Wisconsin Online
Sports Betting

Updated March 25, 2024

The journey to legalize online sports betting in Wisconsin has been complex and gradual, primarily due to the state's constitutional restrictions against gambling. Legal sports betting has made some progress through renegotiated gaming compacts with tribal nations, enabling retail sportsbooks at tribal casinos. The Oneida Nation was the first to launch a legal sportsbook near the end of 2021 at the Oneida Casino and also offers a sportsbook app for bettors physically present on Oneida properties. Other tribes like the St. Croix Chippewa Indians and Potawatomi Nation have followed suit in offering retail sports betting at their casinos​​.

Despite these developments in tribal gaming, the state has not yet legalized online sports betting beyond tribal lands, and no legislation appears imminent that would change this status. The Wisconsin Constitution contains anti-sports gambling laws, necessitating an amendment to legalize sports betting fully. The state has seen slow reactions to the 2018 US Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to legalize sports betting, with no current bills in motion to facilitate this transition​​.

The timeline of events shows incremental progress, with several key dates marking the gradual expansion of sports betting within tribal jurisdictions. Notable milestones include the launch of the Oneida Nation's sportsbook app in February 2022 and the approval of sportsbook operations at the Sokaogon Chippewa Community’s Mole Lake Casino and the St. Croix Casino in Turtle Lake​​.As it stands, Wisconsin's approach to sports betting, particularly online wagering, remains cautious.

The state's gambling history, characterized by delayed adoption of gambling forms compared to other states, reflects this cautious stance. While residents can use offshore sportsbooks for online betting, state-regulated online sports betting platforms are currently limited to tribal properties, with no significant movement toward a statewide rollout

Recent Developments in Wisconsin Sports Betting

July 13, 2021: The Oneida Nation announces plans to offer sports betting in Wisconsin under their tribal compact​​.
‍August 20, 2021: The Bureau Of Indian Affairs approves the Oneida plan to open sportsbooks in Wisconsin​​.
‍November 30, 2021: The Oneida Nation opens a sportsbook at the Green Bay Airport location, marking the first legal sports betting venue in the state​​.
‍December 20, 2021: The Chippewa Indians agree to terms for on-site sports betting at their casino, though as of the last update, they had not yet started offering it​​.
‍February 21, 2022: The Oneida Nation launches a sports betting app, which is only usable on Oneida land​​.
‍April 18, 2022: The St. Croix Casino in Turtle Lake opens a sportsbook​​.
‍November 17, 2022: The state of Wisconsin and the Sokaogon Chippewa Community's compact agreement was approved, greenlighting the fifth sportsbook in Wisconsin at the tribe’s Mole Lake Casino before Super Bowl 57​​.