There are a number of federal laws in place across the nation that affect gambling in general but these laws do little to affect the average citizen when it comes to placing a simple bet. Laws such as the Federal Wire Act, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) all have a hand in outlawing the business of gambling while having minimal influence over average folks. The simple act of placing a bet is legal under any of these laws.
There is however, plenty of space left between the lines for each state to formulate its own gambling regulations. Wisconsin is one such state that crafted its own regulations in regards to gambling but largely has followed the framework set in place by the parenting federal laws. This page is here for all Wisconsin residents wishing to learn how federal and state laws affect online gambling through land based mediums as well as legal gambling sites that accept Wisconsin residents.
The federal policy on sports betting throughout the United States in clear in that it outlawed any sportsbook from operating anywhere in the country outside of specifically exempt locations. While PASPA helped in eliminating sports betting operations, it did not hamper the ability of a casual fan in placing a bet on his or her team. Only the venues that could facilitate bets were all but erased aside from locations such as Las Vegas. With such a strong law on the books, states did not have much to add or subtract from in their own local gambling regulations when it came to sports betting other than Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon who were immune from the far sweeping act.
Wisconsin unfortunately is unable to regulate or provide any form of sports betting within its borders and residents will not find any such brick and mortar establishment that is able to take their otherwise legal bet. Luckily, with no regulation of the internet outside of U.S. jurisdiction, online sportsbooks for Wisconsin residents that are located elsewhere are perfectly capable of offering services to U.S. citizens, including those of us here in the Badger State. All one must do is follow the general rule of thumb of not entering into the business of gambling or facilitating bets for profit and they may wager on any sporting event at a legal and foreign location. These sites answer only to their host nation’s online gambling and banking laws and are not bound to any federal or state regulation, making them available to anyone in the country.
The federal policy in put in place across the nation is true for online casinos as it is for any other form of gambling. The business of gambling is strictly prohibited whereas the simple act of placing a wager is not. While this allows bettors to play in an online casino, the federal policies remove any online casino’s ability from operating within the United States. This is not the end of the world for recreational casino visitors though as any site that is located outside of federal jurisdiction is in legal operation and U.S. citizens are able to visit them and thus participate in gambling that's legal in Wisconsin.
The State of Wisconsin has not expended too much on the federal policies already in place when it comes to online casinos. With no mention of the internet in the entire state constitution in regards to gambling laws, users from the Badger State are free to follow federal regulation as their guide. This means that any online casino located outside of U.S. jurisdiction is free to use. Since Wisconsin players are legally able to bet on whatever they wish in a legal venue, the solution is surprisingly simple in that any badger state local can play virtual blackjack, video poker or even scratch-off cards for real money, all from the comfort of home
If those living in Wisconsin are not looking forward to a car trip to the nearest Native American Casino, the opportunities for big winnings are limitless for legal online casinos for Wisconsin players. Residents will find plenty of sites not bound to federal or state laws that are able to provide winnings mailed directly to a home address anywhere in Wisconsin.
As is the case with online casinos, online poker bears the same rules and regulations on both the federal and state level. Players are able wager on any game of poker with real money if it is not for profit other than personal winnings. The business of online poker or operating an illicit underground game where the house takes a cut will bring certain doom to the guilty party. Players must only visit a legal venue if they wish to safely, legally play their favorite game without penalty.
The State of Wisconsin makes no defining difference between poker and other forms of gambling however there is some debate over whether or not it is a game of skill or chance. The definition of gambling in the Wisconsin state legislation leaves room available to games of skill although poker has not been determined to meet these criteria. The good news for Badger State residents is that online poker is completely unaffected by any local laws due to the lack of mention of the internet. This means that players may act as if they are only paying attention to federal laws that allow for playing on legal Wisconsin poker sites so long as a site is located outside of U.S. jurisdiction.
Poker players in America’s Dairy Land will also find a few live poker rooms sprinkled across the state. With over eleven Native American Tribal casinos, many facilities offer their own live poker rooms where legally aged residents may frequent and play for both low and high stakes. While the nearest card room may not always be conveniently placed, online poker remains the dominant form of the game throughout the state.
As we have covered a variety of gambling mediums from online casinos to poker rooms to sportsbooks, we can see that the most important factor of legality is an online gambling site’s location being outside of federal rule. With the immensity of the internet, one can imagine that there are many options to choose from with many sites meeting this simple parameter. There are further traits however which make an online gambling site better than adequate however and we have discovered a few for ourselves that we highly recommend to anyone residing in the state of Wisconsin.
A one-stop shopping center for every major form of gambling available from the comfort of one’s own home, Bovada is a terrific choice for Wisconsin residents, and its based in neighboring Canada. Bovada features the very best in online casino games, poker and sports betting, all of which is available to Wisconsin residents looking to play for and win real money. Having been in business for decades, this site initially began as the American site ‘Bodog’ only being forced to move to Montreal after changing interpretations of federal laws. They continue on today providing exemplary service to Americans who are looking for a legal venue to place their bets.
Bovada runs a streamlined service that is accessible from any computer or mobile device and boasts the industry’s tightest security, friendliest customer support and most consistent payouts. In fact, residents of the Badger State are able to collect on their winnings at their demand 24/7 to have a check mailed directly to their home address within four to seven business days. Whether you are looking to challenge a dealer in blackjack, take a tournament of Texas Hold ‘Em or place a winning bet on the Packers to win the big game, this online gambling site has you covered.