If you are looking to place a bet online in the state of Michigan, then here are the online sportsbooks that we suggest:
9.7
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In bonus bets – guaranteed!
21+ and present in select states. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, KY, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA, VT), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).
Betting Ladies Favorite
9.6
Rating
Betting Ladies members get a bonus!
Must be 21+ and present in CO, IA, IL, IN, LA, MI, OH, NJ, NY, or VA. Void where prohibited. T&C Apply. If you or someone you know in CO, IL, LA, OH, or NJ has a gambling problem, Call or TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER. In IA, call 1-800-BETS-OFF. IN call 1-800-9-WITH-IT. In MI, call the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Gambling Disorder Help-line at: 800-270-7117. In NY, Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369). In VA, call 1-888-532-3500.
9.3
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Betting Ladies members get a bonus!
Terms & Condition Apply. Available in all states but NY, DC, MS, PR and NV.
9.0
Rating
In Michigan, you don’t have to be a resident to place a sports bet, but you must be physically within state lines for your bet to go through. The good news? You can easily sign up for an online account with any of Michigan’s approved sportsbooks. Just remember, you need to be 21 or older to legally place your bets.
Historical Background of Betting in Michigan
Michigan looked to be on track to be one of the first states to legalize sports betting after the fall of PASPA, but that wasn’t the case. A sports betting bill passed through the state legislature back in 2018, but Governor Rick Snyder vetoed it.
It was clear that lawmakers in Michigan wanted to pass a law to legalize sports betting, but it took a governor change to make that happen. That day would finally come in 2019 when Governor Gretchen Whitmer finally signed off on a bill.
Since sports betting bills were already in place in Michigan and just waiting for a signature, most casinos had already started to make plans. Retail sports betting was able to launch quickly in March 2020, but it wasn’t until a year later that online sportsbooks could go live.
Michigan Betting Legalization Details
Back in 2017, a committee passed the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, and many believed that it would lead to the launch of sports betting. After a bill passed through both chambers in 2018, Governor Snyder decided to shut it down with a veto.
Voters in the state of Michigan were in favor of sports betting as well, and it was part of the reason that Gretchen Whitmer was voted in as governor. Near the end of 2019, Whitmer signed the Lawful Sports Betting Act, paving the way for a sports betting launch.
Retail sportsbooks went live in March 2020, but they were shut down almost immediately due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That effectively put a halt to sports betting in Michigan for months, as there were no online options up and running.
Michigan then relaunched online sports betting and online gambling in January 2020 in what was a massive success. The total sports betting handle in Michigan climbed to over $100 million in the first 10 days.
There are just three commercial casinos located in the state of Michigan, and all of those can be found in the city of Detroit. Retail sports betting is available at each of these three locations, but tribal casinos throughout the state are also allowed to accept wagers on sporting events.
Visiting the three major casinos will provide the biggest-name sportsbooks, but there are other great options to explore. Here are the locations where retail sports betting is available in the state of Michigan:
- FireKeepers Casino Hotel
- Four Winds Dowagiac
- Four Winds Hartford
- Four Winds New Buffalo
- Greektown Casino Hotel
- Gun Lake Casino
- Island Resort & Casino
- Leelanau Sands Casino
- Little River Casino and Resort
- MGM Grand Detroit
- Motor City Casino Hotel
- Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel
While retail sports betting is available in Michigan, nearly all of the bets are placed online through the long list of sportsbook apps that are available. Michigan allowed sportsbook operators to partner with casinos in order to apply for a license, and it didn’t take long for those partnerships to form.
Key Regulations and Rules
The Michigan Gaming Control Board regulates sports betting in the state, and it allows betting on both college and pro sports. You can even place a wager on in-state college teams, and that’s not the case in every state with sports betting.
Esports wagering is available at the retail sportsbooks in tribal casinos, but you won’t find these betting options at the commercial casinos. Tribal casinos are able to offer more wagers than those that have to follow all of the state laws.
One nice thing for sportsbooks in the state is that sports betting revenue is only taxed at a rate of 8.4%. That’s much lower than the national average, but the three casinos in Detroit do have to pay an additional tax of 1.5% to the city.
Popular Sports and Events to Bet On in Michigan
Michigan sports bettors not only have plenty of options when it comes to placing wagers but there are loads of popular teams in the state to wager on. The city of Detroit is home to a major professional sports team in each league, and it is those teams that tend to drive the sports betting action the most.
Without a doubt, the Detroit Lions are the most popular team in the state, and football brings the most betting action. Things haven’t always gone well for the Lions, but they look like a team that should be on the rise in the next few years.
Basketball is another popular sport to wager on, and the Detroit Pistons have a terrific fanbase in the state of Detroit as well. This is another team that has struggled to be competitive of late, but fans still show up in droves to support the team.
The city of Detroit is known as “Hockeytown,” and that’s because the Detroit Red Wings are one of the most successful franchises in the NHL. You will also find a large group of fans that support the Detroit Tigers of MLB, even though these two sports don’t usually attract a ton of bets.
Betting on in-state college teams is available in the state of Michigan, further boosting the success of sportsbooks in the state. The Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans are popular in every sport, but especially when it comes to basketball and football.
The city of Detroit has also been known to host some major sporting events, and those will attract plenty of betting action as well. The Firekeepers Casino 400 from Michigan is a popular race on the NASCAR circuit, and this is a sport that attracts more betting than you would probably expect.
Tips for First-time Bettors in Michigan
It’s important to show some patience and restraint when betting on sports in Michigan, especially when just getting started. It can be a bit overwhelming when looking at all of the odds right away, but you still need to make sure that you are doing the appropriate amount of research.
It would also be a good idea to find someone who will provide you with some free or paid betting tips before making wagers. This has become a major part of the sports betting industry as well, and getting free picks can put you on the right path.
You should always make sure that you are only investing an amount of money that you are comfortable with losing if things don’t go your way. The goal is to obviously try and win some money, but that doesn’t happen for everyone.
The Future of Sports Betting in Michigan
While there are some sports betting markets that are clearly going to show some growth in the next few years, it’s hard to see that happening much in Michigan. Sports betting has appeared to flatten out a bit, and there just isn’t much room to grow in this state.
There will be some rebranding of sportsbooks coming at some point in 2024, and that should bring some new life back into sports betting. Beyond that, most of the licenses are already handed out, and the same leaders will continue to be on top.
Sports betting, coupled with online gambling, has brought some huge revenue numbers for Michigan up to this point. Expectations have already been shattered, and regulators in Michigan are happy with what has taken place up to this point.
Conclusion
When sports betting first launched in Michigan, it was shattering records for the amount of handle that was racked up during a specific period of time. It wasn’t long before that momentum slowed down in Michigan, but the state was still putting up some solid numbers.
There are some great online sportsbooks in the state of Michigan, and the retail sportsbooks provide some great options as well. The tribal casinos in Michigan are popular, and most of them have jumped into the sports betting industry.
Be sure to keep sports betting fun if you decide to join this industry, and know how and where to get some help if you need it. Online sportsbooks are all expected to promote responsible gambling and can provide resources if you realize that you have a gambling problem.
