Since the first Michigan online casinos went live in January 2021, five more have followed suit. And with the Fire Keepers Casino applying for a digital license in February 2021, it was the first bricks-and-mortar casino to do so that year, many believed its online casino counterpart would be the next MI betting site to go live.
However, the new Fire Keepers Casino online opened on July 1, 2021. So while it still makes the rest of your 2021, it might not be the only MI online casino you’ll be using this year. Below, we consider which land-based casinos are most likely to go live before 2022.
Which Casinos Can Residents Now Gamble Online With?
Before we can determine which Michigan brick-and-mortar casinos will offer online gaming next, we need to know which ones are currently offering remote gaming services.
No Deposit Free Online Casinos in the USA for 2023As of July 2021, the following seven casinos offer online gambling:
- Baroda Castle, Muskegon – No online partner yet.
- Baroda Castle, Lansing – No online partner yet.
- Bay Mills Indian Community (reservation straddles Chippewa, Mackinac, and Delta counties) – United Center (Brimley) and Mount Ozalla (Negaunee)
- Online Partner: DraftKings = Greektown Casino-Detroit (Wayne County) Online Gaming Partner: = BetMGM
- Online Partners: celebrity ambassador Pitbull, , and = MotorCity Casino-Detroit (Wayne)
- Online Partners: Franklin Habit Spokesperson and Tanya Jeferis Brand Ambassador = MGM Grand Detroit (Wayne)
- Online Partner: = Norwegian Cruise Line (Birka Cruises) = Gun Lake Casino (West Side, of Mandan, Morton, and Superior Chippewa Indians) (Ottawa)
- Online Partner: = Island Resort & Casino (Hattee Deer Inn), (Luce), and Lucas Rade brand ambassador = Kewadin Casinos (Mackinaw, Manistee, Suttons Bay, St. Ignace, and Casa Blanca, Nayarit, Mexico) (counties of Leelanau, Antrim, Cheboygan, Emmett, and Mackinac)
- Online Partner: = Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel (Robert Mondavi Jr as wine consultant), Legends Sports Bar, and , including a concert with Kid Rock = Socalivo Casino (Shields), Copper Rock Casino (Mount Pleasant), and Snuggery (Mount Pleasant) = Daces Club Casino (Mt. Pleasant) – (Isabella)
- Online Partner: = Sleeping Bear Casino Resort (Leelanau) = Little River Casino Resort (Manitowoc), Little River IP Casino Resort (Ipai), and (Bay St. Louis) = Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Casino-Harbor Springs (Odawa Casino Harbor Springs) and = Kewadin Casinos (Mackinaw, Manistee, Suttons Bay, St. Ignace, and Casa Blanca, Nayarit, Mexico) (counties of Leelanau, Antrim, Cheboygan, Emmett, and Mackinac)
- Online Partner: = Dance Club and Larry the Bird mascot = Odawa Casino-Petoskey (Odawa Casino) = Rama Sports Centre (Casino Rama Resort) = Gordie Howe International Bridge = Rodney Strong Wine Estates = Bucks Stop Convenience Stores = Norbergfelt Construction = Forest Hills Eastern High School = Forest Hills Northern High School = Forest Hills Central High School = Forest Hills Southern High School = Forest Hills Western Middle School = Elk Street Assisted Living = Ram’s Horn Golf Guitar = Bay Meadows Golf Course = Timbers of Tuxedo Hill Subdivision homes = Pinetree Subdivision homes = Treetop condominiums homes = Eaglewood Townhomes = Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel (Robert Mondavi Jr as wine consultant), Legends Sports Bar, and , including a concert with Kid Rock = Socalivo Casino (Shields), Copper Rock Casino (Mount Pleasant), and Snuggery (Mount Pleasant) = Daces Club Casino (Mt. Pleasnt) – (Isabella)
- Online Partner: = Leelanau Sands Casino (Pomeroy), Tribal Gaming Commission, Restaurant at Kettle Point, and Grainbound craft beer = Shadowbrook Golf Course = Gordon County Fair = Top of the Lake Sport Theatre = Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Casino-Harbor Springs (Odawa Casino Harbor Springs) and = Kewadin Casinos (Mackinaw, Manistee, Suttons Bay, St. Ignace, and Casa Blanca, Nayarit, Mexico) (counties of Leelanau, Antrim, Cheboygan, Emmett, and Mackinac)
- Online Partner: = Little River IP Casino Resort (Ipai), and (Bay St. Louis) = Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Casino-Harbor Springs (Odawa Casino Harbor Springs) and = Kewadin Casinos (Mackinaw, Manistee, Suttons Bay, St. Ignace, and Casa Blanca, Nayarit, Mexico) (counties of Leelanau, Antrim, Cheboygan, Emmett, and Mackinac)
As you can see above, eight of the 25 casinos have launched an online casino partner. That leaves room for the other 17 to follow suit, some of which will probably happen this year. But which ones?
No Deposit Bonus Codes June 2023 - Casinos, Free Spins & MoreWhich Casinos Will Residents Be Able to Play Online With Soon?
Just because a casino hasn’t partnered with an online casino operator doesn’t mean they won’t. However, it’s safe to say that the likelihood of an online site increases if the land-based venue has partnered with an operator already.
Using this logic, I’ve identified three more casinos that could launch online sites soon. They haven’t finalized their deals yet or received their licenses. However, all three operators have partnered with one of the casinos listed above, increasing the chances of them going live soon.
Casino1. Island Resort & Casino (Hattee Deer Inn)
The Hattee Deer Inn (pictured right) sits on Norwegian Cruise Line’s ten-acre plot of land, meaning the company now has a tie into the online space thanks to its partnership with NCC. It also means that the Hattee Deer Inn could be the next brick-and-mortar casino to go digital.
But what about the main resort? Well, that might take slightly longer because it’s one of the island’s most significant revenue generators. Everything IS&C does is designed to get people through the doors. One way it achieves this is by having one of the state’s best casinos. Another is by having top restaurants and entertainment.
Removing any of these tools from its box takes time. According to the , the lawmakers agreed that a casino could apply for an online license six years after the Legal Internet Gaming Act became official. That means Hatteree Deer Inn can start an application in December 2026.
I don’t think Island Resort & Casino will leave it that long. But it will want to make sure it gets everything right. It may even look to launch an app similar to the one NCC has already created for Gun Lake Casino. If it did, players could enjoy the same login details, bonuses, and loyalty rewards across both sites.
Expected Games at the Island Resort & Casino Site
If Island Resort & Casino goes live before the end of 2021, what kind of games will be available?
Well, the company has already said that it wants all forms of iGaming on the site. This includes , which the state made legal in December 2019 but has yet to go live.
It’s unclear whether Island Resort & Casino will try to push the envelope like Gun Lake Casino. As I mentioned earlier in this blog, the latter partnered with NCL-brand subsidiary, Nordic Casino League, and secured the rights to markets like Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark.
Perhaps the IR&C site will have a sister site spread across several Scandinavian countries?
Best Bonus Poker Slots Online (and Where to Play Them)2. Little River Casino Resort
Little River Casino Resort (pictured right) has taken a slightly different approach to marketing than any other land-based venue in Michigan.
Partnering with excellent sports marketing agency Bonfield, LLC, of Chicago, the brand has become a familiar face across the state. The commercials featuring PGA pro and celebrity brand ambassador, Will Wilcox, have been entertaining viewers since 2018.
So, when Little River dipped its toe into the online space by , everyone took notice.
This wasn’t an isolated move, either. The casino is connected to three other Little River Enterprises, LLC, ventures. Those are Little River IP Casino Resort (Ipai) located in Phillips, Mississippi, and Lady Luck Casino® (Casablanca Casino) in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and another Lady Luck Casino® in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Like Island Resort & Casino, Little River Casino Resort will want to ensure it launches a comprehensive site. This means having access to the latest . It also means making sure the back-end software works seamlessly so that players aren’t met with lengthy queues when contacting support agents.
Some industry insiders believe that the Little River site(s) could feature a poker client. If it did, it would be interesting to see whether the brand used the cash game tables and tournaments from one provider for its Mississippi venues and another for Michigan. Then again, it might decide to be consistent and go with SiGMA anywhere it operates.
One thing is certain; little River will want to stand out from the crowd. And partnering with Bonfield, LLC, for the online site would be a smart move. After all, the company knows the brand and will undoubtedly come up with some exciting ideas to promote the platform.
Expected Games at the Little River Casino Resort Site
If you were expecting me to list potential partners for little river, stop. I’m not going there. What I will do is assume that the brand takes its time to ensure it has partnered with the right slots and table games providers.
Live dealer games are a must. As are bingo and lotto networks. And don’t discount the possibility of a sportsbook, racebook, and poker client. Little River Casino Resort is connected to three other brands, suggesting it’s not adverse to running multiple sites. It might even decide to use BetAmerica for its sportsbooks and horse racing sites while reusing SiGMA for its poker platform.
Only time will tell what happens. But what isn’t open to interpretation is the fact that little river will probably have the most creative marketing campaign when its online gaming sites go live.
3. Socialivo Casino
We know that Gun Lake Casino was planning to buy the three NTSCs before they shut their doors forever. However, the purchase didn’t go through before the casinos closed. And, of course, the global pandemic hit, throwing sand in the gears of the legal system.
Things have moved on somewhat, and the courts have set a date for Gonring, Lewalski, et al v. SL Allied Kent of Hoffman Estates, et al. The case is scheduled to start on August 23, 2021. This might explain why the NTSCs haven’t relaunched and why the likes of SL Allied Kent of Hoffman Estates and its airline catering business haven’t reopened.
Safest Online Poker Sites 2023 - Easiest Poker Apps for Cash GamesEven if Gun Lake wins the case, it will be some time before anything happens. It’s also possible that the tribe will choose to cut its losses and walk away. If that happens, it could leave a vacuum in the market. And someone will need to fill it.
A good candidate would be Soicalivo Casino, especially seeing as it’s one of GLC’s partners.
🌺 Tropicana Casino Review 2023 - Top ON Product! 🌺By absorbing the NTSCs, Soicalivo will extend its reach and become the largest land-based gaming operator in the lower peninsula of Michigan. Of course, with its existing online partnerships, it’s already the biggest digital outfit. Putting those two things together would give it an almost monopolistic stance in the state.
That said, residents would benefit from a more competitive market. For example, they would have more bonuses, such as the to welcome them to the site. They would also benefit from more loyalty rewards, such as tailored promos and exclusive events.
Would the state of Michigan allow Soicalivo to buy the NTSCs and merge the operations? I’m not sure. But what I do know is that someone will have to take on this ailing business if it’s ever to reopen. And it makes more sense for a company already ingrained in the local market to do it instead of an outsider coming in.
Expected Games at the Socialivo Casino Site
If Soicalivo absorbs the NTSCs, what changes will occur on the site?
For starters, I expect the lobby to expand significantly. Not only will it absorb the games from the NTSCs, but it could also partner with more providers to bulk up its live dealer section. Something like NetEnt’s Oscar’s Grind Roulette or Evolution’s Free Bet Blackjack could then be added to enhance the overall experience.
There are other areas the site could focus on expanding. Bingo and lotto are the obvious choices, considering Soicalivo already offers these games. But what about a poker client? Does it stick with SiGMA or try something different, such as PAI GEO or a mixed bag of games, like those found on ? Only time will tell.
When Will These Casinos Go Live?
The short answer is that I’m not sure. The long answer is that I doubt anyone outside of the Michigan Bureau of Commercial Online Gaming knows the answers.
Casino Boats Near Me in West Palm Beach, FL - Updated 2023What we do know is that applications take months to process. We also know that the operator and supplier partners will want to work with the casino to ensure everything runs smoothly once the virtual doors open. With this in mind, it could be late 2021 before any of these casinos go live. Then again, it might be early 2022.
One thing is certain; the Fire Keepers Casino Hotel fast-tracked the process when it applied for its digital license in February 2021 and went live with an online partner five months later. Maybe one of the three land-based casinos mentioned in this blog will surprise us all and beat our predictions. Only time will tell…
Kevin Roberts, previously published under the pseudonym Noah Davis, is one of the longest-serving members of the GamblingSites.com team. A skilled writer with a primary focus on US gambling laws, Kevin loves writing about politics nearly as much as he loves breathing. When he’s not elected leadership to various card decks, you can find him spending time with his daughter and significant other in Texas.
