Michigan sports betting commenced Mar. 11, 2020 after a four-year political battle in the state that has long enjoyed a reputation as a football betting hotbed.
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Editor Note: Online sports betting in Michigan was finally set to go live Jan. 22, 2021 after the state approved nine casino operators.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the bill Dec. 31, 2019 and the march was on to offer Michigan sports betting at Detroit’s trio of commercial casinos. Wagering kiosks and in-person registration was available but Covid-19 slammed the Michigan casino industry just as the program was launching.
Online rules were expected to be ready within a year, but the state now hopes to move that timeline ahead to take advantage of a portion of football season in 2020, per MLive.
All tribal casino operators will also be permitted to offer services to Michigan bettors, which means it could take place at 26 casinos. That created a rush by casino operators and online sportsbook and DFS leaders to partner with these existing operators. FanDuel, for example, was reported to have partnered with Motor City Casino to offer a physical sportsbook as well as online sports betting. To date, the rules around mobile betting have not been agreed, and experts surmise that will be launched in 2021.
Is sports betting legal in Michigan?
Yes, at long last, Michigan legislators who had been hungry for sports betting to protect consumers and pocket tax and licensing revenue finally succeeded.
Gambling rules were outlined in 1996’s Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act, but sports betting was not included as PASPA was still the rule of the land. Now it is legal and casinos and race tracks are moving to provide services.
Where can I bet at Michigan sportsbooks?
Editor Note: Nine groups were authorized to go live in January 2021, they include:
Bay Mills Indian Community, DraftKings
MotorCity Casino, FanDuel
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, William Hill
Greektown Casino, Penn Sports Interactive/Barstool Sportsbook
Hannahville Indian Community, TwinSpires
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Golden Nugget Online Gaming
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Rush Street (BetRivers)
MGM Grand Detroit, BetMGM/Roar Digital
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Wynn
There are three main commercial casinos, with sportsbook technology partners teaming up – or buying out in the case of Penn National’s purchase of Greektown Casino – with all three. The MGM brings its partnership with Roar Digital to the table, while online operators that have launched in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are now inking deals with tribal groups.
That includes Pointsbet, FoxBet and William Hill and soon DraftKings, the main competitor to FanDuel.
- Greektown Casino
- MGM Grand – Detroit
- Motor City Casino
There are also 12 Michigan tribes who own and operate 26 tribal casinos in Michigan, where sports betting is envisioned. They include:
- Bay Mills Indian Community
- Bay Mills Resort & Casino
- Bay Mills Casino Vanderbilt
- Kings Club Casino
- Leelanau Sands Casino
- Turtle Creek Casino
- Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
- Island Resort & Casino
- Ojibwa Casino and Bingo – Baraga
- Ojibwa Casino and Resort – Marquette
- Northern Waters Casino Resort
- Little River Casino Resort
- Lakeshore Casino and Resort (Proposed)
- Odawa Casino Resort
- Odawa Casino Mackinaw City
- Gun Lake Casino
- FireKeepers Casino
- Four Winds Casino New Buffalo
- Four Winds Casino Dowagiac
- Four Winds Casino Hartford
- Soaring Eagle-Slot Palace and Bingo Hall
- Soaring Eagle Casino & Casino
- Saganing Eagles Landing Casino
- Kewadin Casino Christmas
- Kewadin Casino Hessel
- Kewadin Casino Manistique
- Kewadin Casino St. Ignace
- Kewadin Casino Sault Ste. Marie
What about mobile sports betting apps in Michigan?
As described above, online and mobile sports betting in Michigan is permitted under these new laws. It’s believed early 2021 may be the timeline for developing rules and having sportsbook operators make plans to abide by them.
