Attorney's Note

Under the Wisconsin Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class I felonyup to 3 years 6 monthsup to $10,000
For details, see § 939.50
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Terms Used In Wisconsin Statutes 945.03

  • Following: when used by way of reference to any statute section, means the section next following that in which the reference is made. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Person: includes all partnerships, associations and bodies politic or corporate. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • State: when applied to states of the United States, includes the District of Columbia, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the several territories organized by Congress. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
   (1m)    Whoever intentionally does any of the following is engaged in commercial gambling and, except as provided in sub. (2m), is guilty of a Class I felony:
      (a)    Participates in the earnings of or for gain operates or permits the operation of a gambling place; or
      (b)    For gain, receives, records or forwards a bet or offer to bet or, with intent to receive, record or forward a bet or offer to bet, possesses facilities to do so; or
      (c)    For gain, becomes a custodian of anything of value bet or offered to be bet; or
      (d)    Conducts a lottery where both the consideration and the prize are money, or with intent to conduct such a lottery, possesses facilities to do so; or
      (e)    Sets up for use for the purpose of gambling or collects the proceeds of any gambling machine; or
      (f)    For gain, maintains in this state any record, paraphernalia, tickets, certificates, bills, slip, token, paper, writing or other device used, or to be used, or adapted, devised or designed for use in gambling; or
      (g)    For gain, uses a wire communication facility for the transmission or receipt of information assisting in the placing of a bet or offer to bet on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of a bet or offer to bet.
   (2m)   If the violation of sub. (1m) involves the possession, operation, setup, collection of proceeds, participation in earnings or maintenance of, or involves acting as the custodian of anything of value bet or offered to be bet on, not more than 5 video gambling machines on premises for which a Class “B” or “Class B” license or permit has been issued under ch. 125, the person may be penalized as follows:
      (a)    If the violation involves one video gambling machine, the person may be required to forfeit not more than $500.
      (b)    If the violation involves 2 video gambling machines, the person may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000.
      (c)    If the violation involves 3 video gambling machines, the person may be required to forfeit not more than $1,500.
      (d)    If the violation involves 4 video gambling machines, the person may be required to forfeit not more than $2,000.
      (e)    If the violation involves 5 video gambling machines, the person may be required to forfeit not more than $2,500.