Michigan Sports Betting

Legal Michigan sports betting began in March 2020 when the state’s three Detroit-based casinos unveiled their retail sportsbooks.

Ten online sportsbooks launched in January 2021, marking the beginning of online sports betting in Michigan. Additional sports betting sites have launched since to complement Michigan’s many land-based sportsbooks at commercial and tribal casinos.

Under Michigan sports betting law, licensed commercial casinos and tribal gaming properties may operate retail sportsbooks, online betting apps, online casinos, and poker sites.

Read on to learn more about Michigan betting apps, including how to take advantage of numerous welcome bonuses and other promotional offers.

Legal Michigan Betting Sites

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21+ and present in MI. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problems? Call 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help.

Michigan Online Sports Betting Apps

Online sports betting is legal in Michigan, and gamblers have many options to choose from thanks to a competitive open market.

The MGCB regulates sports betting and ensures online sportsbooks treat customers fairly. The first Michigan betting sites launched in January 2021, and more have followed suit since.

State law establishes a minimum age of 21 or older to bet online in Michigan.

Users may download mobile betting apps for iOS and Android devices from anywhere but must be located within state lines to place wagers.

Most Michigan online sportsbooks also operate websites that users can visit from any device to bet online.

Below is a list of all currently available Michigan sports betting apps:

Michigan Sports Betting Bonuses

Michigan has a healthy sports betting bonus landscape. Low taxes, lots of competition, and consumer protection laws that specifically address sportsbook promotions all make Michigan a great state for value-minded bettors.

State law requires all promotions to be fair and non-predatory, but the best Michigan betting bonuses stand above the rest in terms of value.

Here’s a snapshot of the types of Michigan welcome bonuses new players can expect to see:

  • Bonus bets: This is by far the most popular type of welcome bonus. A bonus bet requires new bettors to first place an eligible cash wager. The book only issues a refund if the wager loses, and the refund is paid in either bonus bets or site credit, never cash. The term “risk-free” is a misnomer since bettors must incur upfront risk to take advantage of the offer.
  • First deposit match bonus: This format is a favorite among online casinos, but a few MI sportsbooks use it too. The sportsbook matches a bettor’s first deposit either fully or partially with a bonus. The bonus must be turned over a number of times before it converts to cash. The lower the turnover requirement, the bettor the offer.
  • First wager match bonus: Instead of matching a bettor’s first deposit, the Michigan sportsbook matches the size of a bettor’s first wager, usually dollar-for-dollar. The matched bet may be paid as a credit or as a sportsbook bonus with a wagering requirement.

Michigan Law On Sports Betting Promotions

Michigan law regulates promotional offerings to protect consumers from unfair or deceiving practices.

As a result, most Michigan betting bonuses are simple in nature and non-predatory.

Not all promotions are great, but outright scams will be rare for as long as the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) oversees the industry.

R 432.749 of the MI sports betting regulations deals with promotions, advertising, and loyalty programs.

The key provisions related to betting promotions read as follows:

(2) A sports betting operator or internet sports betting platform provider may conduct internet sports betting bonus and promotional wagering offers subject to all of the following:

(a) A sports betting operator or internet sports betting platform provider must maintain a record of all bonus and promotional wagering offers related to internet sports betting in an electronic file that is readily available to the board.

(b) All bonus and promotional wagering offers must be stated in clear and unambiguous terms and must be accessible by the authorized participant after the offer is accepted and before completion.

(c) Offer terms and the record of all offers must include all of the following at a minimum:

(i) The date and time the offer is active and expires.

(ii) Authorized participant eligibility, including any limitations on participation.

(iii) Any restriction on withdrawals of funds.

(iv) Wagering requirements and limitations on events or wager types.

(v) The order in which funds are used for wagers.

(vi) Eligible events or wager types.

(vii) Rules regarding cancellation.

The rules further state that sportsbook operators must provide an easy method for Michigan sports bettors to cancel participation in promotional offers that come with wagering requirements.

Operators are also prohibited by law from limiting winnings earned while participating in an offer.

Michigan Sports Betting Promotions

In addition to lucrative welcome bonuses, Michigan online sports betting sites encourage bettors loyalty through frequent recurring promotions.

Some sportsbooks have more aggressive promotional schedules than others, but generally, here’s a glance at the type of offers bettors can expect to find:

  • Odds boosts: Nearly every MI sportsbook incorporates odds boosts into its promotional menu. Sportsbooks select certain bets and then offer more favorable odds on these events. Usually, the maximum wager amount on odds boosts is capped between $25 and $100.
  • Profit boosts: Similar to odds boosts, except instead of better odds, bettors receive a percentage bonus on top of their regular winnings.
  • Reduced juice: They may not be the most glamorous promotions, but reduced juice offers provide more value than nearly any other promo. Books slash the VIG on select bets. For instance, they may offer -105 or even +100 lines on NFL spreads, as opposed to the usual -110.
  • Bet & Get: Bettors who wager a certain amount on a game or market will receive a small bonus bet or sports betting bonus.
  • Parlay insurance: Bettors who place a multi-leg parlay wager will receive a refund, usually as a bonus bet or site credit, if just one leg loses.
  • Leaderboards: These free-to-play contests award bettors who make the most correct picks for an NFL slate. May be conducted weekly or seasonally.
  • Crossover promotions: In states where both online casino gaming and sports betting are legal, like Michigan, operators may offer promotions that award casino bonuses for placing sports wagers, or vice versa.

In addition, MI betting apps may offer VIP loyalty programs that award reward points, which may be exchanged for bonus bets, site credit, merch, or other amenities.

VIPs may receive special customized promotions that have significant upside.

Michigan online sportsbooks may also support promos with structures similar to welcome bonuses.

Bonus bets, deposit match bonuses, and matched bet promos aimed at returning players are fairly common, although their monetary caps are often significantly lower compared to new player welcome offers.

Michigan Sports Betting Locations

Retail sportsbooks are licensed and regulated in Michigan.

As additional sportsbooks in Michigan launch, BettingUSA will update this page with details on each location:

Detroit Sportsbooks

  • BetMGM Sports Lounge at MGM Grand Detroit
  • ESPN Bet Sportsbook at Hollywood Greektown
  • FanDuel Sportsbook at MotorCity Casino

Other Retail Sportsbooks in Michigan

  • River Rock Sportsbook at Little River Casino
  • Island Resort & Casino Sportsbook
  • Daceys Sportsbook at Firekeeper Casino
  • Caesars Sportsbook at Turtle Creek Casino
  • Caesars Sportsbook at Leelanau Sands Casino
  • Odawa Casino Petoskey Sportsbook*
  • Odawa Casino Mackinaw Sportsbook*
  • Sportsbook at Four Winds Casino (New Buffalo, Dowagaic, and Hartford locations)
  • 131 Sportsbook at Gun Lake Casino
  • Ascend Sportsbook at Soaring Eagle Casino
  • DraftKings Sportsbook at Bay Mills Resort & Casino

Michigan Sports Betting Law

Michigan law permits online sports betting and retail sportsbooks at casinos.

Key points from the Michigan sports betting law include:

  • Minimum Age to Bet on Sports in Michigan: 21
  • Eligible Licensees: Commercial casinos in Detroit and Class III tribal casinos may apply for sports betting licenses
  • Michigan Online Betting Skins: Each casino may contract with a third-party provider to launch one online/mobile sportsbook
  • Regulatory Oversight: Division of Sports Betting under the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) regulates online sports betting and may adopt additional regulations as needed
  • Approved Wagers: Law allows a wide range of wager types including (but not limited to) “single-game bets, teaser bets, parlays, over-under, moneyline, pools, exchange betting, in-game betting, proposition bets, and straight bets;” full catalog of approved wager types and leagues available at MGCB website
  • Bet Restriction Requests: Sports leagues may request the Division to prohibit certain types of wagers if there are valid integrity concerns
  • Official Data: Sports leagues may inform the Gaming Control Board that they require sports betting operators to use official league data for in-play sports betting. If such a request is made, all operators must only use official league data within 60 days of Board notification unless the league cannot provide such data “on commercially reasonable terms.”
  • Responsible Gambling: Sports betting operators must allow patrons to voluntarily self-exclude themselves from establishing an account and the Gaming Control Board may add customers who have self-excluded to the responsible gaming database.
  • Violations: Law establishes penalties for acting as an illegal, unlicensed sports betting provider – felony charge, up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000

Michigan sportsbook licensing costs and tax rates:

  • Tax Rate: 8.4% state tax plus 1.25% municipal fee in cities that host casinos
  • Michigan Sports Betting Licensing Fees: $50,000 initial application fee, $100,000 successful licensing fee and an annual renewal fee of $50,000
  • Supplier Licenses: $5,000 licensing fee and $2,500 annual renewal fee; investigation costs may be added to the licensing fee

How Michigan Online Sportsbooks Are Regulated

The Lawful Sports Betting Act establishes the general guidelines under which online sportsbooks may operate.

Additional regulations (R 432.711 to R 432.77) adopted by the MGCB fill in the details to create an industry that is well-regulated, safe, and responsible.

The MGCB regulates sports betting and has the authority to “do anything necessary or desirable to effectuate this act, including, but not limited, all of the following:

  • Develop qualifications, standards and procedures for approving sports betting licenses
  • Promptly approve, deny, suspend, revoke, restrict or refuse to renew all sports betting licenses
  • Conduct all hearings related to violations of the new MI sports betting law
  • Collect all licensing fees, taxes and payments
  • Establish testing and auditing requirements for sports betting licensees
  • Establish responsible gaming and player protection requirements, including privacy and confidentiality standards
  • Develop a code of conduct governing Gaming Control Board employees to avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest
  • Conduct audits of sports betting operators
  • Establish rules and regulations governing the conduct of sports betting in Michigan

R 432.751a orders online sportsbooks to verify every customer’s age and identity before permitting them to create accounts and place wagers.

A follow-on rule, R 432.751b, states all personal information collected during identity verification must be kept “in a secure manner approve by the board.”

R 432.755 states sportsbooks must collect the following information, at a minimum, of every customer:

  • Legal name and date of birth
  • Full Social Security number or just the last four digits of the customer’s SSN
  • Address
  • Phone number and e-mail address

  • Sports betting operator license: Required to offer sports betting; limited to the operators of licensed commercial casinos in Michigan and tribal groups authorized to conduct Class III gaming ($50,000 application fee; $100,000 licensing fee; $50,000 annual fee)
  • Sports betting supplier license: Catch-all license for those who supply goods and services to sports betting operators; required for technology providers, data providers, affiliate marketers on revenue share agreements, equipment technicians, and more ($2,500 application fee; $5,000 licensing fee; $2,500 annual fee)
  • Occupational licenses: Required for individuals whose “duties directly impact the integrity of internet sports betting as determined by the board in its sole discretion…” ($250 application fee; $250 licensing fee; $250 biennial feel)
  • Vendor Licenses: Required for online gambling affiliates not on revenue share agreements, independent integrity monitoring providers, payment processors, anyone who provides over $100,000 worth of goods or services, data centers, and anyone else deemed necessary by the MGCB ($200 application fee; $100 renewal fee every five years)

R 432.731 requires all online sportsbooks to use geolocation technology to ensure all customers are physically located within state lines before permitting them to place wagers.

This rule is the reason betting apps ask users for permission to know their location. By law, sportsbooks must not accept wagers from users who decline to share their locations.

In some cases, sportsbooks may ask users to turn on Wi-Fi so the embedded geolocation technology can accurately pinpoint their location.

  • MI sports betting operators must ensure all bettors are located within state lines
  • If the MGCB authorizes multijurisdictional agreements, operators may accept wagers from persons located in other jurisdictions authorized by such an agreement
  • Operators must submit online sports betting platforms to the MGCB for independent testing and approval
  • The regulations provide many more details on technical requirements for data retention, data security, online security, server security, communication standards, self-monitoring of critical components, and more

R 432.741 establishes the process by which licensed sports betting providers must resolve customer complaints.

Most notably, the law requires sportsbooks to attempt to resolve all customer complaints. That means sportsbooks may not ignore customer complaints. Sportsbooks must investigate and respond to all complaints within ten days.

Furthermore, if an operator is unable to resolve a user complaint related to customer accounts, the settlement of wagers, or illegal activity, that operator must notify the MGCB of the complaint.

State law also requires sportsbooks to maintain records of all complaints for at least five years.

Michigan sports betting licensees may not accept wagers on any of the following:

  • Pari-mutuel horse racing wagering
  • Events played at the high school level or lower unless the majority of participants are 18 or older
  • Games typically found at a casino
  • Fantasy contests
  • The injury of a participant in a sports event
  • Any type of wager not permitted by federal law or approved by the MGCB

Michigan online sportsbooks may accept deposits and issue withdrawals via the following methods:

  • Credit or debit card
  • Cash or cash equivalent at locations approved by the MGCB
  • Promotional credits and winnings
  • Adjustments made by the operators with documented notification provided to the customer
  • ACH and wire transfers
  • “Any other means approved by the board”
  • Operators must honor withdrawal requests within ten business days

Passing The Michigan Sports Betting Bill

Extensive negotiations between pro-gaming lawmakers and Governor Whitmer were needed to legalize sports betting and online gambling in Michigan.

The governor’s chief concern was that legalizing online gambling would divert revenue away from the lottery and hurt funding for the Michigan School Aid Fund.

In the end, lawmakers struck an agreement with Governor Whitmer to raise the proposed tax rate and allocate revenue generated by online gambling to the School Aid Fund and Responder Coverage Fund to assist first responders stricken with cancer while on the job.

Both sides found the compromise acceptable, and Governor Whitmer signed HB 4916 for sports betting along with two other bills for online gambling and daily fantasy sports.

Now, Michigan casinos may apply for licenses to operate retail sportsbooks and online betting platforms.

The legalization of sports betting in Michigan once seemed like a significant long-shot effort, but major developments at the federal and state levels changed the landscape entirely.

The end of PASPA cleared the first major hurdle for Michigan’s legal sports betting efforts. In fact, PASPA was the primary hurdle for years because it blocked all states from enacting laws to authorize or regulate sports betting.

With PASPA struck down, Michigan was able to pass a state law legalizing and regulating sports betting. That effort was undertaken by lawmakers beginning in June 2018 with the Michigan House passing HB 4926 on a vote of 68-40 to send it over to the Senate.

The Senate was unable to pass the bill during the summer legislative session, but efforts resumed that fall.

Finally, during the waning hours of the 2018 session, lawmakers in the House and Senate approved a final version of the bill legalizing online casino games, poker, and sports betting.

While HB 4926 dealt primarily with online casinos and poker sites, it also authorized the Division of Internet Gaming (DIG) to approve online sports betting:

The division may permit internet gaming operators licensed by the division to accept internet wagers under this act on any amateur or professional sporting event or contest.

In a surprise move, outgoing governor Rick Snyder vetoed HB 4926 and its companion bills to put a hold on Michigan sports betting until the following year.

The next year would see the successful passage of a gambling expansion law authorizing not just sports betting but also online gambling sites, and establish regulations for daily fantasy sports.

Michigan Horse Racing Betting

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Michigan has one live racetrack at Northville Downs and a handful of licensed horse racing betting sites.

The Michigan legislature legalized advance deposit wagering in 2019 and several online racebooks have launched since:

Michigan Daily Fantasy Sports

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Daily fantasy sports sites such as FanDuel and DraftKings have been operating in MIchigan for many years, and nearly received formal legal status in 2018 with a piece of legislation that created a licensing process and established some basic consumer protection regulations.

That bill was vetoed on the same day in 2018 as the failed online gambling and sports betting bills, but lawmakers took up the issue once again the following year with the introduction of HB 4308.

Governor Whitmer signed the bill into law in December 2019 to formally legalize DFS, create a licensing process, and establish consumer protection regulations.

Michigan Online Gambling

Online casinos and poker sites are legal in Michigan for players 21 or older at gambling sites licensed by the MGCB.

Residents may also play the Michigan Lottery online. The official Michigan Lottery website offers online lottery ticket sales, subscriptions, and instant-win scratch cards for players 18 or older.

Michigan Online Casinos

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Licensed Michigan gambling sites accept customers 21 or older and provide access to a full range of casino-style games:

  • Slots
  • Table games like blackjack and baccarat
  • Video poker
  • Live dealer games

Readers can see a complete list of licensed online casinos in Michigan at the MGCB website here or follow the link below for BettingUSA’s recommended gambling sites:

Michigan Poker Sites

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Three Michigan poker sites hold MGCB licenses and accept players 21 or older.

All Michigan poker sites offer a mix of cash games and tournaments, but each takes a slightly different approach and has unique strengths.

For example, BetMGM Poker has unbelievably soft ring games, while WSOP Poker has a near lock on satellites to major land-based events.

Meanwhile, PokerStars is the best poker site for online tournaments.

Follow the link below for an overview of the Michigan online poker market and more details about every licensed operator:

Michigan Online Lottery

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The Michigan Lottery offers online ticket sales and instant win games for customers 18 and older. Players do not need to be residents, so anyone physically located within state lines is welcome to sign up and play online.

Governor Rick Snyder expressed support for taking the Michigan Lottery online in 2013, and the state lottery bureau promptly got to work.

In late 2014, the Michigan Lottery launched its online platform, and Michigan’s iLottery has experienced growth every year since.

The Michigan Online Lottery platform offers a full lottery experience from anywhere in the state. With an online account, customers can play 160+ online lottery games and buy tickets to all major drawings.

Readers can try the Michigan Lottery online and claim a welcome bonus at:

www.michiganlottery.com

Michigan Online Gambling Laws

The Michigan legislature legalized online gambling and poker sites in 2019 via HB 4311.

Also known as the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, HB 4311 authorized land-based casinos to offer online gambling and poker. Key points from the law include:

  • Customers must be 21 or older to play real-money casino games and poker online in Michigan
  • The Michigan Gaming Control Board regulates online casinos and poker sites in Michigan
  • Each land-based Casino in Michigan may operate up to two online gambling brands, one each for casino-style games and online poker

In the past, Michigan law considered it a crime to use the internet to play at unlicensed gambling sites. Public Act 185 repealed that provision in 2000, but offshore gambling sites in Michigan still pose significant financial risks.

Unlike licensed Michigan gambling sites, offshore casinos are unregulated.

That means they are not subject to basic consumer protection measures regarding fair gaming and customers’ funds, and players have no recourse if they are defrauded or have disputes with operators.

Organizing unlawful gambling games remains expressly illegal in Michigan. MI Comp L § 432.218 calls for up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $100,000 for organizing an unlicensed gambling game:

(1) A person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $100,000.00, or both, and shall be barred from receiving or maintaining a license for doing any of the following:

(a) Conducting a gambling operation where wagering is used or to be used without a license issued by the board.

(b) Conducting a gambling operation where wagering is permitted other than in the manner specified in section 9.

In December 2018, lawmakers in the House and Senate voted in favor of HB 4926 and sent it to the governor’s office for one last signature before becoming law.

Governor Snyder vetoed the bill at the last minute in 2018.

Some of the key regulations included:

  • Online casino games and poker will be legalized
  • Minimum age of 21 to play
  • Low tax rate of 8% foretells a thriving and competitive industry
  • 12-month delay before online gambling may begin

Senate Bill 203 was introduced in early 2017 in an attempt to legalize online casinos and poker.

This bill sought to establish the “Lawful Internet Gaming Act” and permit existing casino operators to take their casino and poker games online.

SB 203 called for a $200,000 licensing fee and a $100,000 renewal fee for online gambling sites, a 10% tax on gross revenues, and a variety of consumer protection regulations.

SB 203 was a promising start but could not garner the necessary votes to become law before the 2017 legislative season ended. That bill had little support among the state’s existing casino operators.

Additionally, lawmakers must always satisfy Michigan’s gaming tribes and commercial operators at the same time.

That bill appeared all but dead through the early months of 2017. However, the bill resurfaced once again in March of 2017.

The updated version of the bill made two concessions to tribal gaming interests in the hopes of making the bill more palatable for all interested parties.

One of those concessions was imposing a 12-month moratorium on commercial casinos launching online casino sites to give the tribes time to prepare their own regulations and launch plans.

Additionally, the bill gave tribal gaming interests more say in how they regulate online gambling.

Tribes would have still been subject to some state regulations, such as minimum age of participation, but the tribes would have been given more leeway in coming up with other regulations.

This all led up to the introduction of HB 4926 in 2017. HB 4926 read almost identically to the Senate bill from earlier in 2017.

However, lawmakers added language to the bill this time around to potentially allow Michigan to legalize sports betting on the condition that sports betting is not prohibited by federal law (the Supreme Court has since stricken down the federal law prohibiting sports betting).

A bill introduced back in 2016 also tried but failed to legalize online poker and casinos in Michigan.

Senate Bill 889 (full text here) sought to legalize online poker and casino games, create a division of internet gaming, and issue up to 8 licenses for operators to offer real money poker games and casino gambling on the internet.

In summary, SB 889 would have given Michigan players 21 or older the ability to play legal online poker and casino games with licensed operators.

Furthermore, the bill included a provision that would allow Michigan to enter online gaming compacts with other states and foreign jurisdictions, provided those compacts did not violate federal law or the laws of the other jurisdiction.

That part about gaming compacts was especially important for online poker because it avoided the problems that follow when states ring-fence their players off from other markets.

Restricting players to only playing with other people from the same state puts a severe damper on how many tables run at any given time.

Online poker needs a large player base to keep the games running.

SB 889 successfully made it through its first vote in June of 2016.

The Senate Regulatory Reform Committee approved the bill by an 8-1 vote. That moved the bill one step closer to a full Senate vote but could never gain the traction it needed before the 2016 legislative session came to a close.

Responsible Gambling In Michigan

Michigan sports betting and gambling regulations require all licensed operators to support responsible gambling and provide information to customers about maintaining healthy gambling habits.

Additionally, Michigan has multiple problem gambling resources that anyone can contact for help, information about treatment, and self-exclusion.

Two prominent national resources include Gamblers Anonymous and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).

Michigan Sports Betting And Gambling Self-Exclusion

Bettors may visit the Michigan Gaming Control Board to initiate a self-exclusion request that will prevent them from participating in one or more of the following forms of gambling for one year, five years, and potentially a lifetime:

  • Online Sports Betting: Michigan online sportsbooks do not accept registrations, deposits, or wagers from anyone on the self-exclusion list
  • Online Gambling: Online casinos licensed in Michigan do not accept customers who have self-excluded
  • Detroit Casinos: Self-excluded gamblers may not enter Detroit’s commercial casinos for at least five years

Bettors who wish to self-exclude from online sports betting, online casinos, or both can download a Responsible Gaming Database application from the MGCB website to begin the process.

After completing the form, applicants can submit it to the MGCB via three methods:

  • In-Person: Bring the completed application to Greektown Casino, MGM Grand, MotorCity Casino, or the MGCB office in Detroit during regular business hours.
  • Online: Print, complete, and notarize the application, then e-mail it to MGCB-RGD@Michigan.gov
  • By Mail: Mail the completed and notarized application to the Michigan Gaming Control Board at:

Michigan Gaming Control Board
Attention: Responsible Gaming Section
3062 W Grand Blvd, Suite L-700
Detroit, MI 18202

Important Michigan self-exclusion points:

  • There is no way to end a self-exclusion period early; excluded individuals must complete the selected exclusion period
  • Self-exclusion from Detroit’s casinos lasts at least five years; gamblers may apply to end the exclusion after a minimum of five years
  • Self-exclusion from Michigan online sports betting and gambling lasts for one or five years; bettors drop off the exclusion list automatically at the end of the selected term
  • Some casinos automatically ban players who self-exclude in Michigan from visiting their properties nationwide
  • The MGCB does not offer a self-exclusion program for tribal casinos; however, tribal casinos have internal exclusion programs patrons may join

Michigan Sports Betting FAQ

Yes. The Michigan legislature legalized in-person and online sports betting in 2019 as a part of a massive gaming expansion package.

Bettors can place wagers online from anywhere within Michigan boundaries through licensed mobile sports betting apps and websites. Detroit’s commercial casinos and most tribal casinos also operate retail sportsbooks where guests can place wagers in person.

Sports fans must be 21 or older to place wagers in Michigan.

Yes. The MGCB has approved wagers on Division I NCAA sports leagues. Approved college sports betting leagues include:

  • College Football (FBS and FCS)
  • College Baseball
  • College Basketball (men’s and women’s)
  • NCAA Golf
  • NCAA Hockey
  • NCAA Lacrosse
  • NCAA Softball

Yes. Michigan college sports betting rules allow bettors to place games on in-state and out-of-state universities alike.

The MGCB has not yet added esports betting to its catalog of approved events. As a result, Michigan betting sites and commercial casinos may not offer esports wagers.

Michigan’s tribal casinos may offer esports betting at their retail sportsbooks because they do not fall under MGCB jurisdiction. Little River Casino Resort has offered esports betting in the past, but options are limited and very sporadic.

Michigan esports betting options will improve significantly if and when the MGCB adds them to its approved wagering catalog.

It depends. Bettors may not place wagers online from outside Michigan unless they visit another state where mobile sports betting is legal.

Some betting apps are available in multiple states, although their policies on whether customers may use the same account vary. For example, some mobile sportsbooks allow customers to use a single account in every legal sports betting state, while others require bettors to sign up for new accounts in each state.

No. State law only requires that customers be 21 or older and physically located within Michigan borders. Visitors are welcome to bet online when inside Michigan.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) regulates online sports betting and retail sportsbooks at Detroit’s three commercial casinos. Retail sportsbooks at tribal casinos fall under the regulatory authority of federal law and tribal-state gaming compacts.

All Michigan sports betting apps and gambling sites listed on this page hold valid betting licenses.

Bettors may also view the “active licensee” list at the MGCB website for a complete and up-to-date record of licensed online sportsbooks.

The first Michigan online sportsbooks launched on January 22nd, 2021. On that day, ten operators received the go-ahead to commence online wagering.

Yes. The MGCB regulates horse racing betting and licenses advance-deposit wagering sites (ADWs). Fans can visit multiple ADWs to bet on the Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup, and many other races.

Yes. Bettors should seek expert advice from qualified professionals, but generally, Michigan and federal tax laws treat sports betting winnings as taxable income. Additionally, some Michigan cities levy an income tax that also applies to sports betting winnings.

It is bettors’ responsibility to pay taxes on their winnings, but Michigan sports betting sites also automatically withhold 24% on winnings greater than $5,000 and 300x the size of the initial wager.

In late 2021, the Michigan legislature approved SB 0764 to make gambling losses deductible for state tax purposes.

Michigan sports betting regulations require licensed sportsbooks to provide “easy and obvious” methods to set custom limits on deposits, wager sizes, and playing time. Bettors are permitted to also set daily, weekly, and monthly limits.

Despite its high population of approximately 10 million and favorable tax rate, Michigan sports betting operators do not take as many wagers as they do in top states.

However, the industry is still young relative to markets in similarly populated states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It’s also showing signs of wild growth. In 2021, Michigan sportsbooks handled $3.97 billion in wagers and collected $319.6 million in revenue, for a healthy 8.05% hold. The industry broke the $500 million monthly handle barrier for the first time in November 2021.

As is the case in most states, online sports betting handle in Michigan far exceeded retail handle.

Michigan operators are permitted to write-off promotional spend against revenue, and as a result only paid a tiny portion of its GGR to toward state and local taxes. In December 2021, the industry generated $39.92 million in revenue, yet only paid $1.21 million in total taxes.