Wisconsin

What are bingo halls?

Bingo halls are just venues that offer games of bingo! Some bingo halls are just that- they host games of bingo, and nothing else. Other bingo halls have a day job, and only have bingo running some of the time! For example, your local bingo hall could even be a church, a social club, or a fire station! In Wisconsin, only non-profit organizations can hold bingo games, so often a charity will hold a game of bingo to raise money for their cause. If they have a suitable venue, they can host the game themselves, but many charities rely on either rented spaces or permanent bingo halls to run their fundraising games. Whether you play at a venue that's solely for bingo or a venue that has other purposes too, you're bound to find some similarities between them. Once the room is set up for a game of bingo, there will be tables and chairs for the players, and somewhere for the bingo caller to sit or stand where they can be clearly seen and heard. And of course, if there's bingo happening, there will be plenty of fun and excitement!

How does a bingo game work?

Bingo is one of those games that looks complicated, but that's just because it's fast. It's actually super simple, and once you know how it works, you'll be a bingo pro in no time. Here's how a basic game of bingo usually goes. Before the game, you'll need to get your bingo cards and find a seat, so it's best to be a little early. Your bingo card will be a 5x5 grid full of numbers between 1 and 75, with a free space in the middle. When the game is ready to begin, the bingo caller will announce what the winning pattern is- these are the squares on the grid you need to daub to win the game. The pattern could be anything- a line, a full house, a checkerboard... the possibilities are endless! Once everyone is ready, the game will begin! It's important that everyone is quiet while the game runs, because you don't want to miss a number! Daub the numbers on your card if they are called, and keep an eye on which boxes you need for the winning pattern. The first player to match the winning pattern must quickly shout BINGO to stop the game and win their prize!

How do I pick a bingo hall in Wisconsin?

Looking to play bingo in Wisconsin? You're going to need a bingo hall! Don't panic- finding somewhere to play is easy-peasy thanks to BingoPort, it's our job to find you a great selection of venues! All you have to do is choose which ones you'd like to go to. The first step to finding a bingo hall is location. You don't want to be looking at halls in Florida by mistake! On this page, you'll be able to choose your closest town or city. You can then see all the bingo halls nearest to you. Once you can see all your available options, how do you pick one to visit? Well, BingoPort has a listings page for each hall that gives you useful info like location, opening times, and facilities, as well as some general information about the hall and the area itself. Have a browse, see if any of the halls catch your fancy. Then all that's left to do is go play!

What makes a great bingo hall?

Nothing's better than finding a bingo hall you really love! But when looking at where you can play bingo in Wisconsin, how do you know which halls are the best? The trick is to find one that suits YOU. To see what each hall offers, take a look at its BingoPort listing page. Here you'll be able to see when the bingo games run, which is a big factor in finding a good hall (it's no good looking at a hall that only runs games while you're at work!). You can also see what facilities the venue offers, which may help you decide if you like the look of the place. Does it offer food? Parking? A smoking shelter? These things can turn a bingo night from drab to fab if they're what you're looking for. In Wisconsin, bingo must be played for charity, so see what kind of organizations the venue's games support. You might spot a charity that's dear to you- bingo is so much more fun when you know you're raising money for a good cause!

Everything you need to know about gambling in Wisconsin

Is gambling in Wisconsin legal? Well, the answer is... that depends. Some forms of gambling are legal within the state, but not all. There are some forms of gambling that are still not permitted within Wisconsin. The most obvious form of gambling in Wisconsin is casinos. Casinos are legal only if they are tribal casinos, as agreed under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and there are many such casinos within the state. These casinos can offer slot games, table games, video poker, and more, giving them quite a lot of freedom when it comes to which games to offer. Horse and dog racing is allowed, though off-track betting is not permitted. Interestingly, there are currently no active dog or horse racetracks in Wisconsin, despite betting on these events being legal. Now the one we love the most- bingo! Bingo is legal, as are lottery and raffle games, within the state of Wisconsin. They must be held by a non-profit organization, but they are permitted, and are popular. There is even a state lottery!

Interesting Facts

• Fancy a visit to Wisconsin? Almost 1/3 of all Americans live within 500 miles of the state.
• The Fox River in Wisconsin flows north, making it one of only 48 US rivers to do so. For context, there are more than 250,000 rivers in the US.
• As well as being known for dairy and beer, Wisconsin is one of the US's leading producers of ginseng. Ginseng is a root often consumed in tea form, and it is popular for its herbal properties.
• Popular doll Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, and she comes from the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin is known as the badger state, but it's not named after the animal, as such; miners used to dig themselves into holes to keep warm, and became known as "badgers". The state is named for the miners!

Towns in Wisconsin