Introduction to Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019
Wisconsin slot machine casino gambling consists of 24 American Indian tribal casinos having over 20,000 slot machines. Illegal video gambling machines exist in bars and taverns throughout Wisconsin
This post continues the weekly series Online Resource: A State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambling enthusiasts to success. Each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or the federal district.
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![Rolling Wisconsin Farmland [Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019]](https://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1-wisconsin-slot-machine-casino-gambling.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
Wisconsin has tribal casinos with tribal-state compacts. Each city or county must agree to both the development of a tribal casino as well as the games offered there
Wisconsin has no racetracks in operation, but off-track betting (OTB) is at two pari-mutuel wagering facilities Oneida OTB in Green Bay and St. Croix Meadows in Hudson, located 18 miles east of St. Paul on the border to Minnesota
Otherwise, 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
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws apply to various forms of gambling. This information is not intended to provide legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Wisconsin
It is legal to own a slot machine in Wisconsin privately if it is 25 years old or older.
![Madison’s State Capital Building [Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019]](https://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2-wisconsin-slot-machine-casino-gambling.jpg)
Gaming Control Board in Wisconsin
The Gaming Division of the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration focuses on gaming regulatory responsibilities, including:
- Licensing procedures
- Background investigations
- Regulatory enforcement activities
The Division’s two areas of focus are tribal and charitable gaming, and has offices for each:
A provision of tribal-state gaming compacts was the creation of a state-run Indian Gaming Office. Its purpose is to ensure regulation of Class III games at casinos operated by Wisconsin’s eleven federally-recognized American Indian tribes, all of which have gaming compacts with Wisconsin.
![Wide Open Wisconsin Farmland [Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019]](https://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/3-wisconsin-slot-machine-casino-gambling.jpg)
Casinos in Wisconsin
There are 24 American Indian tribal casinos in Wisconsin owned and operated by eleven federally-recognized American Indian tribes
The largest casino in Wisconsin is Potawatomi Hotel & Casino having over 2,500 gaming machines and 99 table games.
The second largest casino is Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells having 2,200 gaming machines and 48 table games.
List of Casinos in Wisconsin
There are no non-tribal casinos in Wisconsin.
List of Tribal Casinos in Wisconsin
There are 24 tribal casinos in Wisconsin:
- Bad River Lodge Casino in Odanah, located 45 miles east of Duluth, Minnesota.
- Grindstone Creek Casino in Hayward, located 140 miles northeast of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls located 110 miles northwest of Madison.
- Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison.
- Ho-Chunk Gaming Nekoosa located 50 miles north of Wausau.
- Ho-Chunk Gaming Tomah located 81 miles north of Madison.
- Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells in Baraboo located 40 miles northwest of Madison.
- Ho-Chunk Gaming Wittenberg located 30 miles east of Wausau.
- Lake of the Torches Resort Casino in Lac du Flambeau located 225 miles north of Green Bay.
- Legendary Waters Resort & Casino in Red Cliff located 80 miles east of Duluth, Minnesota.
- Menominee Casino Resort in Keshena located 40 miles northwest of Green Bay.
- Mole Lake Casino & Lodge located 100 miles northwest of Green Bay.
- North Star Mohican Casino Resort in Bowler located 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 located 12 northwest of Green Bay.
- Oneida Casino – W. Mason in Green Bay.
- Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee.
- Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel in Wabeno located 85 miles north of Green Bay.
Sevenwinds Casino, Lodge & Convention Center in Hayward located 75 miles southeast of Duluth, Minnesota.- St. Croix Casino – Danbury located 62 miles south of Duluth near the border to Minnesota.
- St. Croix Casino – Hertel in Webster located 83 miles south of Duluth near the border to Minnesota.
- St. Croix Casino – Turtle Lake located 76 miles northeast of Minneapolis near the border to Minnesota.
![A River View of Milwaukee [Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019]](https://professorslots.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/4-wisconsin-slot-machine-casino-gambling.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 state-specific blog for that neighboring state to Wisconsin.
Payout Returns in Wisconsin
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 (Class III slot machine games): 80% and 100%
- Skill-based electronic games (such as draw poker and blackjack): 83% and 103%
Tribal casinos must report, for each machine, both its theoretical and actual payout return statistics to the state of Wisconsin. However, this valuable information is not available to the public.
What is available is an annual payout return statistic for all tribal casinos in Wisconsin. The Gaming Division provides Tribal Net Win and Handle Data by year. These financial reports can be used to calculate an annual player win% for Wisconsin’s tribal casinos.
The most recent year’s values available are from 2017, which shows a Tribal Net Win of $1.23 billion and a Gross Tribal Handle of $16.35 billion. Dividing these values provides a 2017 casino hold% of 7.52% while subtraction from 100% gives the equivalent 2017 player win% of 92.48%.
Our Wisconsin Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Wisconsin? If so, join our new Wisconsin slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to freely join this closed Facebook Group.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in or near Wisconsin. Come join us!
Summary of Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019
Wisconsin slot machine casino gambling consists of 24 tribal casinos. Wisconsin also has many bars and taverns with illegal slot machines, where only five or more machines can result in a criminal offense
Tribal-state gaming compacts between Wisconsin and it’s eleven federally-recognized tribes establish two sets of payout return limits over the expected lifetime of a game. For games of chance slot machines, these limits are 80% and 100%. For skill-based electronic games, these limits are 83% and 103%.
Overall, Wisconsin’s tribal casinos had a 2017 win% of 92.48%.
Annual Progress in Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In the last year, two additional tribal casinos have opened their doors in Wisconsin. The first new casino is Grindstone Creek Casino in Hayward. The other new casino is yet another St. Croix Casino, this one located in Turtle Lake.
2018 Archive: Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018 – Wisconsin slot machine casino gambling consists of slot machines available at 22 American Indian tribal casinos operated by 11 federally recognized tribes. Through state-tribal compacts available online, payout returns may be between a minimum of 80% and a maximum of 100%. Actual payout returns are not reported.
Related Articles from Professor Slots
- 11 Things You Need To Know About American Indian Tribal Casinos – Tribal gaming is involved, even sophisticated, in terms of legal, regulatory, political, and economic factors. It’s one of the least understood segments of the U.S. gaming industry. This summary article on American Indian tribal casinos helps slot machine casino gamblers better understand the tribal casinos they visit.
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Online Resource: A State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series – This online resource for slot machine casino gamblers summaries a third year of 56 weekly posts for each U.S. state, territory, and the federal district. Slots players begin here to learn about the slots gaming industry in each U.S. gaming jurisdiction. This summary article links to 56 individual state-specific posts useful to slots players.
- Previous: West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019 – West Virginia slot machine casino gambling consists of 1 casino resort, 4 racinos, and 1,470 retailers. Machines at casinos have up to 18 games and slots with physical reels. Machines at retailers have 5-10 VLTs with up to 11 different games. The minimum payout return limit is 80%. The maximum limit is 92%, 95%, or 99.9%.
- Next: Wyoming Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018 – Wyoming slot machine casino gambling consists of 4 tribal casinos offering Class III slot machines and Class II bingo, a popular pastime here. No legal limits exist for payback returns, nor are actuals publicly reported. Historic horse races are now available on OTB gaming machines that only look like slot machines.
