- Year Opened
- 1991
- Hours
- Open 24/7
- Age Restriction
- 21+
- Property Type
- Tribal
- Regulator
- Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Gaming
- Owner
- Forest County Potawatomi Community
- Slot Machines
- 500
- Loyalty
- Potawatomi Rewards
Ownership & Operation
- Owner
- Forest County Potawatomi Community
- Operator
- Forest County Potawatomi Community
- Opened
- 1991
About Potawatomi Northern Lights Bingo and Casino
Potawatomi Northern Lights Bingo and Casino is a tribal gaming venue at 618 WI-32 in the unincorporated community of Carter (with a Wabeno mailing address), Wisconsin. The property is owned and operated by the Forest County Potawatomi Community and opened in 1991, making it one of the longest-running tribal casinos in the northeastern part of the state. The Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Gaming regulates Class III play under the tribal compact, with a 21-and-over policy on the floor.
The Forest County property is the smaller and more rural counterpart to the tribe’s flagship Potawatomi Hotel Casino in Milwaukee, about 250 miles south. Northern Lights runs around the clock with 500 slot machines and a full live table pit covering blackjack, craps, roulette, 3 Card Poker, and Let It Ride, plus an electronic roulette setup. The on-property bingo hall remains a meaningful draw for the local Forest County and surrounding communities.
Venue photo
Potawatomi Northern Lights Bingo and Casino
Carter, Wisconsin
Games on the Floor
The dealt table menu at Northern Lights is meaningfully deeper than most northern Wisconsin tribal floors of similar size. Blackjack, craps, and roulette anchor the live games, with 3 Card Poker and Let It Ride filling out the carnival category. Electronic Roulette runs alongside the dealt wheel for players who prefer a digital interface. A tournaments calendar adds blackjack and slot events through the year. The bingo hall operates as a separate room and remains central to the property’s identity, with both daily sessions and special-event games.
Games Available
For a property in a town that does not appear on most Wisconsin maps, the table spread here is unusual. Craps in particular is rare at northern Wisconsin tribal casinos. Mole Lake Casino and Lake of the Torches do not run craps; Northern Lights does. If craps is what you want in the Northwoods, this is your venue.
Amenities and Visit Practicalities
The amenity profile at Northern Lights leans toward practical comforts rather than resort polish. The property runs a bar, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a sauna, with free self-parking on a large lot. The Forest County Potawatomi Community markets the all-new Potawatomi Rewards loyalty program, which works across the tribe’s Milwaukee and Carter operations.
Amenities
- Bar
- Fitness Center
- Open 24/7
- Restaurant
- Sauna
- Self-parking
- Bingo Hall
- Points
- Tier
- Rewards Club
Specific earn rates, tier requirements, and benefits change frequently — confirm with the property's player services desk before your visit.
Recurring promotions at Potawatomi Northern Lights
Promotions rotate through the Potawatomi Rewards calendar and the property's events page. Verify dates before traveling.
| Promotion | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Slot Tournaments | Cash and free-play prize pools | Monthly |
| Blackjack Tournaments | Live tournament events with payouts to top finishers | Quarterly |
| Bingo Specials | Special-event bingo sessions with elevated payouts | Weekly |
| Rewards Tier Events | Member-only nights tied to tier progression | Ongoing |
The Northwoods casino with a real craps table
Potawatomi Northern Lights does something most northern Wisconsin tribal venues do not: it runs craps, roulette, and a full carnival pit on a 500-machine floor with an active bingo hall. For travelers in Forest County and the Nicolet National Forest area, it is the only round-the-clock venue with that kind of dealt-game depth. The property does not pretend to be a resort, and there is no attached hotel, but the gaming program punches above its rural location.
Location and Regulation
The property sits on WI-32 with GPS coordinates of 45.399, -88.628, about 30 minutes south of Mole Lake Casino and just under an hour from the Lake Superior shoreline communities. Reservations route through 1-800-729-7244. The Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Gaming holds regulatory authority. Sports wagering is treated as legal under tribal compact, but Northern Lights does not currently operate an on-premises sportsbook (the Milwaukee property does).
618 WI-32, Wabeno, WI 54566, USA
Wabeno, WI 54566
Open in Google MapsLicensing & Rules
- Regulator
- Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Gaming
- Age Requirement
- 21+
- Sportsbook
- Legal (tribal)
Potawatomi Northern Lights at a glance
Strengths and gaps based on directory data and the property profile, not a substitute for a visit.
Strengths
5- Live craps, roulette, and 3 Card Poker on a small-floor property
- Active bingo hall with daily and special-event sessions
- Open 24/7 with free self-parking
- Potawatomi Rewards Club works across Milwaukee and Northern Lights
- Fitness center and sauna on premises (unusual for the size)
Watch-outs
4- No on-site hotel; lodging in Wabeno, Crandon, or Forest County rentals
- No sportsbook on premises
- Slot floor is mid-sized (500 machines)
- Live poker not currently offered
Real craps in the Northwoods
Drove down from Wabeno on a Friday night. The craps table was open with two dealers and the minimum was reasonable for a small casino. Slot floor is well kept and the non-smoking section was big enough. Bingo room was packed with locals, which is always a good sign. No hotel which is fine, plenty of cabins around. Potawatomi Rewards card worked the same as Milwaukee.
Visited recently? Share what it was like.
Honest, on-the-ground accounts help every other visitor walk in knowing what to expect.
