Wis. Stat. § 563.03 — WI Code / Chapter 563 / Section 563.03
Definitions.
Status: in_force

In this chapter:

(1) “Adult family home” has the meaning given in s. 50.01 (1) .

(1m) “Bingo” means a game of chance in which players pay a consideration in order to participate, in which 75 numbered objects are available for selection, and those objects actually selected are selected on a random basis, and in which each player participates by means of cards sold, rented or used only at the time and place of the game, each card containing 5 rows of 5 spaces each, each space printed with a number from 1 to 75, except the central space, which is marked “FREE”. Winners are determined and prizes awarded on the basis of possessing a bingo card on which some combination of numbers are printed and conform to the numbered objects selected at random based on a predetermined winning arrangement. “Bingo” as used in this chapter does not include a game using free cards and donated prizes, if any, for which no payment of consideration is made by participants, regardless of whether the host or sponsor of the game pays consideration to another person in exchange for the prizes, supplies, equipment, or logistical support for the game.

(2) “Bingo occasion” means a single gathering or session at which a series of successive bingo games is played.

(3) “Bingo supplies and equipment” means all cards, boards, sheets, markers, pads or other supplies, devices or equipment designed for use in the play of bingo.

(4e) “Calendar” means a table or register of days covering not less than one nor more than 12 calendar months that entitles the purchaser to one entry in each drawing in a calendar raffle.

(4m) “Calendar raffle” means a raffle for which a drawing is held and a prize awarded on each date specified in a calendar.

(4s) “Community-based residential facility” has the meaning given in s. 50.01 (1g) .

(5) “Department” means the department of administration.

(5m) “Division of gaming” means the division of gaming in the department.

(5r) “Drawing” means any of the following methods for determining a winner of a game of chance:

(a) Random selection of a ticket portion or calendar portion from a container housing portions of all tickets or calendars purchased for the selection.

(b) A plastic or rubber duck race.

(6) “Extra regular card” means a nondisposable card which affords additional opportunities to play in a regular bingo game to be played at a bingo occasion.

(6m) “Gambling place” has the meaning designated in s. 945.01 (4) (a) .

(7) “Gross receipts” means total receipts received from the conduct of bingo including, but not limited to, receipts from the sale, rental or use of regular bingo cards, extra regular cards, special bingo cards and bingo supplies.

(9) “Licensed organization” means an organization licensed under this chapter to conduct bingo.

(10) “Limited period bingo” means the conduct of bingo for a period of not more than 4 out of 5 consecutive days in any one year at a festival, bazaar, picnic, carnival or similar special function conducted by a licensed organization.

(10m) “Multiple-container raffle” means a raffle to which all of the following apply:

(a) One or more drawings are held and one or more prizes are awarded on the same date and at the same location.

(b) A drawing for each prize or group of prizes is made from a container specific to each prize or group of prizes.

(c) The ticket purchaser places his or her ticket in the container of his or her choice.

(11) “Premises” means any room, hall, enclosure, tent, or outdoor area in which bingo is being played.

(12) “Profit” means the gross receipts collected from one or more bingo occasions, less reasonable sums necessarily and actually expended for bingo supplies and equipment, prizes, utilities, license fees and taxes.

(12c) “Progressive jackpot bingo” means a series of bingo games in which the prize is carried over to the succeeding game if no player wins a game within a specified number of calls.

(12e) “Proper and legitimate expenditure” means an expenditure made by an organization for any of the following:

(a) Any purpose for which the organization is organized.

(b) The advancement, improvement or benefit of the organization, if the amount of the expenditure does not exceed the fair market value of the advancement, improvement or benefit.

(12r) “Raffle” means a game of chance for which tickets or calendars are sold and one or more drawings for prizes are held, but does not include a savings promotion program under s. 186.114 , 214.595 , 215.137 , or 221.0329 or a program sponsored by a federally chartered financial institution, or in which a federally chartered financial institution participates, that meets all requirements for a savings promotion program under s. 186.114 , 214.595 , 215.137 , or 221.0329 .

(13) “Regular bingo card” means a nondisposable card issued to a person upon payment of the admission fee which affords a person the opportunity to participate in all regular games played at a bingo occasion.

(14) “Regular bingo game” means a bingo game in which a person, upon payment of an admission, is issued a regular bingo card and may purchase or rent extra regular cards.

(14t) “Senior citizen community center” means a public place in which recreational or social activities are made available primarily to individuals who are 55 years of age or older.

(14w) “Single-container raffle” means a raffle for which one or more drawings from a single container are held and one or more prizes are awarded on one date and at one location.

(15) “Special bingo card” means a disposable, specially marked bingo card which affords a person the opportunity to participate in a special bingo game to be played at a bingo occasion.

(16) “Special bingo game” means any bingo game which is not a regular bingo game and which is played with special bingo cards.

(17) “Ticket” means an instrument that entitles the purchaser to one entry in a raffle other than a calendar raffle.

History: 1973 c. 156 ; 1975 c. 99 ; 1977 c. 426 ; 1979 c. 32 , 34 ; 1983 a. 222 ; 1989 a. 147 ; 1991 a. 269 ss. 779s to 779w ; Stats. 1991 s. 563.03; 1997 a. 27 ; 2005 a. 247 ; 2009 a. 28 ; 2011 a. 32 ; 2013 a. 273 ; 2015 a. 6 ; 2017 a. 72 , 361 ; 2025 a. 111 .