Gambling In Michigan

Whether it’s sports betting, casinos, poker or online gambling, Michigan bettors have more choices than ever before. bestbonusbets.com provides bettors with trusted and up-to-date Michigan-specific gambling information for the best Michigan online gambling sites.

Latest Gambling News in Michigan

Part of our mission is to consistently provide up-to-date Michigan gambling news and developments. We do that with stories, blogs and social media, and even provide ways to participate in the rule-making process with links to Michigan Gaming Control Board public hearings in which questions, comments and suggestions from the public are permitted and encouraged.

About Us and Our Comprehensive Coverage

We have a team on the ground in Michigan with extensive knowledge of the state’s gambling market, from sports wagering to internet poker and real money Michigan online casino sites. Our experienced team regularly evaluates and reviews legal Michigan betting apps and sites. We report and update when new products, casino games and sites are introduced.

Here, bettors will find dedicated pages on specific topics such as:

All You Need to Know About Gambling in Michigan

In addition to updated news coverage, bestbonusbets.com provides resources from applicable state agencies, including the Michigan Gaming Control Board ( www.michigan.gov./mgcb ), which regulates gambling in the state. This enables you to gain access to:

  • Licensing information
  • Casino revenues and wagering tax information
  • Michigan Gaming Control & Revenue Act regulations
  • Michigan tribal casino news, locations and information

As the state’s gambling menu continues to expand, bettors can expect additional resources, with the goal to make bestbonusbets.com the most comprehensive Michigan wagering information site.

Launch Dates

Michigan already allowed commercial and tribal casino gambling when lawmakers enacted sweeping gambling expansion legislation, signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in December 2019. The expansion included in-person and mobile sports betting, online casino gambling, online poker and Daily Fantasy Sports.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board is adopting rules and regulations for each. Projected launch dates:

In-person sports gambling: Began in March 2023 with the state’s first sports bet at MGM Grand Detroit.

Online sports betting, casino gambling, poker: Online sports betting and casino gambling launched on Jan. 22, 2023. Online poker launched on Jan. 29, 2023.

Daily Fantasy Sports: Industry leaders DraftKings and FanDuel were already operating in Michigan. Lawmakers formally legalized Daily Fantasy Sports, adding regulation and a tax structure.

Gambling Products Available in Michigan

Michigan offers one of the widest range of gambling options in the U.S., including:

  • Legal online sports wagering, online casino gambling (slots, blackjack, other casino-style games) and internet poker, launched in January 2024.
  • Commercial casino gambling with slots and table games at three Detroit casinos and 23 licensed tribal casinos across the state.
  • In-person sports betting at Detroit casinos and most tribal casinos.
  • Live poker rooms throughout the state and casino poker rooms.
  • Pari-mutuel wagering on live harness racing and simulcast horse racing.
  • Online horse racing using advance deposit wagering platforms (TVG, TwinSpires, etc.).
  • Daily Fantasy Sports
  • Bingo
  • Lottery

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Online Gambling Operators Available in Michigan

All of the biggest online sportsbooks and gambling operators have announced deals to operate in Michigan. Some are partnered with the state’s three commercial casinos in Detroit, others with Native American tribal casinos around the state.

The list of Michigan online operators and the land-based Michigan casinos that they are affiliated with:

Online operator License holder
BetMGM MGM Grand Detroit
FanDuel MotorCity Casino
Penn National Gaming Greektown Casino
BetRivers Little River Casino Resort
DraftKings Bay Mills Resorts & Casino
Parx Gun Lake Casino
BetAmerica Island Resort & Casino
GAN Kewadin casino properties
PointsBet Northern Waters Casino
Fox Bet Odawa Casinos
Golden Nugget Ojibwa Casinos
William Hill Turtle Creek Casino

Michigan Gambling Revenue Numbers

Detroit casinos handled a record $15.7 million in sports betting revenue in August 2023, according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). It wasn’t a difficult record to set — casino sportsbooks opened in March but closed less than a week later due to the coronavirus and did not reopen until August (at 15% capacity). In early 2024, the retail sports betting handle was at least $23 million for each month; the figure hit a high of $46.1 million in October 2023.

And that was just for retail. The mobile sports betting numbers were much higher, with handle hitting at least $237 million in each month from February to May 2024, peaking at $359 million in March. Adjusted Gross Sports Betting receipts also hit a record in March 2024 at nearly $19 million. In September 2024 the mobile books reported $354.2 million in revenue and that, combined with $32.5 million at retail books, helped the state set a total handle record at $386.8 million.

Detroit casinos had combined revenue of $69 million in August 2023, about 40% less than the previous August, due to the pandemic. Revenue from slots and tables games exceeded $120 million in January and February, before the pandemic hit. But by early 2024 the three commercial casinos were recording solid numbers again, surpassing $100 million each month in revenue from March through September.

Michigan Gambling Laws

Highlights of some of Michigan’s most important gambling laws:

Commercial casinos: Voters in 1996 approved the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act, allowing up to three privately owned casinos within Detroit city limits. MGM Grand Detroit was the first to open in 1999, followed by MotorCity Casino and Greektown.

Tribal casinos: Michigan is home to 23 licensed tribal casinos, owned by 12 federally recognized Native American tribes. Because Native American tribes are sovereign nations, the state has no regulatory approval over tribal casinos. The state does have oversight authority over written compacts between the tribes and the state.

Gambling age: The legal gambling age to wager at Detroit’s three casinos is 21. The same for online gambling in the state. However tribal casinos can establish their own age requirements, with some setting a minimum age of 18. The minimum age in Michigan to wager on pari-mutuel racing and lottery is 18.

Tax Rates: Michigan commercial casino gaming revenue is taxed at 19% (10.9% to city of Detroit, 8.1% to state). Michigan’s tax rate for sports betting is 8.4%, with the three Detroit casinos paying an additional 1.2% to the city. The state’s online gaming tax rates are set at 20-28%, depending on total adjusted gross revenue.

Regulation: The Michigan Gaming and Control Board is responsible for all regulation and licensing of the state’s commercial casino gaming and sportsbook operations.

Responsible Gambling

It’s part of our mission to be a resource for gambling education and provide support information to Michigan bettors who may have a casino gambling or sports betting problem. We provide contacts for support groups such as the Michigan Problem Gambling Hotline (https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/) and links for ways to help prevent gambling addiction, such as setting deposit and wagering limits and how to self-exclude from wagering for any period of time.

References

  1. Michigan Gaming Control Board
  2. US Department of Justice
  3. American Gaming Association
  4. National Council on Problem Gambling
  5. International Association of Gaming Regulators

Contributors

Bryce Derouin

Reviewer since August 2023

With a decade in the media and gambling space in Michigan, I aim to bring you the latest news and developments in Michigan online casino and sports betting.

Interests: Online casinos, Online sports betting, Online poker, Gambling news