Michigan sports betting is now legal and operating.
Yes, but you’ll need to gamble online at offshore gaming sites. While it’s unregulated, law enforcement doesn’t prosecute residents who bet online. Licensed and regulated online gambling might have in 2020 or 2021. Brandt Iden’s House Bill 4926 is among the most talked-about online gambling bills in America since 2016. Michigan residents have a lot of options for betting on sports online. We’ve composed a list of licensed, safe, and secure offshore online bookies and Michigan players can register and bet online legally at any of them. These online bookmakers are ideal for Michigan players because they offer interesting betting odds on local Michigan teams.
While sports betting is only accessible at retail locations for now, online sports betting apps will soon available in Michigan — likely before the end of 2020.
DraftKings has big plans here in the Wolverine State, and the company is ready to kick things off with a bang to boot. Our readers are the beneficiaries in both cases as there’s an outstanding bonus offer available for new players.
To be eligible, all you need to is use this link to create an account with DraftKings in Michigan. By doing so, you’ll get $100 free to bet on sports, and another $100 free to bet on blackjack with. This offer is only available for new Michigan accounts.
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On December 20, 2019, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed into law two bills, S4916and H4311. These new laws legalized sports betting both online and in casinos, as well as internet poker, online casino games and online fantasy sports.
Michigan sports betting allows live and mobile sports betting
Michigan bit the bullet and authorized both live and online sports betting. This might seem like a no-brainer, but in some states like New York, only live sports betting is allowed.
In states like New Jersey and Nevada where there is a history of both online and live betting it is clear that mobile sports betting is extremely popular. In the not too distant future, Michigan sportsbook apps could see over 80% of all sports bets.
If legislators had decided to forego Michigan online betting, they would have made a big mistake. Without online, there is a much smaller incentive for bettors to abandon their offshore betting sites and return to the legal environment. State gambling tax revenues would be much lower and customer protections almost absent. State regulation of sports betting allows for provisions to help protect punters against problem gambling.
The casinos offering sports betting online are restricted to offering only one brand each. However, sufficient numbers of tribal casinos are likely to enter the market so that there should be a wide choice of brands for sports bettors to use.
That makes for competitive odds, lots of new customer promotions and a much healthier commercial environment.
Legal sports betting apps in Michigan
Michigan has followed the example of other states with licensed casinos and restricted sports betting to its licencees.
There are only three state licensed casinos, all of them in Detroit. All are luxury high end casinos offering an experience that would not be out of place in Las Vegas. It is likely that sports betting will begin first at the casinos and then go online a short time later. That’s how it worked in Pennsylvania which is managing gaming in a similar way to Michigan.
Not all tribal casinos are likely to offer a Michigan sport betting app or get into internet gambling, but enough will to provide serious competition to Detroit.
The Detroit casinos will all be in the market. They are:
William Hill Sportsbook & Greektown Casino Hotel
The Greektown Casino Hotel is a 30 story building containing 100,000 square feet of gaming space. The 344 foot high building includes a 400 bedroom hotel and a huge conference center.
The buildings are owned by Vici Properties. Penn National paid Vici $300 million to operate the casino business plus another $56 million a year in rent.
Penn National already has sports betting at several of its properties in other states. It has several sports betting partners, but Michigan law proposes to allow only one brand partner per casino.
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Kambi provides Penn with sports betting technology, but the online brand Greektown will use will be William Hill.
BetMGM Sportsbook & MGM Grand Detroit
The MGM Grand Casino in Detroit turned 20 years old in July last year. When it opened in 1999 it boasted that it was the first luxury casino resort hotel outside Las Vegas.
Like Greektown, the MGM Grand has 100,000 square feet of casino space. That’s enough for 3,500 slots as well as casino game spaces. The resort includes 401 bedrooms and a 30,000 square foot conference area.
Owners MGM aim to be active in every possible state sports betting market, including Michigan. To this end they have struck a strategic partnership with British company GVC. GVC may be familiar through some of its brands, Sportingbet and PartyPoker.
The two companies have a joint venture called Roar Digital. Roar will use the playMGM and betMGM brands for sports betting and casino games. As Michigan has legalized online poker, PartyPoker will soon return to the state.
The enthusiasm for MGM’s sports betting ambitions is set out by the fact that the Grand already has a sports betting lounge.
The Moneyline Sports Lounge is close to the hotel valet entrance, opposite the TAP restaurant. The room is non-smoking and open to anyone 21 and over. The Moneyline features a 60-foot wide screen, which can show one game or multiple games at the same time.
FanDuel Sortsbook & MotorCity Casino Hotel
The Motorcity Casino Hotel is a luxury casino resort on Grand River Avenue in Detroit. The business is owned by Marian Ilitch of IH Gaming (Detroit Entertainment, LLC).
She and her late husband founded Little Caesars Pizza and as could be expected, there’s a branch in the casino’s restaurant area.
The resort also has 100,000 square feet of casino space, but there are fewer slots than at the MGM Grand. Nevertheless, 2,800 slots should provide enough variety for every taste. 59 table games are available as well as two poker rooms.
The Greektown has plans for a new sports lounge. Customers can expect large banks of monitors displaying the latest betting info as well as live games. VIP areas, a bar and luxury seating are a guaranteed to be features.
Sports betting at Michigan Tribal Casinos
There are 12 Native American gaming tribes in Michigan operating a total of 23 licensed casinos.
Not all the casinos are likely to offer sports betting but there is scope for quite a few to offer online sports betting, casino and poker.
Some have already begun negotiations with sports betting providers and two deals have already been announced.
The Lac Vieux Desert (LVD) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians has a struck a 20 year deal with PointsBet. Australian company PointsBet has deals with casinos giving it access to 10 states. It has operations up and running in New Jersey and Iowa with an Indiana launch next on its schedule.
The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians has a deal with The Stars Group which will operate under its FoxBet brand in Michigan. Interestingly Stars thought it had Michigan market access sewn up after striking a deal with Penn National. That deal gave Stars the rights to use a second skin for Penn’s Greektown Casino. Unfortunately the new law only allows one brand or skin per licensee, so Stars had to find another partner for its Michigan ambitions.
Mobile sports betting details
Of course, now that Michigan allows mobile sports betting, the real answer to where you can place bets is absolutely anywhere in the state. Senator Hertel said that he thinks mobile will launch before retail sports betting in casinos, but the delay is likely to be weeks not months.
It is fair to say that the legislation’s May 18, 2020 is a best before by date, the date before which sports betting will definitely start. If so, the end date for mobile sports betting will be around mid-June. By then you will be able to set up a mobile sports betting account and place bets from home or on your travels.
However, even though your phone is mobile, Michigan’s sports betting laws only apply within state borders. As soon as your mobile device crosses the state border you will no longer be able to place bets with your Michigan account.
Geo-location technology is now phenomenally accurate. If you do cross the state line you will find that any bets you have placed beforehand remain current, but you can’t place any more bets until you have safely returned to Michigan.
Michigan sports betting data must be official
One area where Michigan has diverged from the norm is in giving sports the right to demand that sport betting operators use official data for settling their bets.
The sports leagues have advocated for these provisions in every state which has legalized sports betting. Few states have succumbed to the argument, and Michigan’s provisions contain several get-outs.
If the data is not offered to betting operators on commercial terms, the regulator can erase the requirement and allow operators to use other data sources. This forces the leagues to act sensibly in their pricing as they are in effect competing against alternative providers.
Taxes and fees for Michigan online sports betting are competitive
State politicians can sometimes get big eyes when looking at potential revenues from legalizing gambling. There’s no doubt sports betting is big business and legislators want to get the largest possible slice of the pie. They have a monopoly power to grant or refuse licences, so why not squeeze as hard as possible?
Two reasons why not. Experience in other jurisdictions shows that there’s a sweet spot for tax rates that generates the maximum revenues. There’s a second sweet spot which provides the most attractive offer to bettors to entice them away from offshore alternatives.
The good news is that Michigan has taken this evidence on board–Michigan tax rates for sports betting are competitive.
The basic sports betting tax rate is 8.4 percent on adjusted gross sports betting receipts. The three Detroit casino pay an additional 1.25 percent city tax. For the first five years, money given to customers for free-play promotions may be deducted from the gross receipts before taxes are levied.
Nevada’s tax rate is 6.75 percent, so Michigan is in the ball park. Even New Jersey’s rates are higher given that it has an 8.5 percent rate for live sports betting and 13 percent for mobile and online wagers.
Online poker and casino games are not so lucky. Governor Whitmer was much less inclined to sign the bill authorizing these games, so insisted on higher taxes.
Michigan tiers tax rates for online poker and casino
Taxes on casino and poker games will be:
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At the lower revenue figures these are at the top end of the tax sweet spot. At the higher end, these tax rates will reduce the proportion of players migrating from offshore sites and reduce the potential tax take for the state.
Things could be worse. Pennsylvaniahas a basic sports betting tax rate of 34 percent. On balance Michigan looks to have made a sensible compromise.
How old do I have to be to place sports bets in Michigan?
The state licensed casinos in Michigan have a minimum age limit of 21. The two new laws enshrine this in legislation for both retail and online sports betting.
The tribal casinos vary. Some allow gambling for 18 or 19 year olds, others keep to the standard 21. Specifically:
Minimum age 18
Minimum age 19
How do I begin sports betting in Michigan sports?
Assuming retail sports betting begins first, you will need to visit one of the three Detroit Casinos or a tribal casino to place your first legal sports bets in Michigan.
First step is to register with the casino. All three casinos offer their own VIP benefits schemes and you don’t have to play regularly to get valuable discounts on meals, accommodation and entertainment.
Then its simply a question of deciding what to bet on. There are lots of alternatives available including a wide range of sports and bet types. If you’re not sure what any of it means, ask the casino staff and they will explain anything you don’t understand. Read on below for details of the most popular bet types.
There will be two ways to bet. Either at a self-service kiosk, compete with touch screen, or at one of several teller windows.
You will receive a receipt and betting ticket which you need to keep. If your bet wins, take the ticket back to the window to receive your winnings.
The luxury nature of the Detroit casinos and many of the tribal casinos mean they make great places to visit even if you don’t want to bet. That’s useful if you like sports and want to watch a game while you place your bets but your partner wants to do other things. A game and a luxury meal out can make a great trip for both of you.
How do I download Michigan online sports betting app
Michigan online sports betting gets rid of the need to physically visit the casino. As soon as internet sports betting launches you can set up an account online in minutes. This is another excellent decision made by Michigan legislators.
In Nevada, you need to open an account at a bricks and mortar casino if you want to bet online. You’ll have to do the same in neighboring Illinois, at least for the first year. But in Michigan there’s no need to physically visit a casino before betting online.
Michigan has followed the experience of New Jersey which has so far been a model of how to introduce legal sports betting.
To set up an online account you go to the sign up page using any of the links you’ll find on TheLines review pages.
There is a simple online form to fill out. Personal details are legally required to avoid any under age gambling. You then choose a screen name and password and you’re ready to go.
If you set up your account on a mobile device, you will need to download the relevant app first. The process is then the same, but many people find it easier to enter text using their laptop. If you set up your account using your PC, your account will automatically work on your mobile device. Simply download the app and sign in using your new user name and password.
Many of the new sports betting operators will offer special deals for new customers. Check the offers out before you open your first account.
How do I make a deposit?
Obviously you need money to place your first bets. This works similarly to having an online bank account. The sports betting operator accepts deposits from many different methods. The new laws actually specify a minimum number of methods that the casinos must provide.
Your deposit is linked directly to your account, so you can always see your account balance online. When you make a bet the money is debited from your sports betting account. When you win, the operator credits your account.
The common deposit methods include:
How do I withdraw my winnings?
Unless you have paid with cash at a PayNearMe service, you can usually use the same method to withdraw as you used to deposit. If not the normal way to get your cash out of your online account is with an echeck.
It’s worth saying that easy withdrawals are a major benefit of using the legal state regulated gambling services. You may have heard the horror stories of customers at the black market offshore sites who have lost money when they have gone bust. That’s bad enough but the common problem all the offshore sites have is that it takes them a long time to pay out winnings,
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 made it illegal for offshore operators to use the US banking system to make payments. State regulated gambling means you can make deposits and withdrawals through banks and payment providers like Skrill.
From a purely practical perspective, easy withdrawals and the security of your money make the best argument for switching your betting back to the good ol’ USA!
Can I use my casino VIP scheme online?
Michigan sports fans that already have a VIP account at one of the casinos are familiar with the various benefits of the programs.
The new laws require online sports betting operators to operate in partnership with a casino. This creates the opportunity to merge the benefits of online play and bets made at the casinos.
M Life Rewards from MGM is an example of online/offline synergy. Online sports bettors can earn points which can be used for benefits from the M Life scheme.
One of the reasons casinos are now in favor of internet gambling is that they have seen the benefits for their retail operations. In particular, younger sports bettors and poker players who wouldn’t otherwise visit a casino, may do so to take advantage of a promotion they see online.
Can I use my online account outside Michigan?
Michigan sports betting laws only apply inside the state borders. If you cross the border into another state you can no longer bet legally with a Michigan licensed operator.
If you already have an internet sports betting account in another state such as New Jersey, you cannot use that account in Michigan. Even if the same operator, the same brand opens in Michigan, you can’t use your New Jersey account. You must open a new account in Michigan.
The big sports betting operators like MGM and DraftKings are providing the technology to make it easier for existing customers to sign up for accounts in other states, including easy sharing of account balances. However, under no circumstances can you use an online account that is not licensed in the state where you are present.
As noted above, geo-location technology is outstanding. One step over the state line and the internet sports betting operator knows that it is no longer allowed to accept your bets.
Will the Michigan sports betting odds be competitive?
The tax provisions of the new law make it easy for casinos and online sports betting operators to offer competitive odds for sports fans.
The Michigan system means several operators will compete for every sports fan who wants to bet, and that means competing on price.
Odds should be no different from those offered in Vegas. What bettors should notice is when odds vary from one Michigan operator to another. The big business of sports betting uses sophisticated algorithms and data for setting the odds of any event. The systems differ from operator to operator, so sometimes you can get better odds at a different online account. It costs nothing to check, so if you are a regular bettor it is worth establishing several online accounts.
What sports can I bet on in Michigan?
The new Michigan sports betting laws leave it up to the regulator to determine valid sporting events for betting. The law does specify that bets can’t be placed on sports events involving minors, so no high school football, but almost all other sports may be offered.
The list of sports available in other jurisdictions typically includes:
For the less popular sports, wagers are only offered on major competitions. These might include the Olympic Games, and the World Cup for rugby.
What types of sports bets can I make in Michigan?
Again, the law doesn’t place restrictions on the types of bets that can be placed. Modern technology allows for some quite innovative options. The most popular of these include:
Some bet types depend on winning several bets in a row
In-game wagering & In-play bets
Legal state-regulated sports betting sites get access to real time sports data that means they can offer bets even after a game has started.
With in-game bets you don’t have to pick the winner before the game starts, you can wait and see how the teams perform before placing your bet.
As the game progresses, the sports betting operator can see what impact play has had on possible outcomes—in other words, the odds change as the game progresses. They can offer odds almost instantaneously on outcomes whose probability has changed since the game began.
If you have bet on one team to win and the play is going against them, then you can place an in-game bet to protect your losses.
Other in-game bets available might be on the score at the end of a half or which player will score the most.
In countries where in-game betting is legal, it has become extremely popular. In the UK almost 80 percent of all bets placed on a match are now placed in-game. Admittedly many of these are bets placed by people who just didn’t manage to get their bet on before the match started!
These bets make watching games a lot more exciting and have become enormously popular wherever they are legal. In particular, in-game betting is another big advantage only offered by legal operators. Offshore operators not licensed in the US don’t have the same data access to make these bets possible.
The reality is that the legal betting environment offers a lot more fun than betting offshore at some dodgy operator!
Will Michigan allow bets to be cashed out early?
One further advantage of the real-time data is that operators can now offer to cash out your bet before the final outcome is known. They can use their knowledge of how the probability of you winning has changed since the game began to offer price for you to close your bet early.
Of course you pay a fee for this service. Nevertheless, it can avoid much heartache to cash out a winning bet before the opposing team makes a miracle recovery in the final quarter.
What companies will be offering sports betting?
Lots of sports betting companies want to get in on the market now that Michigan has legalized sports betting.
As mentioned above, William Hill, PointsBet , Fox Bet and playMGM will definitely be in the market. Other brands that will be pitching for a partnership with the remaining casinos include:
It would be no surprise to see all of these find a place in the market.
What other forms of internet gambling will be available in Michigan?
Michigan’s new laws are not just good news for sports fans. Online poker, online casino and online fantasy sports will all also be available. Online lottery is already available and the new laws restrict lottery games to the lottery and casinos may not offer them.
The wide variety of gambling is a sensible choice for Michigan. One of the problems highlighted by the regulator in France is that any internet gambling system that fails to offer a wide choice of games leaves a space for the black market.
Players and bettors who can only get their main game at an offshore site, take all their business offshore. On the other hand, if the legal system offers the games players want, then they have no reason not to switch.
Online poker players will get PokerStars and PartyPoker. Other brands like the WSOP and 888 are almost certain to join the market.
Online casino and slots players will soon find thousands of new slot titles and tens of varieties of table games to choose from.
Where will Michigan gambling tax revenues go?
Michigan’s gambling taxes are largely hypothecated to specific government services.
“(i) The hiring, training, and deployment of street patrol officers in that city.
(ii) Neighborhood development programs designed to create jobs in that city with a focus on blighted neighborhoods.
(iii) Public safety programs such as emergency medical services, fire department programs, and street lighting in that city.
(iv) Anti-gang and youth development programs in that city.
(v) Other programs that are designed to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life in that city.
(vi) Relief to the taxpayers of the city from 1 or more taxes or fees imposed by the city.
(vii) The costs of capital improvements in that city.
(viii) Road repairs and improvements in that city.”
Of the 30 percent going to central state funds, $500,000 will go to the compulsive gaming prevention fund. A full $2 million goes to a fund to support first responders who have been injured.
All remaining funds, after administrative expenses go directly to the state school aid fund to be spent on education.
Gambling life in Michigan is centered around the Detroit area, as this where most of the land-based gambling establishments are located. The state offers both commercial and Indian-operated casinos as well as pari-mutuel horse race wagering, charitable gambling and lotto games. Unfortunately, despite the size of its casino industry, Michigan has not passed any iGaming regulations up to this point. Consequently, local online gambling enthusiasts are forced to stick to offshore real money gaming platforms that continue to accept United States-based players.
Online Gambling in Michigan
Michigan Statutes make it illegal for the local businesses to host real money games without obtaining a state-issued license. Furthermore, participating in unlawful gambling activities as a player is also against the current state-level gambling regulations. The penalties involved depend on the amount of money received by the gambler after the game. If your winnings don’t exceed $50, you’re likely to be charged with a misdemeanor.
However, if your winnings exceed $50, the punishment is going to be much more severe and might even involve some jail time. While this might sound unreasonably harsh and scary, it’s worth pointing out that none of those regulations apply specifically to online play, so the local authorities are reluctant about going after people who frequent internet gambling sites. Since there are no cases of online players being put on trial due to illegal gambling activities, it’s pretty much impossible to determine how this issue would be tackled by a Michigan court.
Casinos & Sportsbooks Accepting Players From Michigan
Casino Games
There are 26 brick and mortar casinos in Michigan, but if you want to see what the local gaming industry is capable of, you can stick to visiting the Motor City Casino and MGM Grand in Detroit, Soaring Eagle in Mt. Pleasant and perhaps FireKeepers in Battle Creek. Obviously, touring the local casinos requires a lot of money. Fortunately online play provides you with a cheap alternative without forcing you to stop playing your favorite games. You’ll find the list of the best Michigan-facing casinos right below this text.
Michigan Sports Betting
Pari-mutuel betting offered by licensed Michigan facilities isn’t enough to satisfy the needs of the local punters, so it should come as no surprise that many Michigan-based sports betting enthusiasts have been joining offshore sportsbooks over the past few years. Those sites give you access to a wide range of sports and offer unrivaled event coverage – and if that wasn’t enough, the bonuses and prices tend to be surprisingly good too. If you’re interested in checking some of those sites out, make sure to follow our recommendations!
Poker
Live poker games are still very popular within the borders of Michigan, but there’s no denying the fact that virtually every poker enthusiast plays most of his hands over the internet these days. Online poker allows for faster learning and more strategy-oriented play. If you haven’t tried it up to this point, now is a good time to give it a chance by signing up with one of our recommended sites.
Online Gambling FAQ
Where can I find regulations that pertain to gambling in Michigan?
The gambling-specific information is available in the Michigan Code, but Section 432 is the most important part.
What forms of gambling are legal and regulated within the borders of Michigan?
Michigan is a fairly liberal state, which means that all the popular forms of gambling are regulated. This include pari-mutuel betting, state-owned lotto, poker, casino games and charity gambling.
What is the legal status of online gambling in Michigan?
The legal status of online gambling is ambiguous, but the state hasn’t tried prosecuting people who gamble online.
Do offshore gambling sites accept Michigan residents?
Yes. Offshore sites never refuse to accept new Michigan-based players.
How can I deposit to an offshore gambling site from Michigan?
In most cases the only way to go through with the deposit is to use a Visa or MasterCard credit card.
How can I withdraw my money from an offshore iGaming site if I live in Michigan?
The most popular methods are bank wire transfer and check by courier.
Where To Gamble Online
Is Michigan planning to regulate online gambling in the future?
Michigan lawmakers simply can’t agree on this issue, so it’s impossible to say what the future will bring. However, we wouldn’t expect anything significant to happen this year.
Gambling History – Interesting Facts
1. Regulated horse racing was introduced to Michigan in 1933.
2. Michigan lottery began selling tickets in 1972. Charitable gambling was allowed later that year.
Can I Gamble Online In Michigan
3. Despite the fact that both decisions proved to be right, it took 20 years for the local authorities to allow for further expansion of the local gambling industry.
Michigan Gambling Resources
Michigan Compiled Laws:
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List of Casinos in Michigan:
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