Wisconsin Online Gambling Legalities
Wisconsin, a state known for cheese and meat-packing, may fly under the radar as far as gambling is concerned, but that much is due for a change. Wisconsin, believe it or not, has a long and storied history when it comes to gambling. For the longest of times, the state hosted dozens of horse and dog racing tracks, and it was at these locations where state residents could do most of their gambling. Of course, not every type of casino game could be found at these Wisconsin racetracks, but they did suffice for the time.
A short while later, Wisconsin followed the lead of so many other US states and allowed for the establishment of brick and mortar online casinos, of which are found all over the state. In general, Wisconsin is a pro-gambling state and that much does not look like it is going to change anytime soon.
Legal Status of Online Casinos & Gambling — Wisconsin
Online casinos exist and are available for Wisconsin residents, but they are not regulated by the state nor are they based within the state’s borders. Most online casinos that cater to Wisconsin residents are based offshore and in other countries. Though this does not mean that these sites are not trustworthy, they are not regulated by any agency within the United States. In reality, this means that if an untrustworthy online casino operator decides to take all of your money and run, no US government entity will be able to help you. Fortunately, however, this is something that happens almost never nowadays. A quick internet search will help you decipher which sites can be trusted and what select few cannot. Simply put, though there are no laws that make it legal to play casino games online in Wisconsin, there are no laws that make it illegal either. At the end of the day, you are taking on this risk, but the risk itself is overstated more often than not.
This means that Wisconsin residents have hundreds and hundreds of online casinos from which they can choose from. As you may or may not know, not every casino offers the same quantity and type of games, so to find the one that serves you best is something that will take a little bit of research. All in all, Wisconsin’s online casino industry is thriving, even if it isn’t regulated by the state.
Sweetening the deal for Wisconsin residents is the existence of mobile online casinos. These sites are able to function on your Apple or Android devices, and bring you a flawless real money gambling experience without much effort at all. So long as you are able to access the internet, you are able to access the games. In most cases, the mobile gaming platform is able to be downloaded directly to your device or played within the device’s browser. This is all an extremely simple way by which people can gamble without having to expend much effort at all.
Legal Status of Brick and Mortar Casinos — Wisconsin
At one point in time, betting at racetracks was popular all across the state of Wisconsin, but then came the 1990s and all of that changed. When a law was passed that made it legal for Native Americans to host casinos on their own land, the racing industry was destroyed. Nowadays you will find in upwards of 20 brick and mortar casinos located throughout the state. The thing is, not all of these casinos offer the same type of games, so while you may live close to a brick and mortar casino, you may not be living near the brick and mortar casino that is best for you.
Wisconsin is an incredibly large state, and like many other Midwestern states it is sparsely populated. This means that travelling to your preferred casino is something that can take hours and hours. For this reason, we are seeing the idea of an intrastate network of legalized casinos gaining more momentum. Nothing has been passed yet, but it seems like the next most logical step for Wisconsin if they want to capitalize on gambling revenues.
As far as what the future holds for Wisconsin’s brick and mortar casino industry, that much is tough to say. Given the successes of the state’s existing casinos, we would be in no way surprised to hear that Wisconsin was in the process of adding more sites in the near future. Will this take away from the likelihood that an intrastate network of online casinos will be set up in Wisconsin? That much is tough to say. Wisconsin, as was previously mentioned, is not the most populated US state, so for many the building of new casinos seems like overkill more than anything else. There are already more than 20 that have been built, so any more than that might be a bit excessive.
Wisconsin Online Casinos & Gambling FAQ
Will you get into legal trouble if you play at Wisconsin online casinos?
Despite the fact that there is no legal network of online casinos in the state, the fact of the matter is that you will never land yourself in any amount of legal trouble for having played at an online casino that offers games to Wisconsin residents.
Can I deposit in any currency?
This is a question that can only be answered by looking at the online casino at which you wish to play. In most cases, however, your deposit options are most often limited to US Dollars. There may be a few exceptions to this, but in most cases you will only be able to deposit in US Dollars.
What are the daily deposit limits at Wisconsin online casinos?
In order to answer this question, you first need to determine what site you would like to play at. In general, you will find daily deposits ceilings from as small as $1,000 to as large as $5,000. Be sure to check out the fees tied to deposits, as certain sites carry higher fees than others.
How many different poker variations can I play at Wisconsin online casinos?
Nowadays, most online casinos in Wisconsin offer poker, but the exact variation of poker depends on the site at which you are playing. Some online casinos offer a plethora of gaming options, while other specialize in a game or two. If you are an avid poker player who is looking to make some money playing online, it would behoove you to do some research and only play at the sites that offer the best, most competitive games. All too often you find players getting stuck at a site that really doesn’t offer much in the way of great poker options, and by then it is too late because t hey have already deposited.