People have been gambling since the stone age, but placing bets on blackjack, craps and other casino games did not become legal in Wisconsin until the 1990s.
In early 1988, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was enacted by Congress, a bill that opened the door for legal Indian casinos. Prior to the passage of the law, numerous tribes owned casinos, although there were questions about their legality. In the early 1990s, Wisconsin tribal governments signed compact agreements outlining rules and regulations for operating Indian casinos.
In recent years, there’s been a flurry of new casino development at the Illinois-Wisconsin border. And the Menominee tribe in February expressed new optimism that its long-sought Kenosha County casino might win federal approval under the Trump administration.
