In the State of Wisconsin, gambling is defined as, “Bargain in which parties agree, dependent upon chance even though accompanied by some skill, one stands to win or lose something of value specified in the agreement”. - code section 945.01 et seq.; 562.001 et seq.
And if you’re wanting to know exactly which games are considered legal or not, the law allows for pari-mutuel betting on horses and greyhounds, licensed bingo and raffles, crane games, snowmobile racing, contests of skill, speed, strength and endurance.
Bookmaking, dealing in gambling devices and operating commercial casinos are all illegal.

As with many states in the US, trying to profit from gambling or turning it into an illicit business will land you in jail. In Wisconsin, the penalty for being found guilty of such an offence gets you a fine of $100,000 or 3 years in jail.

Playing games of chance for real money, even at an illegal establishment is treated as a misdemeanour and your punishment will be aligned to the amount you bet and how often you’ve been caught.

Still, being brought before the law is a stressful experience and, given the number of legal gambling establishments within the state, it is best to stay on the right side of the law.

Lottery tickets can be purchased at supermarkets and gas stations legally throughout the state. This, however, doesn’t stop off-shore sites from offering the purchase of lottery tickets online. Given that many of these sites are unlicensed and unregulated, there is a very obvious risk here.

Purchasing lottery tickets on sites like these may leave you with egg on your face when you try to collect your winnings, and suddenly no one from the site responds to your calls and emails. So, stick to purchasing the tickets yourself from a licensed retailer, or find another way to play games of chance.

Legal gambling in Wisconsin is convenient and available to all players who have celebrated their 18th birthday. Whether you play for fun or real money, a licensed establishment is the only way to go within the borders of the state.

Applying for a gambling license in any state is a lengthy and detailed process, and Wisconsin is no different. The very fact that there are websites that offer this service indicates the level of understanding needed to successfully apply and suggests that the paperwork required for submission will not be easy to collate.

If you’re wanting to apply for anything more complicated than a charitable gambling license, be prepared to have your business funding and personal history delved into by the state. With requirements such as your social security number, criminal history and fingerprints, to bank statements, details about your funders and more, the government will leave no stone unturned as they take the time to consider whether you qualify.

Don’t be surprised if you are asked to provide character references from people you are not related to in any way and if you’re asked to disclose any government connections you may have.

Owning a slot machine in the State of Wisconsin is completely illegal. Whether you are a collector of antique machines or you’d like to make use of one in your bar or gas station, there is no license that you can apply for to have one.

Some feel there is a loophole here because the law indicates that owning 5 or more machines will lead to prosecution, while less than 5 machines will just be considered a misdemeanour, however, even being caught with one machine can incur fines of around $500 and lead to the confiscation of the machine.

Applying for a charity gambling license so that your organization can offer bingo games and raffles for fundraising purposes is only slightly less complex. Your application will require the disclosure of your donation records as well as proof of your tax status with the Internal Revenue Service and proof of operation for 3 years before the application for a gambling license.

Once your license has been approved, you will be limited to the number of games offered and required to keep a record of the number of attendees, source of any prizes or donations and the value thereof. The largest prize that can be offered for a single game of bingo is $500 and the prize pool should not exceed $2500 for a single event.