• Hard Rock Casino Online Gambling
• Online Gambling Michigan
• Michigan Casino Online Gambling Sites
• Harrah's Casino Online Gambling
• Tropicana Casino Online Gambling

BetMGM Online Casino is the online casino arm of one of the world’s largest casino companies, MGM Resorts International. The site will operate in Michigan under the license of MGM Grand Detroit. BetMGM is the result of a joint venture between MGM and tech partner GVC Holdings, and is already active in New Jersey and West Virginia.

Best Launch Offers For Michigan Online Gambling

Licensed in Michigan

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BetRivers Michigan Review

Licensed in Michigan

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FanDuel Michigan Review

Licensed in Michigan

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Sportsbook Rating Excellent
DraftKings Michigan Review

When Will Michigan Launch Online Gambling?

The Michigan Gaming Control Board hopes for legal Michigan online gambling to launch in early January 2021.

The state legalized online gambling in December 2019, which includes online casinos, sports betting, and poker, as per the law signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Under the initial Michigan gambling bill, a 2021 launch was expected for Michigan gambling apps. There was an ongoing legislative effort in Michigan to accelerate the planned rollout of legal online gambling and sports betting, hoping to boost revenue in the state. The Michigan Gaming Control Board started accepting license applications for both online gambling and online sports betting. It was hopeful that apps would launch in November or December 2020, but now that is unlikely.

Under state rules, the Michigan state legislature needed 15 session days remaining in its calendar in order to finalize the Michigan online gambling rules. As time was running out in the calendar year and legislative calendar, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules met on December 1 to waive the waiting period so that rules could be finalized before the end of the year. State senators were hopeful this meant apps could launch before Christmas.

Unfortunately, the MGCB had to cancel its December 8 meeting due to COVID. Because it takes 4-6 weeks to finalize licenses, it is now assumed that we won’t see online gambling apps until early January 2021.

Michigan’s commercial land-based casinosall launched retail sportsbooks in March 2020. Tribal casinos across the state also started opening live sportsbooks throughout the state and will continue throughout the year. Some of these sportsbooks have closed periodically through the year due to COVID.

Michigan Online Gambling Update

In case you missed it, here’s some of the latest news to come out of the Michigan gambling industry we’ve covered on Michigan Sharp.

• Michigan online gambling launch may be delayed until January although there is still a chance for a December launch. Read more on Michigan launch plans.
• BetRivers Michigan is offering $50 in free bets as their pre-launch promotion. Claim here.
• FanDuel Michigan is offering $100 in free bets as a pre-launch promo. FanDuel Pre-Launch Details.
• DraftKings Michigan is offering $200 in free bets as a pre-launch bonus. DraftKings Pre-Launch Details.
• Michigan online sports betting and online casinos are coming soon, but online sportsbooks are already putting out pre-launch bonuses. Check out all the live online gambling bonuses available.
• After a December 1, 2020, meeting of Michigan’s Joint Committee of Administrative Rules, legislators were hopeful of a launch before the end of the year. The MGCB had to cancel its December 8 meeting, though, due to COVID, which looks to delay the launch.
• Detroit casinos are showing their resiliency, bouncing back from springtime pandemic shutdowns and notching $100 million in revenue for October. Unfortunately, casinos closed again at the end of November.
• Hopes for Michigan launching online gambling ahead of schedule are fading, but there’s still a chance for a 2020 launch.

Michigan Online Casinos

One of the most anticipated launches of the year, Michigan bettors will soon have access to a variety of online casino apps. The MGCB is currently finalizing rules and regulations before online casinos are able to debut, most likely at the start of 2021. This will allow players to use mobile apps or desktop browsers to access a variety of slots and table games and play for real money.

Michigan gaming regulators had hoped for the launch of the state’s mobile casino apps before the end of 2020. The online casinos will be partnered with Michigan’s retail casinos. The three Detroit casinos will launch online casinos under the brands BetMGM, FanDuel Casino, and Hollywood Casino. Other mobile casinos will launch in partnership with Michigan’s tribal casinos, including DraftKings Casino, BetRivers Casino, and Golden Nugget.

Michigan Online Sports Betting

Currently, Michigan offers sports fans the opportunity to bet at retail sportsbooks in Detroit as well as at tribal casinos throughout the state. We anticipate, though, that by the start of 2021, bettors will see several legal online sports betting apps debut.

Michigan became the 20th state to legalize online sports betting, but it’s taken the state some time to develop rules and regulations to allow sportsbooks to launch their apps. The Michigan Gaming Control Board is in the process of auditing the software before launch. But, it’s imminent.

Partnerships already announced mean that bettors will soon have access to top sports betting apps in Michigan, including FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings and FOX Bet, among others.

Michigan Online Poker

Michigan joins the short list of states that offer legal online poker in the US. This includes New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. West Virginia plans to launch online poker as well.

Like online casinos and sports betting, online poker sites in Michigan will operate in partnership with the state’s commercial or tribal casinos. After the state finalizes rules and regulations regarding online poker, Michigan players will see versions of PokerStars and partypoker. These platforms offer a full slate of cash games, tournaments, and progressive jackpot sit & gos. It’s also possible that Michigan could see WSOP.com as well, but they haven’t announced any partnership as of yet.

Michigan Sweepstakes Sites

Michigan players can legally enjoy sweepstakes casino platforms, which offer the opportunity to play sweepstakes casino games and poker for cash prizes.

Sweepstakes casinos like Chumba Casino offer slots, table games, and video poker. Michigan players can pick between play money and sweepstakes versions of all of the games at Chumba Casino.

The sweepstakes games use credits known as “Sweeps Coins” as currency, which can redeemed for cash prizes. Global Poker, a sister site to Chumba casino, offers sweepstakes poker using the same “Sweeps Coins” method.

Michigan Betting Information

Among traditional commercial casinos, tribally-owned casinos, the Michigan Lottery, sports betting, and online gaming, Michigan offers many forms of legal gambling. By the end of 2020, we hope to see legal online sports betting and online casino apps across the state.

Our goal is to be the number one resource you can reference and provide you with the necessary information you’ll need before gambling in Michigan, including top Michigan bonuses for online casinos and sportsbooks.

History of Gambling in Michigan

The first form of gambling that became legal in Michigan was when the state passed the Racing Act of 1933, which created regulation around betting on pari-mutuel horse racing. Years later in 1972, the state legalized the lottery.

The 1980s brought casino gaming to Michigan. In 1984, Keweenaw Bay Indian tribe member Fred Dakota ran blackjack games from his two-car garage in a setup he called The Pines. Later that same summer the Bay Mills Indian Band started the first tribal-sanctioned casino on their land, the Kings Club Casino.

Fast-forward to today, and Michigan hosts three commercially-owned casinos in the Detroit area and 23 tribal casinos throughout the state. Michigan online gaming is poised to launch by the end of 2020.

Key Dates in Michigan’s Gambling History

• Dec. 1, 2020: The Joint Committee of Administrative Rules met to consider waiving the 15-session-day requirement for final gambling rules approval.
• Nov. 18, 2020: Michigan lawmakers issue an emergency order forcing commercial casinos to shut down due to surging COVID-19 case numbers.
• Sept. 23, 2020: MGCB held a public hearing to finalize rules and regulations.
• Aug. 5, 2020: After a nearly five-month shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan’s three Detroit-based casinos reopen.
• March 11, 2020: Retail sportsbooks go live for the first time. Land-based casinos are forced to shut down just days later, however, due to the COIVD-19 pandemic.
• Dec. 2019: The Governor of Michigan signed a law legalizing regulated online gaming and sports betting throughout the state.
• Nov. 10, 2000: Greektown Casino-Hotel opened its doors to become the third casino in Detroit.
• Dec. 14, 1999: MotorCity Casino Hotel became the second casino to open in Detroit.
• July 29, 1999: The MGM Grand in Detroit officially opened to the public.
• Nov. 1996: Proposal E was approved during the ‘96 election and construction of three commercial casinos was approved to break ground in Detroit.
• July 4, 1984: The Bay Mills Indian Band officially opened the doors to the first tribal-owned casino in the USA – Kings Club Casino.
• Jan. 1984: Fred Dakota opened up a single blackjack table casino in his garage on Keweenaw Bay Indian Tribe land.
• Nov. 24, 1972: The first Michigan Lottery draw occurred.
• May 16, 1972: State voters approved the Michigan state lottery.
• 1933: Racing Act of 1933 was passed regulating pari-mutuel horse racing.

Michigan Betting FAQ

Michigan News

Hard Rock Casino Online Gambling

Yes. Michigan hosts 23 tribal and three commercial casinos, all of which offer legal gambling.

You must be at least 21 years or older to legally gamble at the commercial casinos located near Detroit, Michigan. However, tribal casinos have their own age limits. Depending on which tribal casino the age requirements range from a minimum age of 18 to 21.

Online Gambling Michigan

Yes, online gambling is legal in Michigan. In 2019, Michigan’s Gov. Gretchen Whitmer approved a law that fully legalized online casinos, poker, and sports betting. Michigan players can expect to be able to gamble online in January 2021.

Yes, as part of the 2019 legislation passed in Michigan online sports betting is now legal throughout the state. Retail sportsbooks launched in March 2020 while online sports betting apps and sites are expected to launch in January 2021.

Yes, virtually all online sportsbooks have developed an iOS app. We fully expect that Michigan sports bettors will be able to access these apps in January 2021 once the final sports betting regulations are finalized by state officials.

Yes, mobile sports betting apps are allowed in Michigan but they have not launched and are expected to start rolling out in January 2021.

Yes, but due to Google Play Store policies you will need to side-load any sports betting apps on your Android device.

Yes, Michigan has a state-run lottery available to anyone 18 years or older. In May of 1972, voters approved lottery games in Michigan and later that year the first lottery draw was held. Today, lottery games remain legal in Michigan.

Michigan Casino Online Gambling Sites

Yes, you can play select lottery games online. Michigan offers its residents the ability to purchase online versions of scratch-off lottery games online. For all other lottery games not available online there are over 10,000 licensed retailers throughout the state. You must be 18 years of age to play scratch-offs online.

Yes, casinos in Michigan are safe. Despite several of Michigan’s casinos being located near its largest city of Detroit it is still safe to gamble at casinos. Casinos are equipped with security, dealers and floor personnel as well as cameras.

Yes and no. Yes, you have to pay taxes if you win $5,000 or more. Casinos will withhold the federally mandated amount of 25% if you provide them with your social security number and if you refuse they will withhold 28%. This withholding is for federal income tax. For Michigan’s state tax, you are obligated to report it and it is subjected to a 4.25% state tax. If you win less than $5,000 then no, you will not have to pay taxes.

Yes, especially since loyalty programs are free to join. Casinos have created loyalty programs in order to keep you at their casino. They do this by providing you with free bets, discounted or free hotel rooms, food and beverage credits, and more. You should definitely sign up if you intend to consistently game. If you would rather not be marketed to then we would suggest not signing up as the direct email, email, and marketing efforts may be bothersome to you.

The MGM Grand in Detroit is owned and operated by MGM Resorts. MotorCity Casino Hotel is owned by IH Gaming, and Vici Properties owns the Greektown Casino Hotel.

Harrah's Casino Online Gambling

In addition to the three commercial casinos located near Detroit, the state has 23 casinos located on tribal land. Those casinos are owned by various native tribes that effectively operate autonomously.

Tropicana Casino Online Gambling

Yes, the state has several physical poker rooms, including FireKeepers Casino’s poker room which is the largest in the state. Also, once online gambling is up and running in early 2021, Michigan players will be able to play online poker.