Wisconsin Online Sports Betting Guide 2024

Are you interested in trying your hand at Wisconsin sports betting? We know that entering the betting market can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve pulled together this Wisconsin sports betting guide for you!

Understanding the WI betting process can help you make smart wagers and good decisions with your money, so make sure that you read through the tips and information below thoroughly.

By the end of the guide, you’ll understand your betting options in Wisconsin state. 

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Discover the Wisconsin online sports betting current situation.
• Find out which retail sportsbook is the best for your sports bets.
• Take notes of all your WI gambling alternatives.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Wisconsin? 

Is online sports betting legal in Wisconsin? No. It is currently not legal to bet on sports online in Wisconsin.

However, retail sports betting in Wisconsin is legal, but in a rather unique way. Rather than dedicated legislation governing sports betting in the state, Wisconsin sports betting revolves around individual Native American tribes and ‘gaming compacts’. 

On July 1, 2021, the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin announced an amendment to the tribe’s existing gaming compact with the state (needed to provide legal gambling at tribal casinos in the region). The amendment, signed by then-Governor Tony Evers, was the first of its kind and made in-person sports betting legal at the Oneida Casino.

Since then, other tribes have negotiated similar amendments, the most recent (at the time of writing) being the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin in 2024. 

Unlike the case with other US states with legal sports betting, there is no Wisconsin sports betting bill for us to consider at the moment. But, Wisconsin bettors should keep an eye out for new amendments in the future. The market is still developing and changes are likely.

10 Quick Facts About Wisconsin’s Sports Betting Laws

New to Wisconsin sports betting? We’ve collected 10 of the most important facts that every bettor should know:

1. No Wisconsin bill: There are no existing Wisconsin sports betting bills, just amendments to existing gaming compacts with some of the state’s tribal nations. 
2. Legal age: Sports bettors in Wisconsin must be at least 21 years old to wager legally. Note that because all sports betting in the state is done in person, a valid state ID is also required.
3. State borders: Wisconsin has many cities, and bodies of water, along its borders! It’s legal to place bets in Minnesota, but sports betting is not authorized here. In Michigan, Iowa, and Illinois, however, sports betting on authorized land is legal, and on a selection of skill-based casino machines, but chance gambling games are prohibited.
4. Retail bookmakers: Sports betting in Wisconsin is legal at a handful of the state’s tribal casinos. The most well-known retail bookmaker in the state is the Oneida Nation (at the Oneida Casino) in Green Bay. 
5. Taxes: According to the state government, gambling winnings, including sports betting winnings, are taxable in Wisconsin, and you will need to fill in a “reports winnings” to calculate your individual taxable income.  
6. Online betting: Online sports betting in Wisconsin is prohibited. Only in-person sports betting is allowed.
7. Mobile apps: While online sports betting in Wisconsin is illegal in most circumstances, some in-person sportsbooks might offer mobile apps or dedicated Wisconsin sports betting sites usable only while on the premises. 
8. Regulatory body: The IGRA (Office of Indian Gaming and Regulatory Compliance) regulates sports betting in Wisconsin.
9. Betting markets: Sports bettors in Wisconsin have access to a wide array of sports betting markets. These include basketball, football, soccer, and baseball, among many other popular domestic and international sports. 
10. Responsible gambling: If you need help with unhealthy gambling habits, you can reach out to the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling for resources and aid. 

How to Bet on Sports in Wisconsin? 

Sports betting might seem like an overwhelming activity, but in practice, it’s easy to do. With that said, I remember struggling to find a concise set of steps to follow when I was in the process of placing my first bet.

I’ve pulled together a short Wisconsin sports betting guide to help you get started:

1. Pick a sportsbook: First, decide which bookmaker you’d like to visit! Wisconsin sports betting is available at a number of tribal casino locations.
2. Pick a team or event: Once you’ve found the right venue, pick the right team or event! Do some research before you take the plunge and make sure that all of your wagers are smart and reasonable. 
3. Place your bet: This step might vary slightly from bookmaker to bookmaker. At most sportsbooks, you can bet via a kiosk or app. The venue in question should have directions listed clearly for you, and you can always reach out to employees for more information if you are confused. 

That’s it! You’ve placed your very first sports bet in Wisconsin. Cross your fingers and hope for the best!

Wisconsin Sports Betting Sites and Apps  

As online sports wagering is illegal in Wisconsin, we can’t offer a list of the best Wisconsin sports betting sites. Moreover, we don’t have any Wisconsin sports betting promos or Wisconsin sports betting bonuses to share.

Instead, we recommend that you look into the state’s physical sportsbooks. Otherwise, you can also have a go at sweepstakes sportsbooks if you don’t mind betting in the absence of potential real-money winnings.

Popular Sports and Teams in the Wisconsin Betting Scene

Wisconsin is one of the best states for sports fans, and not just because sports betting is allowed. Passionate fan bases supporting teams from all manner of sports are common. The most popular sports in the state are football, basketball, and baseball, but Wisconsin is quick to embrace a wide variety of games. 

Football

Of course, no discussion about Wisconsin sports would be complete without mentioning the Green Bay Packers. Possibly, the most loved team in the state, the Packers have long been a cornerstone of the NFL and have legions of fans all around the world. The team’s storied history with championship wins, including four Super Bowl titles, has won locals over. Cheeseheads come from long familial lines of Packers fans. Local support for the team runs deep and is enduring.

In terms of local popularity, it would be hard to find a group of fans more tight-knit and passionate than the Cheeseheads. There are so many of them, in fact, that a local family built a thriving business around foam cheeseheads. The Packers recently acquired the rights to the Milwaukee-based Cheesehead brand.

The owner had this to say about the sale: 

After many years of working with family and friends to build the Cheesehead brand, we are pleased to pass it on to the Green Bay Packers… We have had a very special relationship with the Packers over the years, and my wife, Sue, and I are both very excited about what the Packers can do with the Cheesehead going forward.

The Milwaukee Bucks dominate among basketball fans in the area, especially recently. While their past performance is rather lukewarm, the Bucks have seemed revitalized over the past few seasons. More and more fans are turning out for home games and travel games alike.

Baseball

What overview of sports in Wisconsin could end without a section on baseball? It is one of the most popular sports in the US. In fact, until relatively recently, it was considered the quintessential American sport. With that in mind, local fans find the Milwaukee Brewers to be a team to watch. 

In addition to the professional teams described above, Wisconsin has a thriving collegiate sports industry. Among the many talented teams in the area are the Wisconsin Badgers (University of Wisconsin-Madison). The Badgers compete in the Big Ten across a few different sports, with basketball and football being the most well-known.

Note that while college sports are lively in Wisconsin, sports betting on collegiate teams is not allowed. 

The Impact of Local Teams on Sports Betting 

When you get down to it, sports betting is based on performance. Bettors follow specific teams or events, explore which teams are dominating, and make wagers based on the information at hand. The impact of local teams on sports betting, then, is huge. Sports fans in Wisconsin tend to pay particularly close attention to the Packers. 

Local pundits are quick to comment on the Green Bay Packers’ performance in the NFL. One of them is already weighing in on the team’s likelihood of making it to the 2025 Super Bowl, notifying sports bettors that they’re a team to watch and pointing out exceptional players to follow:

The Green Bay Packers, with +1900 odds, stand ninth in the league’s Super Bowl predictions. Here’s a closer look at what to expect from the Packers this season…. Quarterback Jordan Love was a standout, with 4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions… On the receiving end, Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs are key players.

NFL betting enthusiasts take the information above and turn it into betting strategies. This, in turn, fuels the local betting scene. 

Upcoming Events 

Are you looking for the latest Wisconsin sports betting update? If so, you’re in luck! We keep track of the industry’s most important sports events so that you don’t have to. Visit us often to make sure that you don’t miss a single game!

Are There More Gambling Options in Wisconsin? 

In addition to sports betting, gamblers in Wisconsin can enjoy casino gambling and horse races. Similar to Wisconsin sports betting legislation, casino gambling regulations revolve around tribal gaming compacts. Players can visit a number of physical tribal casinos to bet in person on their favorite table games and slot machines.

Note that online gambling is not permitted in the state.

Maximizing Your Bets 

Now that you know a bit about how sports betting in Wisconsin works, it’s time to look at maximizing your bets. We have some important tips to help you get the most out of your bankroll.

Tips and Strategies for Wisconsin Bettors 

The Wisconsin sports betting scene is thriving, but this doesn’t mean that you can make bets at random and win. On the contrary, it is essential to take your time when betting and consider your wagers carefully.

Here are some of the tips I use when placing bets, and you’d be wise to consider them if you want to become better at sports betting.

• Research: always research the teams and players I want to bet on before I make a wager. This helps me determine which teams are worth the risk and which are almost guaranteed a loss. 
• Shop for odds: Shopping for odds is another good strategy to maximize your bets. Not all sportsbooks offer the same odds at the same time. One of the best things you can do for your bankroll is to check with a few different bookmakers. You never know when you might get lucky and find dynamite odds to help optimize your betting budget! 
• Bankroll management: Before you take the plunge and start wagering, make sure that you have a solid gambling budget sorted out. Incorporate things such as deposit limits, loss limits, and single-wager bet limits. Proper bankroll management makes it easier to enjoy betting on your favorite team.

Understanding Taxes and Payouts 

It can understandably get difficult to understand how taxes work in sports betting, so let us help you out.

In Wisconsin, winnings related to sports betting are taxed. This means that you’ll need to claim them on your income taxes. Fill out IRS Form W-2G ‘Certain Gambling Winnings’ to report your winnings to the IRS and pay the taxes due.

What About Physical Sports Betting Locations?

Sports betting in Wisconsin is available at certain tribal casinos in the state. There are no legal online operators in the state. More specifically, the Oneida Casino in Green Bay and the Potawatomi Casino Hotel in Milwaukee have on-site sportsbooks.

Of the Oneida Casino and the Potawatomi Casino Hotel, the latter is the more popular sportsbook in Wisconsin. One reviewer writes:

One of the best hotel casino stays… Sports gaming is popular. Slots and high-limit games are broad. Plenty of rooms in casino and hotel. Beautiful high-rise hotel rooms with most rooms have large picture windows of the city view… Just can’t say enough about this hotel casino except to say I’ll return month after month to make it my number one hotel casino.

A Potawatomi Casino Hotel Visitor

So, Will You Bet from Wisconsin Tonight?  

Now that you know the latest Wisconsin sports betting news, you’re ready to dive into the busy market! You know all your WI betting options: visiting a retail sportsbook to place your bets or enjoy some horse racing.

Are you interested in learning more about sports betting in the US? Take a look at some of our free tools to simplify the betting process!