Wisconsin Poker Guide 2023 – Compare the Best Real Money Poker Sites in WI

In the state of Wisconsin, online poker is not yet regulated. Fortunately for poker fans in the state, you can […]

Last Updated 9th, March 2023

In the state of Wisconsin, online poker is not yet regulated. Fortunately for poker fans in the state, you can still play safe and protected through offshore poker sites that we have reviewed and recommended below.

On this page, you will find out how quickly and easy it can be to play online poker for real money in Wisconsin, exploring all the different avenues you can go down. The offshore poker operators we have listed have a range of routes for Wisconsin online poker players – whether you are a tournament recreational or a real money cash game pro, we have poker sites for you.

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The Latest Wisconsin Poker News

  • 2021 – Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers includes online gambling and sports betting in his state budget, causing a huge reaction on both sides. He points to the opportunity for more revenue and jobs as the reason.
  • 2020 – Wisconsin lawmakers follow many other states across the US by bringing in a bill to legalize online sports betting. While there has been no progression, this bill could lead to more online gambling, like online poker.
  • 2019 – The Ho-Chunk Nation can now put electronic video poker machines in their casinos, despite the state opposing it. This drove more discussions about the future of legalizing online poker in Wisconsin.

Reviews of the Best Wisconsin Poker Sites

This section will look at Wisconsin’s best online poker sites. Each poker operator is an offshore licensed poker client, providing US players a safe online poker option. Let’s review the six best places for Wisconsin poker players to get involved in online poker.

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Is Online Poker Legal in Wisconsin?

WI online poker players are lucky to have safe and reliable offshore poker options that offer great cash games and online tournaments. These offshore poker sites are licensed and regulated online poker options in Wisconsin. Their regulated licenses are gained outside the United States but allow online poker players from Wisconsin.

Online poker is currently unregulated in Wisconsin, unlike online sports betting, which gained legalization in 2021. A bill has been touted around online gambling for Wisconsin and is expected to be introduced soon. This would grant online gambling throughout the Badger state.

The legal gambling age in WI is currently 21, maintaining the same age for land-based casinos and poker rooms. If a person is 18, they can still play in charity gambling events or the Wisconsin state lottery but cannot play in a land-based Wisconsin casino.

Online Poker Legislation for Wisconsin

Compared to other US states, the gambling and online poker legislation for Wisconsin is particularly harsh, having regulated it strictly. Poker is allowed in Wisconsin casinos, poker rooms, and riverboat casinos, but gaining new licenses is difficult.

  • Offshore poker – Online poker in Wisconsin is allowed at licensed and regulated offshore poker sites like the ones referenced in our review.
  • Live poker – Wisconsin provides the opportunity to play live poker at its casinos and riverboats, of which are 12 in the Badger State. If you are over 21, you can sit and play poker in these venues.
  • Home-based poker – Wisconsin has section 945, which limits anyone from operating a home poker game for any money or valuable replacement. There have been exceptions for private poker games where no one makes any more money other than their poker winnings.
  • Online poker – The Wisconsin Gaming Commission maintains that online poker is unregulated, but there are progressing discussions around online gambling. Currently, online sports betting is legal but is the only form of online gambling in WI.

When Will Online Poker be Legal in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin has not made any moves to regulate online poker yet, although the move is in consideration. In 2022, discussions progressed around the legalization of online gambling, which included online casino and online poker in the state. A bill has been submitted but has only been reviewed and not approved.

As of now, online poker remains unregulated in Wisconsin. Hopes of regulation are growing as the state looks to use online poker in Wisconsin to boost jobs and the state economy. People support the movement as it would provide more protection for online poker players in Wisconsin.

Tax on Online Poker Winnings in Wisconsin

Like other states, Wisconsin has no direct taxation on poker winnings alone. However, there are rulings for gambling winnings, and players will have their online poker winnings taxed in the same fashion. It is important to note that money won on offshore poker sites is not taxable.

As of 2023, the tax rate for gambling winnings is a flat 24%, and you must fill in a W-2G form when declaring this income.

Regulated Poker Sites vs. Offshore Poker Sites

Wisconsin poker provides players with various offshore poker options with different operators, tournaments, bonuses, and loyalty programs. There are enormous differences between online poker players playing on a regulated online poker site and an offshore one. Those include:

  • Taxation – When playing on regulated poker sites, you will face the standard gambling winnings tax rate of 24% in Wisconsin, but offshore poker sites are tax-free.
  • Title variety – Regulated sides must offer their poker games to a particular state or region, whereas offshore poker sites can merge with a broader audience.
  • Bonuses and promotions – WI poker sites will offer more bonuses and promotions than state-limited casino sites.
  • Location restrictions – Offshore poker sites in Wisconsin can cross borders and continents, providing a bigger player pool and ensuring 24/7 poker games.

Will Wisconsin be a Ring-Fenced or Shared Player Pool?

As online poker has yet to be regulated in Wisconsin, whether they will be ring-fenced or have a shared player pool is unknown. WI poker players can only play online poker with players from the Badger state or can play across borders.

How to Play Online Poker in Wisconsin?

Are you ready to get on the online poker felt in Wisconsin? We have outlined some easy-to-follow steps to get you in action in minutes, using the popular offshore poker site BetOnline as an example.

Step 1 – Create Your Account

To start, you must make your account. Go to the online homepage and click on the “Join Now” button to begin the sign-up. You can enter your details onto a page with a few entry fields.

Bovada Poker Room

Step 2 – Confirm Your Email Address

You must confirm basic information in this part, including your name, location, phone number, and email address. After you confirm your chosen password, you can opt-in to confirm your email address.

BetOnline Registration

Step 3 – Make Your First Deposit

After getting your account registered and verified, you can make a deposit. You should go to the cashier section and pick your preferred payment method. It can be a bank transfer or cryptocurrency, and do not forget to get your

forget to get your welcome bonus.

BetOnline Deposit Options

Step 4 – Jump into The Wisconsin Online Poker Games

After making an account, you can then jump into the poker action. With funds in your account, you can find your perfect poker game or variant and enjoy the stake the poker bankroll is ready for. Whether you are a No-Limit Hold’em fan or prefer the four-card action of PLO, it is all available on BetOnline.

Types of Poker Games available at Wisconsin Poker Sites

There are various online poker games for Wisconsin poker fans, with the three most popular listed below.

No-Limit Texas Hold’em

This game is called “the Cadillac of poker” by Doyle Brunson, one of the best players ever. It is easy to learn but the most unnerving poker game due to the ability to bet without a limit on any street. You are trying to build the best hand and win the pot, with action ensuing at any card turn.

Pot-Limit Omaha

While very similar to No-Limit Texas Hold’em, the stark differences are two things: firstly, you have four cards and must use two to make a hand, and secondly, you can only bet the limit of the pot. The increased cards and limited bet sizes make it a very action-packed and fun game for recreational and pros alike.

Limit Hold’em

Limit Hold’em is one of the oldest poker variants, with players able to bet a certain amount of big blinds on each street. The game has less of an edge for good players and relies on your ability to read players and make decisions based on psychology.

Poker Site Bonuses available

Wisconsin online poker sites offer bonuses, promotions, rakeback, and loyalty options. There are different forms of bonuses and reload promotions, and each poker site has been reviewed below.

Welcome Bonuses

Welcome poker sites use bonuses to increase player pools on their platforms. They vary from site to site but often reward the player when signing up and making an initial deposit. Usually, it can match their deposit but can come in other forms, like freeroll tickets or a casino bonus.

Reload Bonuses

Online poker sites will introduce reload bonuses to ensure players that are already on the site keep depositing. Many offshore poker sites available to Wisconsin poker players have this bonus promotion. It will usually consist of a percentage getting matched by the poker site when a player deposits. There will be conditions like how much a player plays online poker or how many loyalty points they earn.

Rakeback Scheme

Online poker players in Wisconsin might value the rakeback scheme of an offshore poker site compared to other bonuses or rewards. A rakeback scheme is how poker sites reward loyalty by giving back a certain amount of rake the player has paid. This can come in cash, bonus currency, or tournament tickets.

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