A method for multicast load balancing in a wireless network having a plurality of access points grouped into a multicast admissions control group in which the plurality of access points have a same coverage area, comprising the steps of: setting a maximum Internet Protocol multicast bandwidth for each of the plurality of access points; receiving an admissions control request for a multicast stream having a bandwidth from a client at one of the plurality of access points; determining whether the admissions control request from the client is for an admitted multicast stream to be serviced by the one of the plurality of access points; providing the multicast stream to the client responsive to determining the multicast stream is an admitted multicast stream to be serviced by the one of the plurality of access points; determining whether a requested multicast stream is being serviced by another access point within the multicast admissions control group responsive to determining the multicast stream is not an admitted multicast stream to be serviced by the one of the plurality of access points; denying access to the multicast stream at the one of the plurality of access points to the client responsive to determining the multicast stream is being serviced by another access point within the multicast admissions control group; and providing the multicast stream to the client responsive to determining the multicast stream is not an admitted multicast stream to be serviced by the one of the plurality of access points and is not being serviced by another of the plurality of access points belonging to the multicast admissions control group where the bandwidth required for the multicast stream, plus the bandwidth currently used for all existing multicast streams for the one of the plurality of access points does not exceed the maximum Internet Protocol multicast bandwidth for the access point. setting a maximum Internet Protocol multicast bandwidth for each of the plurality of access points; receiving an admissions control request for a multicast stream having a bandwidth from a client at one of the plurality of access points; determining whether the admissions control request from the client is for an admitted multicast stream to be serviced by the one of the plurality of access points; providing the multicast stream to the client responsive to determining the multicast stream is an admitted multicast stream to be serviced by the one of the plurality of access points; determining whether a requested multicast stream is being serviced by another access point within the multicast admissions control group responsive to determining the multicast stream is not an admitted multicast stream to be serviced by the one of the plurality of access points; denying access to the multicast stream at the one of the plurality of access points to the client responsive to determining the multicast stream is being serviced by another access point within the multicast admissions control group; and providing the multicast stream to the client responsive to determining the multicast stream is not an admitted multicast stream to be serviced by the one of the plurality of access points and is not being serviced by another of the plurality of access points belonging to the multicast admissions control group where the bandwidth required for the multicast stream, plus the bandwidth currently used for all existing multicast streams for the one of the plurality of access points does not exceed the maximum Internet Protocol multicast bandwidth for the access point.