Is it Legal to play poker in the Wisconsin state?
The provisions of Wisconsin Penal Code section 945.02 are to the effect that any person who makes bet is guilty of class B misdemeanor and subject to penal consequences. The law expressly outlaws certain forms of lotteries and other forms of gambling. In short, betting is outlawed under the Wisconsin laws. The issue of concern of most people is whether the laws also criminalize playing poker without betting for money.
Is playing poker online at home legal in Wisconsin State?
To answer this question legally, it is good to understand the meaning of the term bet. The term bet is defined variously and differently according to the various US states laws. Wisconsin penal code defines it to refer to the act of bargaining in which parties agree depending on the chance which may be accompanied by skill that one of the party which loses the game will lose something of value and the other party which wins will gain something of value.
The definition of bet in most states which outlaw betting impliedly outlaws the practice of betting when playing poker games. Most players for this game argue that playing poker should be legal because it is a game of skills and not chance. While most US state laws on betting do not include or mention the term skill, the Wisconsin penal code expressly mentions and outlaws betting even in games in which skill is required in playing.
Under the Wisconsin laws, there are some exceptions to the ban on gambling. The gambling games which are legal under the exceptions include raffles, some games of the bingo and some Indian casinos. Playing poker at pokerstars.com is not expressly authorized or mentioned by the Wisconsin laws. By extension, it can be noted that it is illegal even to play at home in Wisconsin state. Most people however do this and they are not arrested and prosecuted. Private poker games among buddies, colleague and friends are therefore illegal.
Although it is illegal, you can play poker games in Wisconsin state without being harassed by the law enforcement agencies. The law enforcers will act if you operate a backroom card club and in this case you can be arrested and prosecuted. Never try establishing poker cards game club in Wisconsin State because it is against the law.
Do casinos in Wisconsin offer poker games?
Though it is illegal to bet and play poker on FullTiltPoker in the Wisconsin state, most of the casinos are owned and operated by Native American Tribes most of whom love and enjoy playing poker. Some casinos are granted permits by the state to offer poker games. They in most cases offer the 3 or 4 card casino poker games. The larger resorts may however offer full poker rooms.
Is it legal to play poker online in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin state laws expressly outlaw transmission of bets using a wire communication facility. Playing poker online in Wisconsin is therefore illegal. Notwithstanding this, most Wisconsin residents play poker games online. There are however no records of persons who have been arrested and prosecuted for playing poker over the internet.