Introduction to Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Wisconsin slot machine casino gambling consists of 24 tribal casinos. Illegal video gambling machines exist in bars and taverns throughout Wisconsin.
Tribal-state gaming compacts have minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits. Annual return statistics are publicly available for all tribal casinos.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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![Madison Under a Blue Sky [Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020]](http://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1-Wisconsin-slot-machine-casino-gambling-2020.jpg)
Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Wisconsin*
The minimum legal gambling age in Wisconsin depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 18
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
Tribal casinos in Wisconsin have negotiated tribal-state gaming compacts. However, each city or county must agree to both the development of a local tribal casino as well as the games offered at its site.
Further, many bars and taverns in Wisconsin have illegal video gaming machines. Having up to five machines results in civil forfeiture without legal repercussion while more than five machines are, instead, a criminal offense.
Anyone playing pay-to-play, bar-based slot machines must be at least 21. Otherwise, owners break a different law, this one having severe legal consequences for their business.
Electronic gaming machines in bars and taverns which are free to play with no prizes of any value are not illegal under Wisconsin’s gaming regulations.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Wisconsin
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in Wisconsin if it is 25 years old or older.
![Raspberry Island Light House [Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020]](http://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2-Wisconsin-slot-machine-casino-gambling-2020.jpg)
Gaming Control Board in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Gaming Division has gaming regulatory responsibilities including:
- Licensing procedures
- Background investigations
- Regulatory enforcement activities
The Division’s area of focus for tribal gaming is the Office of Indian Gaming and Regulatory Compliance created by tribal-state gaming compacts. The Office’s purpose is to ensure regulation of Class III games at casinos operated by Wisconsin’s eleven tribes.
![State Capital Building in Madison [Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020]](http://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3-Wisconsin-slot-machine-casino-gambling-2020.jpg)
Casinos in Wisconsin
There are 24 American Indian tribal casinos in Wisconsin.
The largest casino in Wisconsin is Potawatomi Hotel & Casino with over 2,500 slot machines.
The second-largest casino is Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells with 2,200 slot machines.
Commercial Casinos in Wisconsin
There are no commercial casinos in Wisconsin.
Tribal Casinos in Wisconsin
There are 24 tribal casinos in Wisconsin:
- Bad River Lodge Casino in Odanah, 45 miles east of Duluth.
- Grindstone Creek Casino in Hayward, 140 miles northeast of Minneapolis.
- Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls, 110 miles northwest of Madison.
- Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison
- Ho-Chunk Gaming Nekoosa, 50 miles north of Wausau.
- Ho-Chunk Gaming Tomah, 81 miles north of Madison.
- Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells in Baraboo, 40 miles northwest of Madison.
- Ho-Chunk Gaming Wittenberg, 30 miles east of Wausau.
- Lake of the Torches Resort Casino in Lac du Flambeau, 225 miles north of Green Bay.
- Legendary Waters Resort & Casino in Red Cliff, 80 miles east of Duluth, Minnesota.
- Menominee Casino Resort in Keshena, 40 miles northwest of Green Bay.
- Mole Lake Casino & Lodge in Mole Lake, 100 miles northwest of Green Bay.
- North Star Mohican Casino Resort in Bowler, 55 miles northwest of Green Bay.
- Oneida Casino – Irene Moore Activity Center (IMAC) in Green Bay.
- Oneida Casino – Main-Airport in Green Bay.
- Oneida Casino – One-Stop Packerland in Green Bay.
- Oneida Casino – Travel Center in Pulaski, 12 northwest of Green Bay.
- Oneida Casino – W. Mason in Green Bay.
- Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee
- Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel in Wabeno, 85 miles north of Green Bay.
- Sevenwinds Casino, Lodge & Convention Center in Hayward, 75 miles southeast of Duluth, Minnesota.
- St. Croix Casino – Danbury, 62 miles south of Duluth near the border to Minnesota
- St. Croix Casino – Hertel in Webster, 83 miles south of Duluth near the border to Minnesota.
- St. Croix Casino – Turtle Lake, 76 miles northeast of Minneapolis near the border to Minnesota.
![Map of Wisconsin Casinos [Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020]](https://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2030/03/4-Wisconsin-slot-machine-casino-gambling-2020.jpg)
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Wisconsin slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Wisconsin is:
- North: Michigan Slots
- East: Lake Michigan
- South: Illinois Slots
- West: Iowa Slots and Minnesota Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Wisconsin.
![Wisconsin Slots Community on Facebook [Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020]](http://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/5-Wisconsin-slot-machine-casino-gambling-2020.jpg)
Our Wisconsin Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Wisconsin? If so, join our Wisconsin slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Wisconsin. Join us!
Payout Returns in Wisconsin
Written into Wisconsin’s tribal-state gaming compacts are minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits. These limits apply over the expected lifetime of the game.
Each tribal-state compact has set minimum and maximum payout limits. However, there are two sets of limits, both of which apply over the expected lifetime of the game:
- Games-of-chance (slot machines): 80% and 100%
- Games-of-skill video games (poker, blackjack, etc.): 83% and 103%
For each machine, tribal casinos report to the state both its theoretical payout and actual return statistics. However, this valuable information is not available to the public.
An annual return statistic is publicly available for all tribal casinos combined in Wisconsin, although casino hold% comes from dividing Tribal Net Win by Handle Data. Player win% is from subtracting hold% from 100%.
In 2019, the most recent year available, the annual return statistic was 92.76%. This player win% is up from 2017’s 92.48% and 2018’s 92.61%.
![City of Milwaukee’s McKinley Marina South Docks [Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020]](http://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/6-Wisconsin-slot-machine-casino-gambling-2020.jpg)
Summary of Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Wisconsin slot machine casino gambling consists of 24 tribal casinos. Illegal gaming machines exist at many bars and taverns, but only five or more machines results in a criminal offense.
Tribal-state gaming compacts have established two sets of theoretical payout limits, including minimum and maximums. For games-of-chance such as slot machines, these limits are 80% and 100%. The 2019 return statistic was 92.76%.
Annual Progress in Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In the last year, there has been no significant changes to the slots gaming industry in Wisconsin.
