Wisconsin Horse Racing Betting
Online racebooks like TwinSpires and AmWager are the only way to bet on horse races in Wisconsin safely and legally.
In-person wagering is also legal in Wisconsin, but no race tracks or off-track betting facilities are in operation today. Fortunately, Wisconsin horse racing betting sites cover hundreds of tracks across the nation and worldwide.
That means fans located anywhere in Wisconsin can bet on horse races held at tracks like Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, Santa Anita Park, and many others.
Wisconsin Horse Racing Betting Sites
$200 Welcome BonusTwinSpires Offer Code: BET200
Void where prohibited. Terms and conditions apply. Offer for TwinSpires Racing only. See TwinSpires.com for details. Must be 18+ (21+ where applicable). For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
$150 Deposit BonusAmWager Promo Code: BUSA150
Promotional offer valid and continues until further notice.
Open to new AmWager account holders who have not previously opened an AmWager account. Individuals may only have one (1) AmWager account and may only qualify for a signup promotion one (1) time.
The First Deposit Match Bonus promotion applies to the first deposit made; any subsequent deposits will not apply.
The amount of the first deposit will determine the amount of the bonus and bets that must be placed to earn the bonus. For example, to qualify for the maximum bonus of $150 an initial deposit of $150 is required and total bets must equal $150 or more within 30 days of sign up. Cancelled wagers and refunded wagers are not eligible and will not be counted towards the promotion.
The total promotional wagering credits will be credited to the AmWager account in a single deposit within seven (7) business days of meeting the betting requirements for this promotion. Any promotional wagering credits deposited to a player’s account must be wagered and cannot be withdrawn from the account. Any winnings from those wagers are cash and can be withdrawn.
Any portion of the promotional credits unused expires after 30 days.
Account must remain in good standing to be eligible for all promotions. Returned deposits during the promotional period will cancel eligibility to receive promotional wagering credit.
Limit one promotional offer per household.
50% up to $300Iron Bets Racing Promo Code: BUSA
18/21+, T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Wisconsin does not regulate online horse racing betting, but the racebook apps recommended on this page hold licenses in other states.
For example, most Wisconsin horse racing betting sites have Oregon Racing Commission licenses. As a result, residents still benefit from regulation (secure funds and fair treatment) even though Wisconsin lacks a licensing regime for online racebooks.
More importantly, BettingUSA’s recommended horse racing betting sites in Wisconsin are headquartered in the USA.
Online Racebooks in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Horse Race Tracks
There are no active horse race tracks in Wisconsin.
Although Wisconsin voters approved pari-mutuel wagering in 1987, live horse racing never took off. Instead, the legislature issued five greyhound permits in 1989.
Dairyland Greyhound Park opened in 1990, and four additional dog racing tracks opened by 1991.
Unfortunately for Wisconsin’s race track operators, tribal gaming also kicked off around the same time. Eleven Native American tribes signed compacts with the state to operate retail casinos in 1991 and 1992, leading to immediate competition for residents’ gambling dollars.
Each of Wisconsin’s greyhound race tracks closed one by one due to financial difficulties. Dairyland Greyhound Park held on the longest but closed in 2009.
Horse racing fans looking for the trackside wagering experience will need to head across state borders to tracks in neighboring Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois.
Wisconsin Off-Track Betting
Wisconsin does not have any off-track betting facilities (OTBs). At least two tribal casinos had OTBs in the past, but both have since closed their off-track wagering areas.
With no race tracks or OTBs, Wisconsin has zero in-person wagering venues. Therefore, online horse racing betting is the only option for pari-mutuel wagering in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Online Horse Racing Betting Law
Despite the lack of active race tracks, horse racing and parimutuel wagering are still legal in Wisconsin. Chapter 562 of the Wisconsin Statutes outlines the rules for conducting races and accepting wagers.
State law permits simultaneous wagering only for licensed race tracks (there are none) that host a minimum number of live race days each year.
State law does not address advance deposit wagering, but WI Stat § 562.211 appears to prohibit wagers that take place anywhere other than at an authorized racetrack.
Nonetheless, major racing betting sites do accept customers from Wisconsin. The legal justification for doing so is unclear, but it’s likely due to two reasons:
- Most Wisconsin horse racing betting sites have Oregon Racing Commission licenses, which allow them to offer advance deposit wagering in any state that doesn’t expressly prohibit it.
- Wisconsin law does not explicitly outlaw “online” horse racing betting.
In any case, the online racebooks listed near the top of this page are based in the US and operate openly in Wisconsin without issue.
Wisconsin Horse Racing Betting FAQ
Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of BettingUSA.com. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.