans to build a new Ho-Chunk Nation casino in Beloit. Casino activity is relegated to in-person betting as mobile casino operators are prohibited.
PokerThe state boasts four poker rooms in Greater Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Southern WI, and Northern Highland.
Horse racingBetting on horse racing is legal in Wisconsin. The absence of any permanent race tracks means that much of the betting action takes place online.
Wisconsin bettors can access horse races across the globe via online horse betting apps, including TVG, TwinSpires, and BetAmerica.
Daily fantasy sportsNo rules forbidding daily fantasy sports (DFS) exist in Wisconsin. Those in-state bettors can access sites like DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo Fantasy Sports.
Resources related to problem gambling are widely available in Wisconsin. Individuals can intentionally exclude themselves from all betting activity by joining Wisconsin's self-exclusion programs.
When sportsbooks launch in Wisconsin, players will gain access to tools designed to curb gambling activity. There are options to set deposit, wager, and loss limits.
Each U.S. state gained the ability to legalize and regulate sports betting in 2018. These states have already gone down that route: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Wisconsin lacks legal and regulated sports betting outlets and online platforms. With legalization pending, we advise you to not risk your money and waste your time with unregulated sportsbooks that operate illegally.
Not quite. An amendment to the gaming compact between Wisconsin and the Oneida Nation, that permits sports betting at the tribe's casinos, was approved by the U.S. federal government.
21 is the minimum gambling age in Wisconsin tribal casinos, which means sports betting will get the same treatment. Wisconsin's legal gambling age is 18, but that applies to state lottery games.
You cannot gamble on sports in Wisconsin. Legalized sports betting is coming to WI, with retail and online capabilities coming soon.
There are no online sportsbooks in Wisconsin.
No. It is not expected that you will have the ability to wager on Wisconsin-based collegiate teams.
The Wisconsin Gaming Commission is likely to have a hand in regulating state sports wagering.
No. However, FanDuel already offers daily fantasy sports (DFS) in Wisconsin.
No, but you will have to be located within Wisconsin tribal lands to place a bet on a mobile sportsbook app.
The soon-to-be launched legal sportsbook apps promote strong digital security measures to keep personal information safe.
