When Will Michigan Launch Online Gambling?
The Michigan Gaming Control Board hopes for legal Michigan online gambling to launch in November 2020.
The state legalized online gambling in December 2019, which includes online casinos, sports betting, and poker, as per the law signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Initially, the state expected to be ready to regulate the online gaming industry as well as onsite sports wagers at existing casinos in March of 2020, just in time for the NCAA’s annual March Madness tournament. However, a revised timeline pushed the legalization of online gambling and sports betting to late 2020 so state officials can finalize all necessary rules and regulations.
There is an ongoing legislative effort in Michigan to accelerate the planned rollout of legal online gambling and sports betting, hoping to boost revenue in the state. The Michigan Gaming Control Commission recently started accepting license applications for both online gambling and online sports betting. New estimates have the state launching as soon as November 2020.
Michigan’s commercial land-based casinos all launched retail sportsbooks in March 2020. Tribal casinos across the state also started opening live sportsbooks throughout the state and will continue through the year.
Michigan Online Gambling Update
In case you missed it, here’s some of the latest news to come out of the Michigan gambling industry we’ve covered on Michigan Sharp.
- Revenue for both land casinos and sportsbooks shot up in September, notching another successful month on the long road back to post-pandemic normalcy.
- Barstool Sportsbook has announced its second US launch will be in Michigan. Penn National CEO Jay Snowden said he was hoping launch would happen by mid-late November.
- The Michigan State Senate has passed a bill that would allow the state to join in multi-state online poker pools. The bill still requires house passage and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s signature, but little to no resistance is expected.
- Michigan is in the process of finalizing the rules that have been laid out for online sports betting and online casinos. Launch is still expected sometime in November.
Michigan Online Casinos
One of the most anticipated launches of the year, Michigan bettors will soon have access to a variety of online casino apps. The MGCB is currently finalizing rules and regulations before online casinos are able to debut, hopefully by the end of the year. This will allow players to use mobile apps or desktop browsers to access a variety of slots and table games and play for real money.
Michigan gaming regulators hope for the launch of the state’s mobile casino apps before the end of 2020. The online casinos will be partnered with Michigan’s retail casinos. The three Detroit casinos will launch online casinos under the brands BetMGM, FanDuel Casino, and Hollywood Casino. Other mobile casinos will launch in partnership with Michigan’s tribal casinos, including DraftKings Casino, PokerStars Casino, and Golden Nugget.
Michigan Online Sports Betting
Currently, Michigan offers sports fans the opportunity to bet at retail sportsbooks in Detroit as well as at tribal casinos throughout the state. We anticipate, though, that by the end of 2020, bettors will see several legal online sports betting apps debut.
Michigan became the 20th state to legalize online sports betting, but it’s taken the state some time to develop rules and regulations to allow sportsbooks to launch their apps. The Michigan Gaming Control Board is in the process of auditing the software before launch. But, it’s imminent.
Partnerships already announced mean that bettors will soon have access to top sports betting apps in Michigan, including DraftKings, BetMGM, and FOX Bet, among others.
Michigan Online Poker
Michigan joins the short list of states that offer legal online poker in the US. This includes New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. West Virginia plans to launch online poker as well.
Like online casinos and sports betting, online poker sites in Michigan will operate in partnership with the state’s commercial or tribal casinos. After the state finalizes rules and regulations regarding online poker, Michigan players will see versions of PokerStars and partypoker. These platforms offer a full slate of cash games, tournaments, and progressive jackpot sit & gos. It’s also possible that Michigan could see WSOP.com as well, but they haven’t announced any partnership as of yet.
Michigan Sweepstakes Sites
Michigan players can legally enjoy sweepstakes casino platforms, which offer the opportunity to play sweepstakes casino games and poker for cash prizes.
Sweepstakes casinos like Chumba Casino offer slots, table games, and video poker. Michigan players can pick between play money and sweepstakes versions of all of the games at Chumba Casino.
The sweepstakes games use credits known as “Sweeps Coins” as currency, which can redeemed for cash prizes. Global Poker, a sister site to Chumba casino, offers sweepstakes poker using the same “Sweeps Coins” method.
Michigan Betting Information
Among traditional commercial casinos, tribally-owned casinos, the Michigan Lottery, sports betting, and online gaming, Michigan offers many forms of legal gambling. By the end of 2020, we hope to see legal online sports betting and online casino apps across the state.
Our goal is to be the number one resource you can reference and provide you with the necessary information you’ll need before gambling in Michigan, including top Michigan bonuses for online casinos and sportsbooks.
History of Gambling in Michigan
The first form of gambling that became legal in Michigan was when the state passed the Racing Act of 1933, which created regulation around betting on pari-mutuel horse racing. Years later in 1972, the state legalized the lottery.
The 1980s brought casino gaming to Michigan. In 1984, Keweenaw Bay Indian tribe member Fred Dakota ran blackjack games from his two-car garage in a setup he called The Pines. Later that same summer the Bay Mills Indian Band started the first tribal-sanctioned casino on their land, the Kings Club Casino.
Fast-forward to today, and Michigan hosts three commercially-owned casinos in the Detroit area and 23 tribal casinos throughout the state. Michigan online gaming is poised to launch by the end of 2020.
Key Dates in Michigan’s Gambling History
- Sept. 23, 2020: MGCB held a public hearing to finalize rules and regulations.
- Aug. 5, 2020: After a nearly five-month shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan’s three Detroit-based casinos reopen.
- March 11, 2020: Retail sportsbooks go live for the first time. Land-based casinos are forced to shut down just days later, however, due to the COIVD-19 pandemic.
- Dec. 2019: The Governor of Michigan signed a law legalizing regulated online gaming and sports betting throughout the state.
- Nov. 10, 2000: Greektown Casino-Hotel opened its doors to become the third casino in Detroit.
- Dec. 14, 1999: MotorCity Casino Hotel became the second casino to open in Detroit.
- July 29, 1999: The MGM Grand in Detroit officially opened to the public.
- Nov. 1996: Proposal E was approved during the ‘96 election and construction of three commercial casinos was approved to break ground in Detroit.
- July 4, 1984: The Bay Mills Indian Band officially opened the doors to the first tribal-owned casino in the USA – Kings Club Casino.
- Jan. 1984: Fred Dakota opened up a single blackjack table casino in his garage on Keweenaw Bay Indian Tribe land.
- Nov. 24, 1972: The first Michigan Lottery draw occurred.
- May 16, 1972: State voters approved the Michigan state lottery.
- 1933: Racing Act of 1933 was passed regulating pari-mutuel horse racing.
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Yes. Michigan hosts 23 tribal and three commercial casinos, all of which offer legal gambling.
You must be at least 21 years or older to legally gamble at the commercial casinos located near Detroit, Michigan. However, tribal casinos have their own age limits. Depending on which tribal casino the age requirements range from a minimum age of 18 to 21.
Yes, online gambling is legal in Michigan. In 2019, Michigan’s Gov. Gretchen Whitmer approved a law that fully legalized online casinos, poker, and sports betting. Michigan players can expect to be able to gamble online in late 2020 or early 2021.
Yes, as part of the 2019 legislation passed in Michigan online sports betting is now legal throughout the state. Retail sportsbooks launched in March 2020 while online sports betting apps and sites are expected to launch in late 2020.
Yes, virtually all online sportsbooks have developed an iOS app. We fully expect that Michigan sports bettors will be able to access these apps in late 2020 once the final sports betting regulations are finalized by state officials.
Yes, mobile sports betting apps are allowed in Michigan but they have not launched and are expected to start rolling out in November 2020.
Yes, but due to Google Play Store policies you will need to side-load any sports betting apps on your Android device.
Yes, Michigan has a state-run lottery available to anyone 18 years or older. In May of 1972, voters approved lottery games in Michigan and later that year the first lottery draw was held. Today, lottery games remain legal in Michigan.
Yes, you can play select lottery games online. Michigan offers its residents the ability to purchase online versions of scratch-off lottery games online. For all other lottery games not available online there are over 10,000 licensed retailers throughout the state. You must be 18 years of age to play scratch-offs online.
Yes, casinos in Michigan are safe. Despite several of Michigan’s casinos being located near its largest city of Detroit it is still safe to gamble at casinos. Casinos are equipped with security, dealers and floor personnel as well as cameras.
Yes and no. Yes, you have to pay taxes if you win $5,000 or more. Casinos will withhold the federally mandated amount of 25% if you provide them with your social security number and if you refuse they will withhold 28%. This withholding is for federal income tax. For Michigan’s state tax, you are obligated to report it and it is subjected to a 4.25% state tax. If you win less than $5,000 then no, you will not have to pay taxes.
Yes, especially since loyalty programs are free to join. Casinos have created loyalty programs in order to keep you at their casino. They do this by providing you with free bets, discounted or free hotel rooms, food and beverage credits, and more. You should definitely sign up if you intend to consistently game. If you would rather not be marketed to then we would suggest not signing up as the direct email, email, and marketing efforts may be bothersome to you.
The MGM Grand in Detroit is owned and operated by MGM Resorts. MotorCity Casino Hotel is owned by IH Gaming, and Vici Properties owns the Greektown Casino Hotel.
In addition to the three commercial casinos located near Detroit, the state has 23 casinos located on tribal land. Those casinos are owned by various native tribes that effectively operate autonomously.
Yes, the state has several physical poker rooms, including FireKeepers Casino’s poker room which is the largest in the state. Also, once online gambling is up and running in late 2020, Michigan players will be able to play online poker.