US iGaming Map 2026: Wisconsin Trails Behind as Michigan Hits Record Revenues

The boundary between a legal gaming experience and a total ban in the United States often runs right through a lake or along a highway. Residents of Racine County, Wisconsin, look across the water every day toward Michigan, where mobile gambling has long been part of daily life. Eight US states have now paved the way for legal online casinos, including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Michigan. Wisconsin, however, remains trapped in a legal time capsule dating back to 1993. Back then, voters added a clause to the state constitution that prohibits the legislature from authorizing gambling in any form.

This does not mean there is no gambling in Wisconsin at all. Existing casinos like the Potawatomi in Milwaukee or the proposed $360 million Hard Rock casino by the Menominee in Kenosha operate under tribal compacts negotiated through the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). The state itself has little power to open the market for online providers without amending the constitution through another referendum. This rigid stance leads to a massive drain of tax revenue to neighboring states, while illegal offshore providers fill the void without offering any player protection.

Numbers and facts

A look at the raw numbers illustrates the economic scale. The Michigan Gaming Control Board reported an Adjusted Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) of a staggering $290.8 million for the month of August. This represents a 17.6 percent increase compared to August 2025. In Michigan, a total of 15 licensed commercial and tribal operators share this lucrative market. In stark contrast, Wisconsin's online casino market effectively stands at zero.

Illinois, another neighbor, follows a hybrid approach. It has allowed online sports betting since 2020, but online casinos repeatedly fail in the legislature. An Internet Gaming Act filed in February by Representative Edgar Gonzalez Jr., which proposed a 25 percent tax, never even reached a vote. Instead, Illinois has increased the burden on sportsbooks, adding a 25-cent tax on the first 20 million wagers per year and 50 cents thereafter. This regulatory instability deters investors and shows how arduous the process is in the US.

Background

The legal situation in Wisconsin is currently extremely tense. Governor Tony Evers signed Act 247 on April 9 to at least allow mobile sports betting through the tribes. However, before the first bets can be placed, federal authorities must review the compacts, a process expected to take at least a year. Furthermore, the Brown County Taxpayers Association and Citizens Defending Liberty filed a lawsuit in Waukesha County on August 5. They argue that the law illegally bypasses the 1993 constitutional amendment.

"Wisconsin’s constitution says the Legislature 'may not authorize gambling in any form,' then carves out a few exceptions: the state lottery, charitable bingo, charitable raffles and pari mutuel wagering on races." - Excerpt from the Wisconsin State Constitution

Political sentiment is also divided, according to a Marquette Law School poll from February: 64 percent of registered voters oppose legalizing online sports betting, with only 34 percent in favor. Online casinos are not even part of the current debate, further widening the gap with states like Michigan.

Why it matters for German players

For players in Germany, the situation in Wisconsin may seem like a distant, bureaucratic world, but parallels exist. Germany also faced a regulatory patchwork for a long time until the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021) created a federal basis. Anyone wishing to play legally online in Germany must ensure the provider is listed on the so-called Whitelist of the Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL).

Unlike the US, where tax rates and rules fluctuate wildly from state to state, Germany offers a strict but uniform framework with a €1,000 monthly deposit limit via the LUGAS system and a €1 stake limit per spin on slots. German players should avoid overseas providers without a GGL license, as there is no legal recourse in case of disputes, exactly as the report describes for the residents of Racine County.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

Developments in the US show that regulation is the only way to combat the black market. German GGL-licensed casinos benefit from the legal certainty that states like Wisconsin currently lack. While lawsuits block progress there, German operators can act in a stable environment as long as they meet the strict player protection requirements. The GGL meticulously monitors compliance with these rules, which strengthens user trust and increases the channeling rate in the long term.