Online Poker in Wisconsin - Best WI Online Poker Sites 2025
Politically, Wisconsin has a liberal base of citizens, so we feel that there's nothing inherently stopping it from eventually licensing online poker. Nevertheless, regulated real money online poker in Wisconsin has not been on the table yet, and that doesn't seem likely to change any time soon.
Offshore sites have stepped in big time to fill the void left by the lack of a regulated gambling market. Considering the size of the state, these US-facing sites might actually be better options anyway than some ring-fenced site that the state could potentially offer.
There are plenty of online poker operators that accept customers from Wisconsin, including the fantastic Ignition Poker. Read on to find out more about Wisconsin online poker and where you can play it.
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2. Online Poker Legal? 3. Best WI Poker Sites 4. How to Play Online Poker
5.1. Game Selection 5.2. Cashier Methods 5.3. Bonuses & Promos 5.4. Rakeback
6.1. Ignition 6.2. SB Poker/BOL 6.3. Bovada 6.4. ACR Poker 6.5. CoinPoker 6.6. Everygame 6.7. SwCPoker 6.8. Nitrobetting
7.1. B&M Poker 7.2. Gambling History 7.3. Famous Poker Players 7.4. Alternatives to WI Online Poker
Top Online Poker Sites in Wisconsin
Below is a list of the great Wisconsin online poker options available to you. Select any one of these rooms, and you'll be assured of an excellent experience.
Is Online Poker Legal in Wisconsin?
Not only have there never been charges filed against an online poker player in Wisconsin, but the authorities seem to be reluctant to go after any regular player for engaging in any gambling game whether over the internet or in a brick-and-mortar establishment.
It's a different story for those actually running illicit gaming enterprises. The state treats commercial gambling as a Class I felony, which carries the risk of a fine as high as $10,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to 3.5 years. Even simply permitting a property to be used for commercial gambling could result in a fine of $10,000 and jail time of up to 9 months.
And the federal anti-gambling laws, like the UIGEA, are also directed squarely at the owners and operators of the gaming sites, not ordinary players. You need not have any legal fears about playing online poker in Wisconsin.
Best Wisconsin Online Poker Sites
It's important that you only sign up for poker sites that are legitimate rather than dishonest. We've done a lot of work to evaluate all the companies that are available with an eye toward reputability and integrity. Below are the results of our painstaking investigations.
- Ignition Casino - Best bonus clearance + most traffic.
- SB Poker - Bad Beat Jackpots, leaderboards, contests, other promos.
- BetOnline - Excellent mobile poker software.
- Bovada - Multiple forms of gaming (poker, casino, sports, racing).
- ACR Poker - Lucrative tournament schedule and frequent series.
- Coin Poker - Best site for crypto-currency enthusiasts.
- Everygame - Many bonuses and promotions.
- SwCPoker - Many poker formats (NLHE, PLO, PLO8, Razz, HORSE, and more).
- Nitrobetting - Bitcoin games, in-browser software.
- BlackChip Poker - ACR sister site, option if you already have an ACR account.
- Juicy Stakes - Rakeback, reloads, rake races, other promotions.
- True Poker - Secondary room on same network as ACRPoker and BlackChip.
How to Play Online Poker in Wisconsin
It's easy to get started with WI online poker. We've listed step-by-step instructions below for signing up at our #1 rated site, Ignition Casino. If you select another room, the process should be basically similar although a few of the steps might differ a bit.
- Follow any of our signup links to Ignition Poker.
- Complete the form that appears in your browser. Be sure to enter accurate info because later on when you request your first payout, you'll probably have to verify your identity, and any discrepancies could lead to account closure.
- Click on the button labeled “Register” near the bottom of the page.
- You might have to verify your phone number. Ignition will send you a text message containing a code, and then you'll have to enter the code into the space provided on the Ignition website.
- Now that your new account is ready, it's time to browse over to the cashier and fund your account via whatever method you deem most convenient (we highly recommend Bitcoin).
How We Evaluate Wisconsin Online Poker Sites – Choosing the Best Internet Poker Room
It would be a mistake to think that all WI online poker room are identical. In fact, they each have particular areas in which they're strong and others in which they might have room for improvement. We've evaluated all available internet poker sites according to a set of criteria so that we can be as objective as possible
Games Offered and Stakes Spread
There are different formats of poker offered by online platforms, including popular ones, such as NL Hold'em, PLO, and PLO/8, and more obscure variants, like HORSE, Razz, and Open Face Chinese. Even at sites that spread the same types of poker, there are differences in the blind levels or buyins available.
There are other idiosyncrasies in the formats of poker offered. Such game types as lottery-style SNGs, fast-fold cash games, satellite tournaments, freerolls, and more exist but only at some sites and not others.
Deposit and Payout Options
You can make your deposits and withdrawals via old-school methods, like checks and credit cards, at most online poker sites. However, they all also support newer methods of transacting, like Bitcoin.
With Bitcoin, you can benefit from speedy payouts and low fees. If you aren't yet sure how exactly to take advantage of Bitcoin, then you can check out this guide to Bitcoin and online poker.
Bonuses + Other Promos
Quite a few destinations for WI online poker will grant you a bonus upon making your first deposit. Other promotions await you too, like rake races, leaderboards, free tournament tickets, and more.
Some of the promos are valid for a limited time only. Others are ongoing affairs that you can use to pad your bankroll over an extended period.
Online Poker Rakeback
Rakeback is potentially one of the most profitable types of online poker bonus. It's a recurring rebate on the rake you pay while playing, and unlike most promotions, its value is uncapped and is limited only by the volume of hands you grind through. We're such big fans of rakeback that we have included it in the name of our site, Professional Rakeback.
Here are the Wisconsin rakeback poker rooms and details about their rakeback deals:
- ACR Poker – 27% rakeback (on demand)
- CoinPoker – 33% rakeback (weekly, for holders of CHP token)
- Everygame – 36% rakeback (daily)
- SwCPoker – up to 50% rakeback (depends on play volume)
- Nitrobetting – up to 35% rakeback (monthly, depends play volume)
- BlackChip Poker – 27% rakeback (on demand)
- Juicy Stakes Poker – 36% rakeback (weekly)
- True Poker – 27% rakeback (on demand)
Reviews of Online Poker Sites for Wisconsin
If you're still undecided as to which Wisconsin online poker provider would be right for you, then you can check out our reviews of them below. We've compiled info on each of them to give you an accurate picture of what to expect.
Ignition Poker
Deposit Methods
Credit Card, Voucher Code, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, MatchPay
Pros
- High player liquidity
- Bonuses clear rapidly
- Games are easy to beat
Cons
- No seat or table selection
Review
Ignition is the largest place for internet poker that's open to Americans. Ignition offers numerous cash game formats, including NL Hold'em, PLO, and PLO/8 with blinds up to $10/$20. Limit Hold'em, fast-fold Zone Poker, sit-and-gos, lotto-style Jackpot SNGs, and multi-table tournaments are also present at Ignition.
One popular tournament is a weekly event featuring a $150k prize pool. There are also regular series with tens of millions in prize money.
All play at Ignition is anonymous, and seats and tables are assigned by a Quick Seat function. This means you can't track players over the long term, and you can't bumhunt either. Some dislike these aspects of Ignition, but it does lead to butter-soft games because inexperienced players feel comfortable.
Ignition Poker is available for download on any Windows or Mac device. Users who prefer to utilize other hardware, like mobile devices and tablets, can play on the instant-play web-based version. Visit Ignition today and deposit via crypto to receive a 150% poker bonus up to $1,500.
SB Poker/BetOnline
Deposit Methods
Credit Cards, Person to Person, Money Orders, Bank Wire, Cashiers Check, Bitcoin, Avalanche, Binance, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polygon, Ripple, Shiba Inu, Solana, Stellar, Tether, Tron, USD Coin
Pros
- Superior mobile poker software
- Leaderboards, contests, bad beat jackpots, RISE rewards, and more
- Play poker, enjoy casino games, and bet on sports and the horses
Cons
- Rake is high
SB Poker and partner BetOnline together represent the third-largest poker destination online for U.S. players. SB Poker offers numerous cash games, including NL Hold'em, PLO, PLO/8, 5 Card PLO, and 6 Card PLO. Fast-fold Boost Poker, sit-and-gos, lotto-inspired Windfall Poker, and multi-table tournaments are also popular at SB Poker.
Also on offer are Bad Beat Jackpots with an individual jackpot pool for each blind level in NLHE and PLO ring games. Cash game and sit-and-go leaderboards can also boost your bankroll with regularity.
SB Poker and BOL are available to download on any Windows or Mac system. Mobile users who utilize iOS or Android devices can also access an excellent mobile application to play. Visit SB Poker today to receive a poker bonus equal to 100% of your first deposit up to $1,000.
Bovada
Deposit Methods
Credit Card, Voucher Code, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, MatchPay
Pros
- The most active players
- Poker, casino, sports betting, and racetrack betting from one account
- In continuous operation since 2011
Cons
- Poker bonus on the small side
Review
Bovada is a partner of Ignition, so the poker tables and formats are identical at both sites. The major benefit to choosing Bovada is that it offers a sportsbook and racebook, which are unavailable at Ignition. You can place wagers on your favorite sports, like the NFL, NBA, MLB, and much more, as well as races from 100+ tracks around the globe.
The poker software here is available to download on any PC or Mac system, and you can use the browser-based client to play on any other modern computing device. You can take advantage of a poker welcome bonus equal to 100% of your initial deposit amount up to $500, which is admittedly smaller than the similar Ignition Poker bonus. The casino and sportsbook offer additional deposit bonuses that may be worth exploring.
ACR Poker
Deposit Methods
Credit Cards, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, Money Transfer
Pros
- Best tournament schedule
- $10 free no deposit bonus (bonus code PRB10FREE)
Cons
- No practice mode chips
Review
ACR Poker accepts action from players across the United States, including Wisconsin. ACR is well recognized for offering a plethora of multi-table tournaments across all buy-in levels. ACR offers recurring tournament series and special events, like the VENOM: a tourney that usually features a prize pool of $5+ million.
Of course, numerous cash games are also present along with plenty of SNGs and lottery-style Jackpot SNGs.
ACR Poker is available to download on any Windows or Mac device. There is also a mobile version for iOS and Android. Visit ACR Poker today and use our exclusive bonus code PRB10FREE to receive a $10 bonus with no deposit required. Upon making your first deposit you will get a 100% bonus worth up to $2,000.
Coin Poker
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, CHP, Polygon, BNB
Pros
- Highest trafficked crypto-currency poker site
- 33% rakeback possible
Cons
- Only a few poker variants
Review
There are plenty of crypto poker sites available on the internet, but CoinPoker has emerged as the largest of them. The tables and tournaments here are denominated only using USDT (Tether), but you can use a few additional cryptocurrencies to make deposits and withdrawals.
The only games offered are NLHE, PLO and 5 Card Omaha. Check out the sit-and-go, tournament, and cash game leaderboards to add extra value back into your bankroll.
CoinPoker offers four versions of its poker software: Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. The first deposit bonus is 150% up to $2,000. Another perk here is that you can get 33% rakeback every week for maintaining a balance of CoinPoker's proprietary crypto, CHP.
Everygame
Deposit Methods
Credit Card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Lightning Bitcoin, Litecoin
Pros
- Many and varied promos, like rake races, reload bonuses, loyalty tiers, et cetera
- 36% rakeback
Cons
- Outdated software
Review
Everygame isn't quite as large as the other rooms discussed above, but the value here lies in the excellent promotions and extras offered. 36% rakeback is standard, and payments are issued daily. Other promotions include weekly rake races, reload bonuses, overlay tournaments, and a loyalty program for the highest-volume grinders.
Everygame Poker is only available to download on Windows PCs. Users who wish to use other hardware can access the full poker room using an instant-play version of the software. You can receive a poker bonus equal to 200% of your first deposit up to $1,000.
SwCPoker
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin
Pros
- Plenty of poker variants to choose from
- No-rake microstakes
Cons
- Few active players
Review
SwC stands out for the extensive variety of poker games it spreads, including NLHE, PLO, Open Face Chinese, Razz, Mixed Games, Draw Games, and more. You can play at rake-free micro-stakes tables up to about $0.10/$0.20, and there are multiple daily freerolls to help boost your bankroll.
SwCPoker can be played through any HTML5 browser. You can also download the poker client on Mac, PC, and Android systems. You won't receive any deposit bonus here, but you can earn up to 50% rakeback as you play via the Krill rewards program.
Nitrobetting
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, USD Coin, BNB
Pros
- Browser-based gaming that works on almost every platform
- Monthly rakeback up to 35%
Cons
- Only NLHE and PLO games
Review
Nitrobetting runs its games in fractions of a BTC although you can deposit and withdraw through a few other cryptos. You can enjoy the poker at Nitrobetting using almost any laptop, desktop, tablet, or smartphone through any web browser. There's no welcome bonus for poker, but you'll have the opportunity to earn rakeback between 10% and 35% depending on your monthly volume.
Facts About Wisconsin's Poker Industry
The sections below will aim to provide information regarding various Wisconsin poker-related topics, like live gambling options, the history of poker and gambling in the state, and famous players from America's Dairyland.
Live Poker
Wisconsin has a plethora of land-based gambling although there aren't any commercial casinos. Luckily, the tribes in Wisconsin pick up the slack, and there are more than two dozen tribal casinos. With that though, there hasn’t been as much poker action as one would expect. Much of this likely is because of the proximity to Chicago and the large and established gambling industry in said city.
There still are good games to be found in Wisconsin though. Perhaps the most notable venue for live cards in the state is the Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee, which closed its poker section during COVID but reopened it in a new room in May 2024.
At Potawatomi, you'll encounter 15 tables dealing low-stakes NL and Limit Hold'em every day. Occasional games of PLO also pop up. In the past, Potawatomi hosted major poker series, like the WSOP Circuit and the Mid-States Poker Tour, and there's no reason to suspect that the new room won't feature such events going forward.
History of Wisconsin Gambling
In 1893, Hurley hosted 60 saloons – an amazing total for a town with a population of just over 2,000. This trade continued into the 20th century and the Prohibition era. The saloons were converted into “soft-drink parlors,” but they served harder stuff upon request, and there was often a card game or two occurring in their back rooms.
Another type of gambling that appeared was slot machines, particularly in Elkhart Lake resorts. Local police ignored these infractions, but the state got involved and started to raid these properties in 1930. By 1945, slot gaming had been basically stamped out.
In order to permit most forms of legalized real money games, Wisconsinites had to amend the constitution, which still contained a blanket ban on gambling. The first game to pass this hurdle was charitable bingo, which was authorized in 1973. Next came charitable raffles in 1977, and the Wisconsin Lottery arrived in 1987.
In the same year, on-track, pari-mutuel betting on horse, dog, and snowmobile races was authorized. Of the three types of racing, only dog racing has actually materialized within Wisconsin. However, the last greyhound racing facility closed in 2009, so this form of wagering, while still legal, can't be found within state borders.
In the late '80s, a lot of legal wrangling commenced between state leaders and tribal groups that wished to set up gaming casinos. There were a few setbacks, but by 1992, the state had signed compacts with 11 tribes, and the first casinos opened up shortly thereafter.
Beginning in 2021, the state and Indian tribes began the process of amending their gaming compacts to permit sports betting. This is progressing at a slow pace - as of August 2024, only six tribal casinos are authorized to host sportsbooks.
Famous Poker Players From Wisconsin
Wisconsin has produced its fair share of notable poker pros, like Joe Kuether, Tony “Bond18” Dunst, and Amit Makhija. However, one name stands above all others from America's Dairyland: Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Hellmuth has a record 17 WSOP bracelets. Among Phil's non-WSOP accomplishments were a fourth place finish in the 2016 Super High Roller Bowl in Las Vegas, where he secured fourth place and a $1.6 million payday, a win in a 2022 heads-up match against Scott Seiver, during which Phil scored $800,000, and a first place result in the 2005 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, good for $500,000.
In all, Phil has amassed live poker tourney earnings of almost $30 million: the most of any player from Wisconsin. In 2007, Hellmuth was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.
Of course, Hellmuth's record as captured in results and stats is only a part of the picture. Equally noteworthy is his reputation as “The Poker Brat.”
Complaining about bad beats, insulting his opponents, showboating, charging insanely high markup for shares in his events, and other ego-boosting antics have made his name a byword for arrogance and poor sportsmanship. We concede that he appears to have calmed down in recent years, but some of his past stunts, like showing up to the World Series dressed as Caesar, have been truly epic in their grandiosity.
Alternatives to Registering Your Poker Account in the State of Wisconsin
Perhaps you're fortunate enough to have another address in a nearby state, be it a business office, vacation getaway, second apartment, family home, etc. If so, then you may have other online poker options available. Here's a list of the states that border Wisconsin and Professional Rakeback's review of each: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio. To gain more info on the internet poker environment for the United States as a whole, check out our U.S.A. online poker guide for Americans.
The subject of online poker in Wisconsin is one that many people are ignorant of. You can help spread knowledge about the game we love by sharing this page with any of your friends, acquaintances, and family members whom you feel could benefit from it.
Summary of Online Poker in Wisconsin
Those who wish to play online poker in Wisconsin have nothing standing in their way. The state's anti-gambling laws are never used to go after regular players. Choose a responsible Wisconsin online poker room, and begin your online card playing journey today.
Responsible Gaming
We here at Professional Rakeback are aware of the importance of responsible gaming. If you find yourself playing so much that you experience personal and/or financial distress, then it might be time to solicit outside assistance. Check out the following Wisconsin problem gambling resources:
- Gamblers Anonymous
- National Problem Gambling Helpline
- Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services Gambling Disorder page
Frequently Asked Questions
Online poker in Wisconsin is by no means a simple topic. If you have questions that we haven't yet addressed, then look below in our FAQ for possible answers.
No, there are no Wisconsin-licensed internet poker solutions. This is because the state has not enacted any online poker legalization bill. Not only that, but there has never been a serious attempt in the legislature to pass any such law.
Yes, playing online poker is, for all intents and purposes, legal in the State of Wisconsin. There have been judgments in the past that poker is disallowed by WI law, but all of the state's anti-gambling laws have only ever been used to prosecute people for offline offenses. There has never been any attempt to use these statutes to go after anyone playing poker in the virtual realm. Thus, you're totally safe from legal persecution if you elect to log on to your computer and enjoy poker on the internet.
At the federal level too, you have nothing to worry about. The various national laws that allegedly criminalize online gaming (but there's some doubt about this) deal entirely with those running and providing the games, not ordinary players.
Yes, Pokerstars transacts legally in Wisconsin. However, its offerings in The Badger State are limited to play money games.
The reason for this is that the company, in order to clear itself of the Black Friday charges filed against it in 2011, agreed to a settlement whereby it pledged to not offer internet gaming in the United States except in jurisdictions where it is explicitly licensed to do so.
Thus, PokerStars only offers real money poker in a handful of states where it holds a license from the legal authorities, and Wisconsin is not one of them.
The legal reasoning employed by Global Poker holds that its sweepstakes poker model protects it from being found liable under federal and Wisconsin anti-gambling legislation. We don't think that this line of reasoning is very compelling however. We don't have enough space in this FAQ to get into the particulars of this subject, but you can read this Global Poker review for more info on this topic.
Yes, nearly all internet poker firms now offer a way to play from mobile devices. In some cases, this takes the form of dedicated apps that you can download to your phone or tablet. At other sites, there's a web platform that you can log in to from a wide range of systems, including mobile systems.
Additional Resources
You can learn more about gambling for real money in Wisconsin by following the below links:
We strive to maintain this information and update it frequently with our research. However, we are not immune to making mistakes or omitting information that you, dear reader, may find of use. If you have any further questions not addressed in this guide or have noted any discrepancies or inaccuracies we urge you to contact us with your questions and concerns so that we may swiftly address them!
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