Our Best Wisconsin Sports Betting Offers

Is Sports Betting Legal in Wisconsin?

Yes - but through a unique framework.

 

In most states, sports betting is legalized through legislation, such as a bill or constitutional amendment, that formally changes state gambling laws. Wisconsin has taken a different approach.

 

Instead of passing a statewide sports betting law, Wisconsin allows federally recognized tribes to negotiate amendments to their existing tribal gaming compacts with the state. These compact amendments authorize sports betting under tribal jurisdiction, making wagering legal at approved tribal properties.

 

To date, four compact amendments have been approved:

 

• 2021 – Oneida Nation

• 2022 – Forest County Potawatomi Community

• 2022 – St. Croix Chippewa Indians

• 2024 – Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

 

While the Lac du Flambeau Band has secured approval to offer sports betting, it has not yet launched sportsbook operations.

 

 

What’s Happening in Wisconsin Sports Betting Right Now

 

Here are the latest developments in Wisconsin’s sports betting landscape:

 

Sept. 6, 2024 — The Green Bay Packers open their season against the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo, Brazil. Sportsbooks are promoting special offers tied to the international Week 1 matchup.

 

May 31, 2024 — Potawatomi Sportsbook officially opened at Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee. Bettors can select wagers online through the sportsbook’s platform and place bets either inside the sportsbook lounge or at 24/7 self-service kiosks.

 

April 16, 2024 — The federal government approved a new gaming compact between Wisconsin and the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. The tribe operates Lake of the Torches Resort Casino and now has authorization to offer sports betting under the amended agreement.

 

March 12, 2024 — St. Croix Casino in Hertel launched in-person sports betting, becoming the third St. Croix location to offer retail sportsbook services.

 

Feb. 1, 2024 — The Kenosha County Board of Supervisors approved a proposed Hard Rock Casino development. The project still requires approval from the governor and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

 

Jan. 4, 2024 — The Kenosha City Council voted in favor of an agreement with the Menominee Tribe’s gaming authority, advancing plans for a potential Hard Rock Casino development on tribal land.

 

 

Where Can You Bet on Sports in Wisconsin?

 

Sports betting in Wisconsin is available in person at tribal casinos that operate under amended gaming compacts.

 

 

Tribal Casinos Offering Retail Sports Betting

 

Currently, the following tribes offer in-person sportsbook wagering:

 

Oneida Nation (Green Bay area)

 

• Oneida Casino (near Austin Straubel International Airport)

• Oneida Casino West Mason

 

The Oneida Nation was the first to launch sports betting in the state, opening retail sportsbooks at both Green Bay properties.

 

Forest County Potawatomi Community

 

• Potawatomi Casino Hotel — Milwaukee

• Potawatomi Casino — Carter

 

The Potawatomi initially introduced self-service betting kiosks at both properties. The Milwaukee location has since expanded to include a full retail sportsbook promos experience. The tribe partnered with Kambi Group to power its sports betting operations, allowing bettors to browse selections online before placing wagers on-site.

 

St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin

 

• St. Croix Casino — Turtle Lake

• St. Croix Casino — Danbury

• St. Croix Casino — Hertel

 

All three locations offer in-person sports betting via kiosks. The tribe partnered with International Game Technology (IGT) to provide sportsbook technology.

 

 

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Wisconsin?

 

Yes - but in a highly limited format.

 

Online sports betting is only permitted on tribal lands or properties covered under tribal gaming compacts. There is no statewide mobile betting available, and no operator offers full online access throughout Wisconsin.

 

The Oneida Nation has taken a unique approach by extending its mobile betting availability beyond its main casino properties. Because the tribe owns multiple Oneida One-Stop convenience store and gas station locations in the Green Bay area, those properties qualify as approved betting zones under the compact.

 

That means bettors can use the Oneida sportsbook app at:

 

• Oneida Casino (near Airport Drive)

• Oneida Casino West Mason

• Main-Airport/IMAC Casino

• E & EE Oneida One-Stop

• Four Paths Oneida One-Stop

• Highway 54 Oneida One-Stop

• Larsen Oneida One-Stop

• Packerland Oneida One-Stop

• Travel Center Oneida One-Stop

• Westwind Oneida One-Stop

 

Within designated geofenced areas at these locations, bettors can place wagers using the mobile app.

 

Outside of approved tribal properties, online sports betting remains unavailable in Wisconsin.

 

 

Wisconsin Sports Betting Law

 

Wisconsin’s approach to sports betting is unusual. There is no standalone statute in the Wisconsin Statutes that broadly legalizes sports wagering. Yet sports betting is legal and currently operating in the state.

 

Wisconsin is one of the few states - along with New Mexico - where sportsbooks operate without a traditional sports betting law. Instead, Wisconsin authorizes wagering through amendments to tribal gaming compacts.

 

 

The Oneida Compact Amendment

 

Sports betting in Wisconsin began with an amendment to the Oneida Nation’s original 1991 gaming compact. The sports betting authorization marked the third amendment to that agreement.

 

While many tribal compact amendments are brief, this one effectively functions as the state’s sports betting framework.

 

Under the amendment, the Oneida Nation may offer wagering on “events,” defined as:

 

“Accepting wagers on the outcomes of, or occurrences within, sports and non-sports games, contests, and matches, but shall not include parimutuel wagering on horse, harness, or dog-racing events.”

 

This definition allows betting on:

 

• Professional and college sports

• Esports

• Non-sporting events, such as awards shows

 

The language covering “outcomes” and “occurrences within” events also permits live betting in addition to traditional pregame wagers.

 

 

Online Betting Restrictions

 

Online sports betting is permitted under the compact - but only on tribal lands or approved tribal properties.

 

For the Oneida Nation, this means mobile wagering is limited to geofenced areas at its designated properties in the Green Bay region. The tribe uses geolocation technology to ensure bets can only be placed within those authorized boundaries.

 

There is no statewide mobile betting available in Wisconsin.

 

 

Most-Favored Nation Clause

 

The amendment also includes a provision allowing the Oneida Nation to benefit from any expanded gaming permissions granted to other tribes in the future. If another federally recognized tribe in Wisconsin negotiates broader sports betting terms, those benefits would extend to the Oneida Nation as well.

 

As a result, Wisconsin’s sports betting market continues to evolve through compact negotiations rather than traditional legislative action.

 

 

Popular Sports for Betting in Wisconsin

 

While sports betting locations in Wisconsin are limited to tribal properties, enthusiasm for the state’s top teams runs deep. With a population of nearly 6 million, Wisconsin boasts strong support for its professional franchises and major college programs.

 

 

NFL

 

Few fan bases in the NFL are as passionate as those of the Green Bay Packers. The Packers are uniquely structured as a publicly owned nonprofit corporation, meaning thousands of fans hold ownership shares in the team.

 

That deep-rooted loyalty makes Packers games - and Packers odds - among the most popular betting markets in Wisconsin.

 

• Green Bay Packers - Lambeau Field

 

 

NBA

 

The Milwaukee Bucks have seen a surge in popularity, especially following their 2021 NBA championship. Consistently competitive in recent seasons, the Bucks remain one of the league’s premier teams and a major draw for bettors in the state.

 

• Milwaukee Bucks - Fiserv Forum

 

 

MLB

 

Baseball also maintains a strong following in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Brewers, established in 1970, have built a loyal fan base over decades of play. While the franchise is still chasing its first World Series title, Brewers games remain a steady betting option during the MLB season.

 

• Milwaukee Brewers - American Family Field

 

 

NHL

 

Wisconsin does not have an NHL franchise, despite its strong hockey tradition at the collegiate level. As a result, fan loyalties are often split among nearby teams, including:

 

• Chicago Blackhawks - United Center

• Minnesota Wild - Xcel Energy Center

 

The absence of an in-state NHL team has not dampened interest in hockey betting, particularly during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

 

 

NCAA

 

College sports are a major part of Wisconsin’s identity. The University of Wisconsin Badgers, competing in the Big Ten Conference, field nationally competitive programs in football and basketball and enjoy widespread support across the state.

 

However, Wisconsin’s tribal casinos do not accept wagers on in-state college teams or events. That means bettors cannot place wagers on the Badgers when they compete.

 

Other Types of Gambling in Wisconsin

 

While sports betting is available in a limited capacity through tribal casinos, it’s far from the only gambling option in Wisconsin. Residents and visitors can participate in several other forms of legal wagering across the state.

 

 

Casinos

 

Wisconsin does not have commercial casinos, but it is home to more than two dozen tribal-owned casinos.

 

These properties range from smaller venues with primarily slot machines to full-service resorts offering:

 

• Slot machines

• Table games

• Poker rooms

• Bingo

• Keno

 

Bingo is particularly notable in Wisconsin, as some tribal casinos offer higher-stakes games than are commonly found in other states.

 

Examples of tribal casinos include:

 

• Bad River Lodge & Casino - Odanah

• Legendary Waters Resort & Casino - Red Cliff

 

 

Online Gambling

 

Traditional statewide online casino gambling is not legal in Wisconsin. However, limited digital gaming options exist on tribal lands.

 

For example, Lake of the Torches Resort Casino in Lac du Flambeau offers certain instant-win style games through a proprietary app. These games function similarly to online lottery scratch-offs rather than full-scale online casino platforms.

 

Outside of approved tribal properties, online casino gambling is not authorized.

 

 

Horse Betting

 

Wisconsin does not currently operate any full-time live horse racing tracks. While occasional harness racing events may occur at county fairs, there are no permanent pari-mutuel racing venues in the state.

 

There are two off-track betting (OTB) facilities located at tribal casinos, but both are currently inactive with no confirmed reopening timeline.

 

Residents can, however, legally wager on horse races through licensed online advance deposit wagering (ADW) platforms. These sites provide betting access to races held across the United States and, in some cases, internationally.

 

 

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)

 

Daily fantasy sports operate in a legal gray area in Wisconsin. State law does not explicitly authorize DFS platforms such as DraftKings or FanDuel, but it also does not expressly prohibit them.

 

As a result, most major DFS operators currently accept players located in Wisconsin. This status could change if future legislation addresses the issue.

 

 

Lottery

 

The Wisconsin Lottery offers a variety of games, including:

 

• Powerball

• Mega Millions

• State-specific draw games

• Instant win scratch-off tickets

 

Lottery products are widely available throughout the state at authorized retailers.