As we get closer and closer to the launch of legal Michigan online gambling, we’re beginning to see things fall into place. Most importantly, we are starting to see which casinos will partner with which online gambling sites (such as betting apps, poker and casino sites).
And while we don’t have an official launch date yet, state regulators say they are still on track for a summer or early-fall start. That would mean players could begin signing up at the best Michigan betting apps and casinos as soon as August or September (2021).
In this post, we’ll take a look at the latest news regarding new Michigan online gambling sites—and update our list below accordingly. We’ll also provide details about which land-based casinos can offer online gambling in Michigan (and by extension, which online operators will be permitted to operate in the Wolverine State).
You’ll also learn what types of gambling will be available online, such as sports betting, daily fantasy sports (DFS), online casino games, and poker. Additionally, we’ve included information on which out-of-state operators are likely to power Michigan gambling apps.
Finally, we’ll discuss how you’ll be able to begin playing online from anywhere within the state’s borders.
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Though the official launch of Michigan online casinos and sportsbooks is still months away, that hasn’t stopped land-based casinos from announcing their online partners. In fact, most of the state’s three dozen casinos have now paired up with online operators.
On April 29, 2021, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) announced that all 14 of the state’s commercial casinos had agreed to terms with one or more online partners. The two tribal casinos that plan on offering online gambling have also secured partnerships with reputable remote operators.
Top Fanduel Casino No Deposit Bonus Offers for 2023The MGCB has stated that it now must begin the process of reviewing those applications. This will include extensive background checks on both the land-based and online gaming entities. Of course, each online operator will need to obtain a license from the state, too.
Under Michigan’s online gambling laws, every internet gambling product offered to residents must possess a valid state licence to operate legally. Operators who choose not to comply could face heavy fines.
Online sportsbooks, casinos, and poker sites will also be required to use geolocation services to ensure that all real-money customers are located within Michigan’s borders. It should be noted that lawmakers have exempted daily fantasy sports (DFS) from these rules.
On May 25, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation allowing the MGCB to begin accepting licensing and application fees. This means that licensed gambling companies can begin submitting their paperwork to enter the Michigan market. The governor also signed a follow-up bill that will see 8% of online gambling revenue earmarked for mental health and suicide prevention programs.
In late June, the MGCB announced it would begin issuing licenses and supplier statuses on August 1st.
BetMGM/MGM Grand Detroit and DraftKings/MotorCity Casino Partner Up
As mentioned above, most of Michigan’s casinos have already named their chosen partners. Perhaps the biggest news was the decision by MGM Grand Detroit to partner with Roar Digital (a joint venture between BetMGM and GVC Holdings). This means BetMGM Sportsbook and casino sites will be coming to Michigan.
Michigan Online Gambling Update - New Sites & AppsDraftKings has also been quite active in securing its place in the Wolverine State. The company has partnered with MotorCity Casino to offer its popular sportsbook, casino and daily fantasy sports (DFS) products.
Other notable pairings include:
- Odawa Casinos and BetRivers . Little River Casino & Resort and Rush Street Interactive (parent company of BetRivers) . Gun Lake Casino and BETMGM
- Island Resort Casino and Caesars Interactive
- Leelanau Casino and William Hill
- Bay Mills Indian Community and Griffon Games
It should be pointed out that some casinos own their online gaming platforms. For example, DRAFT Sports Pick is owned by Greektown Casino in Detroit.
Other News Regarding New Michigan Gambling Sites
One interesting piece of news is that Barstool Sports has partnered with Mount Pleasant’s Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. Barstool is known more for its media brand and sports betting website/app than running physical casinos. Because of this, it will be interesting to see if another casino will host Barstool’s Michigan operations.
It’s common for out-of-state casinos to partner with land-based establishments that are located near the border. This will enable them to reach customers who might otherwise travel to neighboring states like Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois to gamble online.
One example of this trend involves the Hannahville Indian Community, which owns the Island Resorts Casino in Wisconsin (just across the Upper Peninsula from Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula.) They’ve partnered with the well-known casino operator Caesars Entertainment to offer its online brands in Michigan.
We expect similar strategies among other operators who may not be located so favorably.
What Companies Are Likely to Power Michigan Internet Gambling?
State law dictates that only casinos with physical locations in Michigan will be allowed to offer online gambling. This is similar to most other US states that allow internet betting.
Casino Boats Near Me in West Palm Beach, FL - Updated 2023When it comes to the actual software and hardware needed to run an online gambling site, casino partners will be free to strike deals with virtually any provider they wish. However, they’ll still need to apply for a “supplier license” from the MGCB to operate legally in Michigan.
Many industry insiders believe we’ll see several familiar names offering their wares to Michigan players sooner rather than later. These include:
- DraftKings – This popular daily fantasy sports (DFS) site took the gambling world by storm a few years back when it began offering sports betting in various states. Today, DraftKings offers online casinos in several jurisdictions along with its flagship DFS offerings.
- FanDuel – Another large DFS operator that moved into the sports betting space with great success. FanDuel has since begun offering casino games in places like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan’s neighbor to the west, Illinois.
- BetMGM / BETMGM – A joint venture between MGM Resorts and GVC Holdings, BetMGM offers online sportsbooks, casino games, and poker in several American states. They recently extended their lead in Tennessee online sports betting.
- William Hill – William Hill is one of the largest sports betting operators in the United Kingdom. The company entered the US market a few years ago and is currently one of the industry’s most prolific sports book providers.
- Caesars – Caesars Entertainment is one of the world’s largest casino operators. Their online division, Caesars Interactive, currently offers gambling websites in several US jurisdictions.
- Rush Street – A relatively small but respected operator that already supplies its CasinoSuite and PlaySugarHouse software to several American clients.
- Scientific Games – A long-time provider of lottery tickets and other such products, Scientific Games has branched out into retail and online sports betting. They also provide casino software and slot machines to land-based establishments throughout America.
- 888 Holdings – 888 Casino has been operating online for more than 20 years. They currently hold licenses in eight US states and are competing aggressively to supply mobile sportsbooks and casino software across the country.
These are just a few of the many reputable online gambling providers that are sure to be interested in Michigan. Others could enter the fray as well, especially if they have existing relationships with Michigan’s casino community.
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Governor Whitmer signed HB 4311 into law on December 29, 2019. This bill authorizes both commercial and tribal casinos to offer a variety of forms of online gambling within the Wolverine State.
Commercial casinos are overseen by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). There are 14 such properties spread out across the state:
- Greektown Casino-Detroit – Stakez LLC (2011)
- MGM Grand Detroit – MGM Resorts (2011)
- MotorCity Casino – Motor City Casino (2013)
- Gordon Conference Center – City of Pontiac (2018) - No longer operates
- Olympia Casino Resort – MTR Gaming Group (2019)
Tribal casinos answer to the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC). There are 12 such venues in Michigan:
- Bay Mills Resort – Bay Mills Indian Community (1976)
- Gun Lake Casino – Gun Lake Tribe (2017)
- Grand Traverse Band Tribal Gaming – Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (2005)
- Kewadin Casinos – Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa (1983)
- Leelanau Investments – Leelanau Band of Pottawatomi Indians (2018)
- Little River Casino Resort – Little River Band of Ottawa Indians (1999)
- Lucas Downtown Casino – Luca European Casino (2019) - Temporarily closed due to COVID-19
- FireBase Gaming – Match-E-Be-Pem (OTBQ) Band of Potawatomi Indians (2020)
- PokerAtlas.com Casino – Trappl Corp. (2020) - Virtual casino
- Saranac Gaming – Saranac Charter Township (2020) - Virtual casino
- Shutter Tiver Gaming – Shutter Tiver Gaming (2020) - Virtual casino
- SnatchII Gaming – Snatch II Gaming (2020) - Virtual casino
- Zing!Zone Gaming – Zing!Zone Gaming (2020) - Virtual casino
As you can see, many of the state’s casinos have already applied for or received conditional approval to offer one or more forms of internet gambling. Once the MGCB begins accepting license applications from operators and suppliers, we should start seeing official launches before long.
Video Poker Games You Can Play Online for Free or Real MoneyTypes of Legal Gambling You Can Do Online in MI
As you’ve probably guessed, state law allows casinos to offer four main forms of internet gambling:
Sports Betting
The passage of 2018’s GRS 4311 officially brought single-game sports wagering to Michigan. This came shortly after the US Supreme Court struck down the archaic Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018.
Betting on sports is available at all of the state’s retail casinos. One way Michigan is different from other states is that it doesn’t have a minimum age requirement for gambling. Any resident aged 18+ can visit a land-based establishment to place a wager.
However, state lawmakers decided to set the retail betting age at 21 for online sites. Those who are under the legal drinking age in Michigan won’t be able to participate in online sports betting, online casino play, poker, or DFS.
Identification will be required upon sign-up and prior to each log-in session to verify the user’s age and location within the state’s borders. Any attempt to use an underage betting account will result in its immediate termination.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
DFS operators didn’t have to wait for legislative action to offer their services in Michigan. As is the case in most states, state regulators considered daily fantasy sports to be games of skill rather than gambling and therefore exempt from regulation.
All of the major DFS sites – DraftKings, FanDuel, UnderdogFantasy, Yahoo, etc. – operate freely in the Wolverine State. The situation could change once online gambling becomes fully established. Lawmakers often lump all online betting together when writing new regulations. Thus far, they’ve avoided doing so with DFS.
Online Casino Gambling and Games
If all goes according to plan, online casino gambling could become legal in Michigan by the end of the summer of 2021. All forms of casino gambling are permitted online, including slots, table games, video poker, live dealer games, and more.
Anyone wishing to partake in these activities will need to be physically located within the state’s boundaries and of legal age. They’ll also have to create an account at a licensed online casino, go through an identity verification procedure, and agree to have their location monitored at all times.
Online Poker
Poker is covered under the same provisions as regular casino games. Michigan already has a healthy live poker scene, with several rooms spread throughout the state.
Ways to Play Free Poker Online in 2023Internet poker could prove to be popular with the state’s residents and visitors alike. Michigan could eventually join multi-state compacts like , which would increase traffic and earnings potential significantly.
Timeline of Michigan Online Gambling History
Here’s a quick rundown of key dates relating to the development of internet gambling in Michigan:
- 2006 – Michigan became the first state to make providing illegal gambling services a felony (HB 5910)
- 2010 – State Representative Mike Katkowski introduces the MICHLAN bill (HB 5454) to legalize online lottery sales
- 2012 – Similar bills (HB 5407, SB 946) are introduced in the House and Senate
- 2016 – New bills (HB 4926, SB 208) are put forward to regulate daily fantasy sports (DFS)
- 2017 – Governor Rick Snyder signs HB 4311 into law on December 14. This bill permits all forms of DFS.
- 2018 – Late in the year, the Supreme Court strikes down PASPA, enabling individual states to offer single-game sports betting if they choose to do so. Governor Snyder signs HB 4328 on December 19 to bring full sports betting to Michigan.
- 2019 – GRS 4311 gets amended on December 18 to add online gambling options like casino games, poker, and sports betting with Governor Whitmer’s signature on December 20.
- 2020–2021 – Licensing procedures, operator vetting, and rulemaking take place. Geolocation and licensing fee collection commence in early 2021.
- 2021 – Operators begin launching their gambling sites in the summer or fall.
FAQs
When Will Michigan Online Gambling Be Legal?
Online casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks were made legal in Michigan in 2018 and 2019. It now falls to state officials to finalize administrative tasks like licensing procedures, tax rates, and regulatory agencies. Operators must also undergo security screenings before they’ll be allowed to launch their sites. It now appears Michigan online gambling sites will go live during the summer or fall of 2021.
Which Online Gambling Sites Will be Available in Michigan?
We know that some of the bigger remote gaming operators like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and CA Cesars will be represented in Michigan. However, we won’t know exactly which brands will be present until the dust settles and all the licenses have been handed out.
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Yes, you can access offshore online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites from Michigan. However, these sites aren’t regulated by any recognized legal authority within the United States. Some aren’t even licensed by any official body at all. Therefore, we cannot recommend participating in any game or service provided by an offshore gambling provider.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Participate in Michigan Online Gambling?
All of Michigan’s casinos permit patrons to be 18 or older. However, state lawmakers decided to raise the minimum age for in-state sports betting to 21. Online gambling bills HB 4311 and HB 4328 make it so anyone under the legal drinking age in Michigan won’t be able to participate in any form of online gambling.
What Does the Future Hold for Michigan Online Gambling?
It looks bright. Michigan has one of the most comprehensive online gambling laws in the US. With competitive tax rates and a well-written regulatory scheme, the Wolverine State could quickly become one of the top ten markets in the nation. Several others are considering joining , so Michigan’s operators and regulators will have plenty of competition.
