The best apps also offer incredible free bonuses to iPhone players. The only drawback is that some iPhone online casinos and mobile casinos have a smaller game selection than desktop casinos. Best NY Online Sports Betting Apps in 2019 The top rated sportsbooks will enter the NY market and you will find you can access the best online sports betting apps New York in the coming year. Below is a table that highlights the most popular apps that will be available along with the operating systems that will be supported. Virginia became one of the latest state s to legalize sports betting in 2020. Five sportsbook apps launched in time for Super Bowl LV betting, with the first app launching on January 21, 2021.

1. Best Apps For Online Gambling Apps
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As of May 1, 2020, Colorado sports betting apps are now legal as long as bets are placed with licensed sports betting operators and within the Colorado border. You can sign-up and bet anywhere using your mobile phone, website, or bet in-person at Colorado retail sportsbooks but you must be over the age of 21.

The industry has grown quickly with sportsbooks from local Colorado casinos like BetMonarch and established national brands like William Hill, FanDuel Sportsbook, and BetMGM. Bettors have wagered more than $839 million in the last seven months at legal Colorado sportsbooks.

Choosing the best sports gambling app can be quite overwhelming as there are over a dozen licensed sports betting operators to choose from in Colorado. We’ve put together a list of the best Colorado online sports betting apps available in the state along with their sign-up bonus and why we recommend choosing them.

Many of the products featured on this page are from partners who compensate us. It does not influence our evaluations and our opinions are our own.

BEST COLORADO SPORTS BETTING APPS FOR DECEMBER 2020

• William Hill: Best For New Bettors + Free Bet
• BetRivers: Best Deposit Bonus
• PointsBet: Best For Risky Bettors + Newest App
• FanDuel Sportsbook: Best For Betting Experience
• Sportsbetting.com: Best Web App
• BetMGM: Best For MGM players
• DraftKings Sportsbook: Best Mobile App

COLORADO ONLINE SPORTS BETTING DETAILS

Best For New Bettors & Risk-Free Bet

Licensed in Colorado

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Sportsbook Rating Excellent
William Hill Review

William Hill

Sign-up Bonus: $500 Free Bet

Bet on: iOS, Android, and Web

William Hill is one of the world’s leading sports betting brands. The company itself dates all the way back to 1934, and it first launched William Hill US in 2012. It started out in Nevada but has since expanded to CO, NJ, NV, IA, FL, IL, MS, NM, RI, and WV.

William Hill has a strong selection of sports to bet on in Colorado, including popular mainstays like the NBA, NHL, MLB, NFL, as well as more niche competitions like table tennis, rugby, and darts.

William Hill offers a variety of deposit and cash-out methods to make getting started easy for new bettors, and even offer pre-paid William Hill cards to make moving money into and out of an account as seamless as possible. Its app is pleasing to the eyes and easy to navigate compared to some others and is available on both iOS and Android phones.

William Hill offers an up to $500 free bet for new online accounts. To redeem, simply enter the bonus code COSHARPRF. If you lose your first bet, your account will be credited with a free bet for the amount of your lost wager.

Best Deposit Bonus

Licensed in Colorado

Sportsbook Rating Excellent
BetRivers Review

BetRivers

Sign-up Bonus: 100% up to $250

Bet on: iOS, Android, and Web

Whether you’re a casual bettor placing wagers on your favorite teams for fun, or a more serious risk-taker looking to lay down some serious cash, BetRivers has you covered. The app and website offer a functional and aesthetically pleasing mobile experience.

BetRivers offers an extensive reward system ranging from basic rewards for smaller bets to mysterious high-end luxury rewards for top-tier bets. Its sign-up bonus, a $250 match with welcome code 250MATCH. This sign-up bonus may not seem generous as some other CO sportsbooks offer, but the 1x wager requirement and robust rewards program manages to make it an enticing package for new players.

In addition to the usual lineup of pro and college sports, Bettors will find moneyline bets, point spreads, and unique parlay bets on BetRivers. If you’re feeling outrageously lucky, you can try BetRivers’ jackpot parlay bet. Bettors can choose between three and eight random outcomes. If all the bets occur the way the bettor predicted, then they win the jackpot.

Best For Risk Bettors + Newest App

Licensed in Colorado

Sportsbook Rating Excellent
DraftKings Review

PointsBet

Sign-up Bonus: Two Risk-Free Bets up to $2,000 – Use Code BIGBONUS

Bet on: iOS, Android, and Web

Australia-based PointsBet launched in Colorado the week before Thanksgiving 2020. It’s partnered with Double Eagle Casino in Cripple Creek as their mobile sports betting partner, and also has a partnership with the University of Colorado. PointsBet’s unique offering is its PointsBetting wager, a risky-yet-rewarding wager not for the faint of heart.

PointsBet offers odds on just about every sport you can think of, including basketball, football, golf, boxing, rugby, and more. You can also place bets against the spread, on the moneyline, and on the over / under. And much like their competitors, they offer live in-game sports betting for select events.

PointsBet sets itself apart from the pack when it comes to PointsBetting. It allows bettors to wager on one side of a points bet and bet on how much they’ll win their bet by. If bettors win by ten points, they’ll win ten times their stake.

Best For Betting Experience

Licensed in Colorado

Sportsbook Rating Excellent
FanDuel Review

FanDuel Sportsbook

Sign-up Bonus: $1000 Risk Free Bet

Bet on: iOS, Android, and Web

Much like DraftKings, FanDuel Colorado was once solely known for fantasy sports but today is a fully functioning, legal online sportsbook. In Colorado, you will find all major sports leagues available on their site, including the NBA, NHL, MLB, NFL, international soccer, tennis, and more.

At FanDuel, you have the ability to wager on the spread, the moneyline, the halves and quarters of select games, and the over/under.

Additionally, the book offers parlay bets, teasers, future bets, live sports betting, and round-robin bets. Round robin bets combine three or more selections into smaller parlay bets to cover all combinations into By 2`s, By 3`s, etc.

The most common new player offer at FanDuel is a $1000 risk-free bet. However, as is the case with all bonuses, we recommend you understand the playthrough requirement before opting to take advantage of the offer.

You can access the FanDuel sportsbook via their website or their mobile app. I highly recommend FanDuel for Colorado sports bettors as their odds are competitive and they offer action on just about every sport imaginable.

Best Web App

Licensed in Colorado

Sportsbook Rating Excellent
SportsBetting.com Review

Sportsbetting.com

Sign-up Bonus: Up to $150 Deposit Bonus

Bet on: iOS, Android, and Web Browser

Even though Colorado’s sports betting landscape is shaping up to heavily favor online betting, not all of those wagers are placed using apps.

Sportsbetting.com offers an incredible experience via their website on your phone’s mobile web browser. They recently launched their iOS and Android app but we have heard many still enjoy using their website so they don’t need to download a separate app on their mobile device.

Sportsbetting.com offers a full roster of pro and college sports to bet on and has a unique welcome bonus. Instead of a single risk-free bet like many sportsbooks offer, Sportsbetting.com gives new players up to $150 dollars via their deposit bonus.

Best For MGM Bettors

Licensed in Colorado

Sportsbook Rating Excellent
BetMGM Review

BetMGM

Sign-up Bonus: $600 Riks Free Bonus

Bet on: iOS, Android, and Web

One of the few CO sportsbooks tied to a physical casino brand is BetMGM. MGM is a household name, so you can have confidence that an upstanding company with a good reputation is behind this product. You’ll find all of the usual lines on BetMGM, for major pro-US sports as well as less-common events and competitions.

BetMGM offers a free bet bonus of up to $600 for new users with a minimum $10 deposit. BetMGM’s app is straightforward and easy to navigate, with the most popular and timely lines clearly visible at the top of the screen. All of the menus are easy to access as well, which saves bettors time if they know exactly what they want to bet on.

BetMGM has a partnership with the Denver Broncos which includes a premium lounge at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium.

Best Mobile App

Licensed in Colorado

Sportsbook Rating Excellent
DraftKings Review

DraftKings Sportsbook

Sign-up Bonus: $1000 Deposit Match (20% up to $1k)

Bet on: iOS, Android, and Web

Having gotten its start running fantasy games, DraftKings Sportsbook has morphed into one of the top online sportsbooks available in the U.S., and it’s open for business for Colorado sports bettors.

DraftKings offers lines on virtually every sport, including football, soccer, basketball, boxing, UFC, and more. Additionally, you can place future and prop bets and wager on live sports for select events. DraftKings even offers teasers and parlays, which is essentially standard at brick-and-mortar books.

If you are a new player, you will undoubtedly have the option to take advantage of a new player bonus. The monetary value and offer varies from time-to-time. During the time of our review, they were offering new players up to a $1,000 deposit bonus.

To get started, you can either access the sportsbook via your web browser or download their mobile app. We found the interface to be rather straight-forward and easy to use, which is especially helpful if you are new to sports betting.

Best For Simplicity

FOX Bet

Sign-up Bonus: $500 Risk-Free + $500 Deposit Bonus

Bet on: iOS, Android, and Web

FOX Bet is a legal online sportsbook that is also affiliated with FOX Sports. Despite the corporate media affiliation, FOXBet holds its own relative to its competitors. I found the sports leagues available on FOX Bet to be on par with just about every other sports app available to residents of Colorado. Including but not limited to the NFL, NCAA, NBA, MLB, and much more.

Most wager options are available, such as ATS, over/under, parlay bets, and futures bets. Additionally, FOXBet offers a Bet Boost feature, which is where the book provides improved odds on certain lines (mainly futures), which is beneficial to you as a bettor.

The new player bonus is valued at $1,000 and broken down to a deposit match of up to $500 and a risk-free bet of up to $500. Like every sportsbook mentioned here, wager requirements do apply to their new player signup bonus.

Simply put, FOXBet is a viable sports betting option. If you are a fan of the NFL you’ll particularly enjoy using FOXBet as the book integrates many of their TV personalities who cover the NFL on FOX. Thus, you can tail on their action or use their knowledge and expertise to help you determine your bet slip. The sportsbook is accessible via their website and their mobile app.

Terms and Conditions apply to all sign-up bonuses and promotions. Please refer to each online sportsbook for more information.

Colorado Sports Betting Apps 2020

In addition to our top recommendations above, these are all of the sports betting apps in Colorado that are licensed, regulated in Colorado, and available for download:

• Elite Sportsbook (Web App)

Sports Betting Apps Launching Soon

Bet365

One of the largest online sportsbooks, boasting more than 45 million global customers, UK-based Bet365 is poised to enter the CO sports betting market through a partnership with Century Casinos, Inc., owners of Century Casino in Cripple Creek and Central City.

Through the partnership, Century Casinos will operate an online sportsbook in Colorado under the bet365 brand. Bet365 offers competitive lines on all the major sports you’d expect, as well as newer options like esports.

Bet365’s foray into the newly minted Colorado sports betting market marks the third U.S. state for the brand, the first two being New York and New Jersey.

Barstool Sports

A Barstool Sports branded retail sportsbook opened at Ameristar Casino in Black Hawk in November 2020. Ameristar is the biggest casino in Colorado, so it makes sense that it is partnering with Barstool, which Penn National Gaming acquired in early 2020. Although an online sports betting app is announced, it is unclear when Colorado sports bettors will be able to place their first bets.

The following sports gambling apps have been licensed or announced for a future Colorado launch, but are not operational just yet:

• BetAmerica
  
• Twin River
• WynnBet
• Tipico
• Playsports – Partnership with IGT and Maverick Gaming

What Are The Benefits Of Using Online Sportsbooks?

In the age of the coronavirus, online sportsbooks are a boon to sports bettors and sportsbook operators alike. Bettors can wager from their homes, where they can isolate and social distance. And sportsbooks can build and satisfy their customers without relying on retail locations. It offers flexibility that’s vital to the pandemic-stricken marketplace.

Bettors can rest assured these online sportsbooks are fair. The Colorado Department of Revenue licenses each legal sportsbook in Colorado. Throughout their examination of each licensee, they determine whether a prospective sportsbook can operate fairly. The Division of Gaming’s rules governing sportsbook conduct include a mandated cash reserve to pay bettors their winnings and a security audit to ensure bettor information remains secure.

Whether bettors wager through an app or on a desktop, they have access to the same betting options. Bettors can enjoy sports betting remotely and get everything out of it.

How Different Are Sportsbooks From Each Other?

All sportsbooks offer the same core bets and lines. However, there are important differences between Colorado’s sportsbooks. The most important differences are odds and deals.

Odds Differences

Not all sportsbooks offer the same odds. Odds are usually set by oddsmakers who calculate the odds of an event happening, then build in a house advantage. They weigh the risk to ensure sportsbooks bring in more stakes than they have to pay out in winnings. Each variable and house advantage is weighed differently at every sportsbook.

For example, here are the moneyline odds at Colorado’s online sportsbooks on who’ll win the NFL Week 10 game between the Broncos and the Raiders:

Anyone betting on the Padres would get the best odds at the sportsbooks offering +100 odds. The best Rockies odds are at SBK, which offered -105 odds. Two sportsbooks didn’t offer odds on that game at all, so understanding the breadth of options in the industry is vital. Some bettors have multiple sportsbook accounts to take advantage of odds differences. Since all the apps are available to download, bettors can easily compare odds and make informed choices.

Unique Boosts And Deals

In addition to new player bonus offers, some sportsbooks offer special bets called ‘boosts.’ At first glance, they’re the same bets with higher odds. For example, Fox Bet offered a boost on the Dallas Mavericks scoring over 25.5 points in each quarter. It was originally +205, but it was boosted to +220. That increases the winnings a little bit. And sometimes, it really is just a boost in odds.

However, other boosts are secretly parlay bets. DraftKings offers an odds boost on the Islanders, Penguins, and Flames to win their games on August 1. Since all three teams must win, this boost is technically a parlay bet.

Boosts encourage bettors to place bets on certain games at increased risk. It’s a clever tactic to increase bets on wagers that are unlikely to win. That translates to money in the sportsbook’s pocket.

But sometimes, bettors win instead. How’s that for sneaky?

What Makes An Online Sportsbook App Good?

Besides good odds and great deals, there are a few things that set the best sportsbooks apart.

Speed

When there’s a lag between pages loading, betting becomes very frustrating very quickly. Great sportsbooks, like SBK, smoothly transition between pages. Whether bettors are prospecting lines or adjusting their bet slips, speedy apps make a massive difference.

Navigation

It must be easy for bettors to find the sports they’re looking for. Hiding the ‘all sports’ list in a menu in a hidden corner of the app is not good work. But if a sportsbook makes it easy to browse different events, bettors could stumble upon new bets that excite them. That’s a good deal for sportsbooks trying to engage bettors, and for bettors who want to branch out.

Stability

If a sportsbook app crashes, bettors aren’t going to trust that sportsbook to take care of their money. It’s a judgment that’s not completely fair. A great sportsbook could just have a bad app. However, bettors will take a glitch and judge the rest of the product accordingly. App stability is imperative to earning consumer trust.

Seamless Deposits And Withdrawals

Bettors want to win money, and sportsbooks want to earn it. However, bettors need to be able to move money back and forth between accounts to fund their accounts and collect their winnings. Sportsbooks know that the transfer process must be seamless. Even bad sportsbooks make it easy to deposit and withdraw funds.

How Bettors Can Deposit Money In Colorado’s Online Sportsbooks

There’s no sports betting without a first deposit. Here’s how most online sportsbooks accept bettors’ funds.

Common In-App Deposit Methods

Since sportsbooks must comply with anti-money laundering laws, there are only a few ways to deposit funds. Luckily for bettors, these standard options are among the most convenient and reliable.

Most sportsbooks accept bank transfers, whether it’s a direct account transfer or an advanced check deposit. Credit and debit cards are also common ways to fund accounts. Bettors input their card information like they would for any other online portal. PayPal is usually a deposit option, too. There are a few other deposit options, but most of them are variations of bank transfers or transfers between third-party services like PayPal.

Apple iOS Users

Since there are standard deposit options that link a transfer to a person’s identity, there aren’t any operating system-specific deposit options.

That means Apple Pay and iTunes gift cards cannot fund sportsbook accounts. Apple Pay is probably too new for sportsbooks to accept. iTunes gift cards are linked to users’ iTunes accounts, so they definitely can’t fund a sportsbook account. Apple users will have to be content with the standard options available from their banks, cards, and PayPal accounts.

Android Users

Like iOS users, Android users have to download their sportsbook app of choice. Then they can sign up and find the option to deposit money in the app. Android Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay are not viable sportsbook deposit options. Android users are in the same boat that iPhone users are. They’re limited to the common deposit options and can’t take advantage of their operating systems’ unique approaches to payment.

It should go without saying that gift cards to the Android Marketplace are not valid sportsbook currency, either. Much of this is self-explanatory when bettors open a sportsbook app and complete the signup process.

Are Legal Online Sports Betting Apps Safe In Colorado?

Yes. When Colorado passed Proposition DD, the Colorado Division of Gaming wrote rules governing the state’s new sportsbooks. Those guidelines offer bettors some of the following protections.

Are Legal Sportsbooks Safe To Install On Bettors’ Phones?

Yes. No one is coming for you if you download a sportsbook app on your phone. However, bettors must make sure they download the right sportsbook app for their state. A New Jersey app won’t work in Colorado because it’s geofenced around New Jersey. Similarly, bettors can’t use their Colorado app abroad.

Bettors can download the app and create their accounts from anywhere. But if they aren’t in Colorado, then bettors cannot place wagers.

These apps may be available publicly, but it still restricts users. Online sportsbooks’ signup processes verify bettors’ ages. Even if a minor downloads a sportsbook app, they won’t make it through the signup process. Inputting a fake date of birth is one thing. But faking a social security number with a corresponding birthday is far harder.

And super illegal.

How Do Legal Sportsbook Apps Protect Bettor Information?

Online sportsbooks have standard security measures in place, like SSL certificates. These are encryption protocols similar to online stores. Bettor information is encrypted when they put it into the sportsbook and it’s not decrypted until it makes it to the server on the other side.

That means the only people who can read that information are the bettor and the sportsbook.

Licensed sportsbooks also undergo security audits shortly before launch. Sportsbooks won’t be licensed without a security system that can reliably protect bettor information. Bettors can rest assured that their information is protected throughout the entire betting process.

How Can Bettors Secure Their Mobile Sports Betting Accounts?

Keep your account to yourself. Don’t give anyone else your password or login information. It’s far from a high-tech solution, but it’s the easiest way to keep unwanted bettors out of your account.

Accessing Mobile Sports Betting In Colorado

You may think because sports betting is a regulated activity it may be difficult to access sportsbook apps on your phone. However, you can easily download and start betting at legal Colorado sportsbooks in minutes, instructions are below.

Install a Colorado Sportsbook App on your Phone

• Download the sports betting app via their website or by searching the App Store (iPhones or iPads) or Google Play (Android Devices)
• Install and run the app on your device
• Allow access to location (legally sportsbooks need to know that you are in Colorado before they can allow you to place a bet)
• Register for an account

The experience on sportsbook apps is relatively the same compared to any web interface. In other words, you’ll have access to the same sports leagues, lines, and bets, but you may notice a difference with the layout and navigation.

Legal Colorado Sports Betting Apps

Every sportsbook looking to provide gambling in Colorado must abide by certain rules and regulations before launching its sports betting app. Each operator who has launched in Colorado has met these requirements.

Age

The gambling age in Colorado is 21. This is also the minimum age to use a sportsbook app in the state. Bettors must provide identification to prove their age when registering with an app.

License Fee

Sportsbook operators are required to apply for and receive a license from Colorado. Each license provided to a casino allows retail sports betting on-site and one online betting skin. The applicant pays $10,000 before applying, an additional $125,000 license fee after approval, and $125,000 every two years. The Colorado gambling license fee is significantly less than in other states.

Tax Rate

Sports betting operators are charged a tax of 10 percent on their net sports betting proceeds. Net sports betting proceeds include the total amount wagered on sports, less the winnings. This 10% Colorado gambling tax rate is applied to the operator, meaning the sports betting company, not the bettor.

Colorado Sports Betting App FAQ

Yes, bettors in Colorado can place sports bets online, by using a web browser or by downloading a sportsbook app onto an Apple iOS or Android device. Online casino apps are not legal in Colorado.

No. You must be located within Colorado state lines to register and place a bet but you don’t need to be a Colorado resident to bet on sports in the state.

Yes, you can place online sports betting wagers via a mobile app or on your computer anywhere in Colorado as long as it’s a licensed operator by the State of Colorado and you are physically in the state.

Mobile apps provide a level of convenience. With an app, you are able to access everything you would at a brick-and-mortar sportsbook provided that you are connected to the app within the state of Colorado as apps are required to implement geotargeting technology to regulate access. You can also use your web browser on your phone or computer to access the sports betting sites.

Yes, you can download real money sportsbooks through the Apple iOS app store.

Yes, although they are not in the Google Play Store. Google does not permit any sports betting apps or gambling apps in its store. You will need to download the app directly from a Colorado online sportsbook’s website. Once the app is downloaded, there is no difference from using any other app on your phone that is downloaded directly from the Google Play Store.

In short, sports betting apps are not very different from an online sportsbook or a physical sportsbook and are related as they are all licensed and regulated by the state of Colorado. Sports betting apps are optimized for mobile devices in terms of their usability and how they interact with your internet connection and / or cell phone service provider.

Online sportsbooks is a term used that refers to sportsbooks that are accessed via a website and brick-and-mortar sportsbooks are physical locations that are licensed to operate as a bookkeeper.

No, apps are free to download. You will only be charged when you decide to make a deposit.

Yes. DraftKings Sportsbook was one of the first sports betting apps to launch in Colorado. It is available on web browser and as a download for both Apple iOS and Android users.

Michigan Online Gambling Launch Dates

• Online Casinos: Launch Date January 22, 2021
• Online Sports Betting: Launch Date January 22, 2021
• Online Poker: Launch Date January 29, 2021

Michigan’s gambling bills legalized online sports betting as well as online casino games and poker. Michigan is the fifth state to legalize all three, joining New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia. By the start of February 2021, 10 online casino apps launched in Michigan.

House Bill 4916 legalized sports betting, both retail and online, in the state. House Bill 4311 authorizes online casinos and poker rooms. House Bill 4308 formally legalized Daily Fantasy Sports in the Great Lakes State.

These new online platforms are certain to boost Michigan’s gambling economy. House Bill 4311 also legalized retail sportsbooks, which have already launched at some of the state’s 26 land-based casinos.

When the plans put forth by HB 4311 reach full maturity, the selection of online gambling options in the state will rival even the biggest US online gambling markets, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Michigan Online Casinos

• Golden Nugget Online Casino
• FanDuel Casino Michigan
• WynnBet Casino
• BetRivers Michigan
• BetMGM Michigan
• DraftKings Casino Michigan
• William Hill Casino
• TwinSpires Casino (formerly BetAmerica)
• Stars Casino by Poker Stars
• Barstool Casino

Best Michigan Online Casino Bonuses

Golden Nugget Michigan

Golden Nugget launched an online casino through its partnership with Ojibwa Casino. The property is operated by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.

Golden Nugget is a renowned iGaming brand, especially in New Jersey. Michigan players can look forward to an ever-expanding game selection at Golden Nugget Michigan.

FanDuel Michigan

Motor City Casino chose FanDuel as the technology partner for its upcoming legal online casino platform. FanDuel’s growth from a fantasy sports brand to a multi-faceted iGaming company includes the introduction of the FanDuel Casino platform in multiple states.

FanDuel Casino launched in Michigan on Jan. 22, 2021. The casino welcomes new players with a risk-free day bonus up to $200.

WynnBet Casino

The Salut Tribe of Chippewa Indians inked a partnership with iGaming company GAN to offer online gambling to Michigan players. This means Michigan players can access the WynnBet Casino in Michigan.

GAN software powers other legal US online gambling platforms like Betfair Casino New Jersey, one of the top revenue-earning iGaming skins in the US market. The Salut Tribe of Chippewa Indians operates the Kewadin Casino brand, which includes five retail properties.

WynnBet MI launched as an integrated online sportsbook and casino on January 22, 2021. For a limited time, new bettors can claim 200 free spins plus $1,000 in a deposit match bonus offer.

BetRivers Michigan

Rush Street Interactive’s portfolio of iGaming products includes the BetRivers and PlaySugarHouse brands. Those brands continue to expand in the legal US online gaming industry, with the capability of offering the full gamut of mobile gambling products. Michigan’s Little River Casino partners with Rush Street Interactive in its iGaming offerings.

BetRivers launched an integrated online casino and sportsbook platform in Michigan on Jan. 22, 2021. The BetRivers MI welcome bonus includes a 100% deposit match up to $250, with just a 1x playthrough requirement.

BetMGM Online Casino

The Roar Digital brand operates as a partnership between MGM Resorts International and British sports betting technology powerhouse GVC Holdings.

This collaboration of major players in the gaming industry powers the BetMGM online gambling platforms already operating in several US states. Retail property MGM Grand Detroit launched a BetMGM platform for its online casino offering in Michigan on Jan. 22, 2021.

BetMGM also recently partnered with Evolution Gaming. The companies plan to launch live dealer games as part of a robust online casino offering in Michigan. New players at BetMGM can enjoy a 100% deposit match bonus up to $1,000, plus $25 on the house.

DraftKings Michigan

Although most known for its online sports betting and Daily Fantasy Sports offerings, DraftKings also operates one of Michigan’s most exciting online casinos. DraftKings license partnership with Bay Mills Resort & Casinos includes online casino gaming, online sports betting, and retail sports betting.

Michigan players can sign up for a new account at DraftKings Casino and get a 100% deposit match bonus up to $1,500, as well as $10 in free betting credits.

Additional Michigan Online Casinos

William Hill

One of the world’s biggest iGaming brands, William Hill’s reputation as a powerhouse in the US sports betting industry is unrivaled.

As legal online gambling in the US expands, William Hill continues to extend its online casino and sports betting platforms into new territories.

William Hill’s foray into Michigan comes as a product of a partnership with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. The tribe owns the Leelanau Sands Casino and the Turtle Creek Hotel & Casino.

William Hill launched a hybrid sports betting and casino app in Michigan on January 22, 2021. Signing up at William Hill Casino Michigan yields 24 hours of risk-free playing up to $100 as a welcome bonus.

TwinSpires

TwinSpires (owned by Churchill Downs) operates in Michigan by way of a partnership with the Hannahville Indian Community, which owns and operates Island Resort & Casino in Harris,

The TwinSpires online casino and sportsbook platform went live in Michigan on Jan. 22, 2021. New players can enjoy up to $500 of risk-free play in their first week after depositing at TwinSpires MI Casino.

Stars Casino By PokerStars

The world’s biggest online gambling brand, The Stars Group, expands into Michigan through a partnership with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian Gaming Authority.

The tribe owns two casinos, Odawa Casino Mackinaw and Odawa Casino Petoskey. The Stars Group already operates a PokerStars-branded online casino in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In Michigan, The Stars Group launched its FOX Bet Sportsbook, PokerStars poker app, and Stars Casino all on the same day.

Barstool Casino

One of the biggest name on sports on the internet, Barstool Sports launched its sportsbook during 2020. As part of its intensive growth plans, Barstool plans to launch almost a dozen sportsbooks in states around the US. Its Barstool Casino launched on February 1, 2021. It will be interesting to see if Michigan sports bettors flock to the casino app in the same way as Golden Nugget or BetMGM, more established casino industry brands.

Four Winds Casino

Four Winds Casino launched its online casino app in February 2021, making it the first Michigan tribal casino to launch a casino app under its own name, rather than an international brand.

Additional Casinos Launching Later In 2021

PointsBet

In addition to expanding its sports betting presence in the US, Australian company PointsBet is bringing its online casino project to Michigan. They partnered with the Lac Vieux Desert Public Enterprise and Finance Commission under the license of Northern Waters Casino Resort.

FireKeepers Online Casino

FireKeepers Casino entered into a partnership with proven iGaming brand Scientific Games for the tribal casino’s upcoming online gaming platforms.

Scientific Games’ interactive gaming partners include Golden Nugget Casino New Jersey, Caesars Interactive, Rush Street Interactive, and numerous others in the US industry.

What Online Casino Bonuses Are Available In Michigan?

Michigan’s legal online casino sites launched with the first wave of products hitting the market on Jan. 22, 2021. Bonuses at the state’s mobile casinos look similar to what we’ve seen in other states.

Deposit Match Bonuses

Deposit match bonuses award bonus money based on the amount a player deposits. The most commonly offered bonus across US iGaming platforms, deposit match bonuses, give players a percentage of a deposit back as a bonus, up to a certain amount.

For example, Golden Nugget Casino Michigan offers a generous deposit match bonus for new players. Golden Nugget Casino players receive a 100% match bonus on deposits up to $1,000.

Using that offer, new players earn up to $1,000 in bonus money. Deposit match bonuses usually require a certain amount of playthrough to unlock the bonus.

Playthrough requires the player to wager a multiple of the deposit to unlock the full bonus. Playthrough requirements can range from 1x to 30x the deposit.

On most platforms, the match bonus is unlocked in smaller increments as players advance through the playthrough requirement.

Risk-Free Days

Some online casinos extend the opportunity of a risk-free day for players to try out the platform. A risk-free day offers a rebate on losses up to a certain amount.

The risk-free day period generally gives players a 24-hour window after the first deposit.

At FanDuel Casino MI, for example, new players are eligible for a risk-free day up to $200. Using this offer, the casino refunds new players up to $200 in losses in the first 24 hours after depositing.

Free Sign-Up Bonuses

Many mobile casino platforms offer free wagering funds just for signing up. No deposit is necessary for these bonuses.

At BetMGM Michigan, for instance, new players get $25 in betting credits just for signing up. The $25 is issued as casino credit and must be wagered on the platform before it can be withdrawn as real money.

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How To Deposit At Michigan’s Online Casinos

ACH/eCheck

Across all US legal online gambling sites, ACH/eCheck is the most universally accepted deposit method. An eCheck deposit uses an online bank account to draft an electronic check, which then goes through an Automatic Clearing House (ACH) for processing.

ACH/eCheck deposits instantly become available on a player’s online casino balance once they’re processed.

Prepaid Cards

The prepaid card option isn’t as widely available as ACH/eCheck. On the platforms that offer prepaid card deposits, however, this method is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to get funds into an online casino balance.

Certain online casino platforms offer prepaid cards directly. Players load money onto cards with money from a debit or credit card. From there, the funds are immediately available for use at the casino.

Once loaded, the casino mails a physical version of the prepaid card to the player within 7-10 days. There’s no need to wait for the physical card to show up to start playing, however. The prepaid card is ready for use as soon as funds are loaded.

PayPal

PayPal offers one of the most reliable and widely accepted methods for getting money onto a legal online gambling site.

The process takes extra verification steps compared to other deposit methods but yields an almost 100% acceptance rate. Players 21 and over with a valid US PayPal account have access to this deposit method.

Debit Cards

Debit cards are another widely offered deposit method at US legal online casinos. The biggest concern about debit card deposits is a relatively high rejection rate from issuing banks.

When a debit card deposit does make it through, the funds are instantly available for play at the online casino.

eWallet

Skrill and Neteller are a couple of the eWallet options accepted for deposits at some legal mobile gambling sites. These methods do come with fees, however, generally around 3% per deposit.

Casino Cage Deposit

Visiting the land-based casino that operates a given online platform is another way to register for an account, and deposit funds, at a legal mobile casino.

Do Michigan Online Casinos Offer Live Dealer Games?

Michigan’s legal online casinos will likely offer live dealer games at some point, although none of the eight casinos going live on Jan. 22 had live dealer games on the menu.

Live dealer games allow players to interact with a physical table, and a human dealer, with real-life games, streamed from a secure studio.

BetMGM and Evolution have inked a deal to provide live dealer games in Michigan. So far, this is the most high-profile deal of its kind in the state, though more will almost certainly follow.

Blackjack

Live dealer Blackjack offers online players the social experience of live blackjack, with the convenience of the mobile gaming experience.

These games play virtually exactly like a live blackjack game at a land-based casino. A human dealer deals the cards at a physical table. Online players interact with both the dealer and other players.

Roulette

Many of the variants of roulette found at a land-based casino can be played as live dealer games on legal online casino sites as well.

Live dealer versions of American and European Roulette play exactly like they do in a live setting. The only difference is that players can participate from the comfort of a mobile device or desktop at home.

Other Games

Baccarat and casino table games like Casino Hold’em and Three Card Poker are offered as live dealer games at many legal online casinos. These games play exactly as they do at a retail casino.

Progressive Jackpots At Michigan’s Online Casinos

Michigan’s online casinos include enticing progressive jackpot slots. The following list includes some of the most popular progressive slots offered in the state:

Divine Fortune

Divine Fortune sits at the top of the list of most popular progressive online slots in the US. This slot is found at numerous online casinos in Michigan.

The Divine Fortune Mega Jackpot can reach totals of more than $300,000.

The Big One

The Big One network of progressive jackpot slots resides exclusively at BetMGM Michigan.

This collection of slots operate as different games, linked to the same progressive grand prize. That grand prize jackpot started at six figures when BetMGM launched in Michigan.

Big One progressive jackpot titles include MGM Grand Millions, Loot’en Khamun, and Book of Myths.

Online Casinos Come To Michigan

Numerous US states are jumping into the pool when it comes to online sports betting, but Michigan is just one of five states to legalize online casinos. With the passage of HB 4311, Michigan now joins Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and West Virginia as a state with legal, regulated online casinos. West Virginia launched its online casinos in 2020, and Michigan debuted its mobile casino platforms in January 2021.

Current Tribal Casino Landscape

Like those other states, Michigan’s land-based casinos operate the legal online casino sites. The retail casino industry in Michigan, however, has a different makeup than the other states.

Out of 26 total casinos in the state, 23 are tribal casinos. House Bill 4311 allows for all state casino ownership groups, both tribal and commercial, to apply for online gaming licenses.

The language of the bill contains a unique provision. It provides that at least one commercial and one tribal casino must be licensed to offer interactive gaming (iGaming) for any of the state’s casinos to offer iGaming. This provision is in place to ensure a competitive balance between tribal and commercial casinos.

Michigan Aims For NJ-Style Success

New Jersey is the benchmark state for US online casino gaming performance. After all, it was the first state to legalize and launch online casinos. By far the largest US market, New Jersey’s online casino industry has generated nearly $1.46 billion in revenue since the launch of the state’s first online casinos in December 2013.

Michigan’s online casinos launched with full lineups of classic casino games. This includes blackjack, roulette, craps, slots, video poker, and casino table games.

Live dealer games, which allow online players to interact with a live dealer and other players, are popular in New Jersey. BetMGM and Evolution gaming recently partnered to launch live dealer games in Michigan. Michigan’s online casinos don’t include live dealer games yet, but they will at some point.

The convenience of playing from home or anywhere within the state makes online casino gaming a hit in New Jersey. The same is true in Pennsylvania’s emerging market.

The ability to deposit, withdraw, and play a wide variety of casino games on a mobile phone or desktop computer has led to the growing popularity of the market in states where mobile casinos legally operate. Michigan looks staged to replicate this success as a state that has legalized online gambling in almost every form.

Who Could Be Big Players In Michigan?

Michigan’s online gambling legalization drew the biggest names in the industry to the Wolverine State. DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Golden Nugget, BetRivers, and other big-name brands all launched mobile casino apps in January 2021,

Michigan Online Gambling Options: The Run-Down

Real Money Online Casinos

The massive gambling expansion outlined in HB 4311 includes the legalization of online casinos.

Michigan is one of only five states to legalize online casino gaming, along with New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia.

Michigan hopes to see its mobile casino market catch on and grow in a similar fashion to Pennsylvania, another newcomer to the online casino industry. Pennsylvania’s online casinos earned a record $19.5 million in revenue in February 2020, growing nearly 40 percent over the previous month.

In a state that hosts 23 tribal and three commercial casinos, the launch of casino iGaming should give a welcome boost to the Michigan economy.

Online Sports Betting

House Bill 4916, aka the Lawful Sports Betting Act, brings a new era of sports betting to Michigan, both retail and online. With a population of 10 million and a deep tradition of both college and professional sports, the Michigan sports betting market looks to be poised for success.

Much like several other states with legal sports betting, the industry’s biggest brands operate in Michigan. These brands offer sports betting platforms through partnerships with retail casinos in the state.

Brands like FanDuel Sportsbook, FOX Bet, William Hill, BetMGM, and PointsBet have partnerships in place with state casinos. Michigan bettors can expect to see mobile betting platforms from these companies at some point.

Michigan’s first wave of online sportsbooks debuted in January 2021.

See our Guide To Online Sportsbooks In Michigan.

Online Poker

While the online sports betting industry booms in the US, legal online poker currently operates in just a few states. The December 2019 online gambling legislation passed in the Wolverine State put Michigan on the list of markets that to offer state-regulated online poker. The first online poker app, PokerStars, launched on January 29, 2021.

PokerStars’ parent company, The Stars Group operates as a license partner to the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian Gaming Authority. The tribe owns a pair of land-based casinos in Michigan.

Michigan’s online poker market should also see partypoker offering legal poker to Michigan players. Partypoker’s parent company, GVC Holdings, launched online gambling under the license of MGM Grand Detroit.

Michigan Online Lottery

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Visit: Michigan Lottery

Michigan was one of the first states to implement online options for the state lottery. The Michigan Lottery started to offer online purchases in 2014.

With this option to play online in place, the Michigan Lottery realized record sales figures in both 2018 ($3.6 billion) and 2019 ($3.9 billion).

Michigan’s online lottery platform allows players to purchase entries for a wide variety of instant win and drawing games. The Michigan Lotto 47, an in-state drawing game, offers jackpots reaching well into seven figures.

Online purchases for multi-state lotteries like MegaMillions and Powerball are also at the disposal of Michigan players. Michigan Lottery can be played online on both desktop and mobile apps for iOS and Android.

History Of Michigan Lottery

In May 1972, Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment to introduce a state lottery. Public Act 239 was signed into law in August 1972, which formally legalized the lottery.

The first lottery tickets were made available to the public in November 1972. By the end of 1977, the Michigan Lottery offered a variety of games. This included instant win tickets and the Daily 3 drawing game.

In August 1996, Michigan, in collaboration with five other states, begins offering the Big Game. The Big Game was the first multi-state lottery to operate in the US.

The Big Game eventually evolved into MegaMillions. It is currently one of the two biggest multi-state lotteries in the US. MegaMillions now includes 45 states. Michigan also participates in Powerball, which is the other major national lottery games.

Michigan became one of the first states to implement online lottery ticket sales, which started in August 2014. The Michigan Lottery app offers purchases to almost every in-state instant win and drawing game, as well as MegaMillions and Powerball.

All profits from the Michigan Lottery go to the Michigan School Aid Fund. Since its inception in 1972, the Michigan Lottery has contributed more than $23.4 billion to the fund.

Check out our full Guide To The Michigan Online Lottery. Or, purchase tickets for the Michigan Lottery here.

Daily Fantasy Sports

The gambling-expansion bills signed by Gov. Whitmer included HB 4308, a bill that regulates paid fantasy sports.

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) giants like FanDuel and DraftKings operated in Michigan for years without regulation. This practice is common in the US. FanDuel and DraftKings operate in about 40 states, with only around half of those states having explicit DFS regulations in place.

HB 4308 doesn’t change anything about the actual execution of fantasy sports sites. DFS operators can continue to offer their services. With the new legislation in place, DFS operators will be taxed by the state at the same rate (8.4 percent) as legal sportsbooks.

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The bill set licensing fees for fantasy sports operators at a considerably lower rate than many other states. The intent is to allow smaller DFS brands to compete in the Michigan market.

Online Horse Racing

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) issued an order to legalize online horse race betting on May 6, 2020. Prior to the order, horse race wagering was limited to in-person betting at the state’s lone operating racetrack, Northville Downs.

No standalone off-track betting facilities operate in the state, but Northville Downs does offer simulcast race betting,

With the order from the MGCB in place, Michigan bettors can now enjoy access to legal wagering platforms like TwinSpires and BetAmerica. These mobile apps open up a new world of horse racing options for Michigan bettors, with the convenience of wagering from anywhere within state borders.

Sweepstakes Casinos

State-regulated online casinos are up and running in Michigan. Additionally, sweepstakes sites like Chumba Casino are available to Michigan players and offer a variety of casino games.

Chumba Casino allows for players to purchase “Gold Coins” to be used for play-money games. Players receive an amount of “Sweeps Coins” as a gift that comes along with the Gold Coins packages.

Sweeps Coins can also be obtained for free through various offers. Gold Coins games and Sweeps Coins games both offer a variety of classic casino staples like slots, roulette, blackjack, and casino table games.

Best Sweepstakes Sites In Michigan

• Chumba Casino
• LuckyLand Slots
• Funzpoints

Sweepstakes Poker Sites

Chumba Casino also operates Global Poker, the largest sweepstakes poker site available to US players. Like Chumba Casino, the games on Global Poker are mini-sweepstakes games.

Players purchase “Gold Coins” packages for play-money poker games. Those packages award an amount of “Sweeps Coins” that come along with the Gold Coins purchase. Players can also receive Sweeps Coins as a free gift through various offers from Global Poker.

Like Chumba Casino, players can redeem Sweeps Coins for cash prizes. Sweeps Coins are never available for direct purchase. They can only be obtained as a gift with Gold Coins purchases or by special free offers.

Legal Versus Illegal Online Casinos

The US legal online casino industry is just beginning to take shape. Michigan joins a list of just a handful of states offering legal, state-regulated online casino gaming.

With Michigan’s legal mobile casinos going live, players in the state enjoy access to a virtual casino landscape that’s owned and operated by Michigan’s retail casinos.

Michigan Online Casino Regulations

The National Indian Gaming Commission regulates Michigan’s tribal casinos. The Michigan Gaming Control Board provides oversight of the state’s commercial casinos. These agencies ensure that the casinos in their respective jurisdiction operate with transparency and accountability.

Tribal and commercial casinos in Michigan conduct business as part of multi-billion-dollar industries. Both the National Indian Gaming Commission and the Michigan Gaming Control Board have a vested interest in fair games and player safety for customers of Michigan’s casinos.

Michigan’s regulated tribal and commercial casinos own and operate the state’s online casinos. As such, playing at a legal, state-regulated online casino platform in Michigan presents the same level of security as playing at a legal retail casino in the state.

Risks To Offshore Betting

Offshore casinos operate illegally in the US. These platforms are not subject to the same regulations as legal online casinos.

Playing at an offshore casino can be a riskier proposition than playing at a state-regulated casino. Players that visit offshore online casinos do so at their own risk.

Timeline For Legal Gambling In Michigan

• 1933 – The first form of legalized gambling became available in the form of pari-mutuel horse race betting. The Racing Act of 1933 legalized pari-mutuel betting on races. It also created the Office of Racing Commissioner to oversee the new industry.
• 1972 – Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment permitting a state lottery. Then Gov. William Milliken signed Public Act 239 into law later that same year. By the end of 1972, the newly created Michigan Lottery offered the first games.
• 1984 – Tribal casinos launched in Michigan. Fred Dakota, a member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Tribe, challenged the state’s legal right to regulate gambling on tribal lands. Dakota opened a casino called “The Pines” in January 1984. The casino consisted of a single blackjack table in Dakota’s garage. Later in 1984, large-scale tribal casinos started to operate. The Bay Mills Indian Band opened Kings Casino Club, the first tribally owned casino in the US. By the end of 1985, multiple tribal properties started to offer casino gaming.
• 1996 – Michigan, along with five other states, started to offer tickets for the Big Game, the first multi-state lottery in the US. The Big Game eventually evolved into what is now known as MegaMillions, involving 45 US. states.
• 1997 – The Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act was signed into law. State voters passed the bill, originally called Proposal E, in November 1996. The bill permitted the construction of three commercial casinos in Detroit. The MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity Casino Hotel both opened in 1999. The Greektown Casino-Hotel opened in 2000.
• 2014 – Online sales for the Michigan Lottery began in November. This made instant win games available for purchase online. Tickets for in-state and multi-state drawing games started online in January 2016.
• 2018 – Both the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives passed a bill to legalize online gambling. The bill only needed a signature from then-Governor Rick Snyder to go into law. Snyder instead vetoed the bill just days before his gubernatorial term ends.
• 2019 – A package of bills that included legislation to legalize sports betting (both retail and online), online casinos, and online poker passed the state Senate and House. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed these bills into law in December. The passage set the foundation for significant gambling expansion in the state.
• 2020 – The first of Michigan’s legal retail sportsbooks went live in March, but only briefly. The COVID-19 pandemic forced nationwide shutdowns of casinos just days later.
• 2020 – Online horse race betting legalized by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
• 2021 – Michigan’s legal online sportsbooks and casinos go live. Ten online sportsbooks and eight online casinos launch on Jan. 22, 2021.

Recent History Of Michigan Online Gambling

The state first approved and regulated online lottery as the first form of online gambling in Michigan. The Michigan Lottery started to offer online purchases of instant win game tickets in November 2014. In January 2016, Michigan Lottery added options to buy tickets for in-state and national drawing games as well.

Pro-gambling lawmakers, led by former Michigan State Representative Robert Kosowski, began to advance the narrative for legalized sports betting in 2015. In 2017, State Representative Brandt Iden drafted a Lawful Internet Gaming Act bill. The bill was designed to legalize internet-based sports betting if the then-effective federal ban on sports betting was ever overturned.

By 2018, the prospects of legal online gambling in Michigan began to gain serious momentum. A package of bills outlining the legalization of online casino games, retail and online sports betting, and online poker made it through both the state House and Senate.

Overcoming The Veto Hurdle

The bills faced one final hurdle. Then Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed the bills instead of signing them into law. This happened just days before his term as governor ended. Snyder vetoed the gaming bills in December 2018, which pushed Michigan back to square one.

Governor Whitmer took over in the governor’s office the following January. With Whitmer in office, 2019 proved to be a landmark year in the advancement of Michigan’s iGaming initiatives. A package of internet gaming bills, similar to 2018, once again made it through the state House and Senate.

These gaming bills made it to the governor’s desk for the second consecutive year. This time, they received the required signatures from Gov. Whitmer.

The bill’s package included HB 4311, which legalized online sports betting, casino games, and poker in Michigan. Michigan is now one of five states in which all three of those gaming verticals are legal.

Operators in all three areas can launch iGaming platforms via license partnerships with Michigan’s retail casinos. The Michigan Gaming Control Board approved 15 different iGaming operators in December 2020.

Legal online gambling platforms launched in Michigan on Jan. 22, 2021.

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History Of Live Gambling In Michigan

Pari-mutuel horse race wagering was the first form of legal gambling in Michigan. The Racing Act of 1933 legalized betting on horse races. The state’s first legal wagers took place in September 1933.

The state established the Michigan Lottery in 1972. This introduced instant win and drawing games to the state.

In 1984, a single individual in the Keweenaw Bay Indian Tribe took the first step for what would eventually become a robust live casino industry in the state. Fred Dakota challenged the state’s stance toward regulated gambling on tribal lands by operating a single blackjack table in his garage.

Other tribal gaming interests soon followed suit. Kings Club Casino became the first tribally owned casino in the US, opening later in 1984. Michigan’s casino industry has grown to include 23 tribal casinos.

The 1997 Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act authorized the construction of three Detroit-area commercial casinos. All three of those properties started to operate by 2000. As of 2020, Michigan is home to a total of 26 casinos.

Michigan Live Gambling At A Glance

Casinos In Michigan

Michigan is home to 26 casinos, with 23 tribal casinos situated throughout the state, as well as three commercial casinos in Detroit.

Players can find tribal casinos all over the Michigan map. There are 12 in the Lower Peninsula and the other 11 in the Upper Peninsula. Kings Club Casino, located in the Upper Peninsula’s Bay Mills Township, was the first tribally owned casino to open in the US. It started operations in 1984.

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Michigan Casino Locations

Tribal Casinos In Michigan

The opening of the Kings Club Casino by the Bay Mills Indian Band was just the beginning of a long history of tribal gaming in Michigan. Five more tribal casinos opened by the end of 1985.

At the time, these tribal casinos operated in a legal grey area. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in 1987 that Native American tribes could legally operate on tribal lands. In 1988, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act further defined the legal relationship between tribal gaming industries and state regulatory agencies.

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act required Michigan’s tribal casinos to enter a state compact. The Act provided that tribes retained exclusive rights to operate casino gaming throughout the entire state. This included off-reservation lands.

The compact required the tribes to pay 10 percent of revenue from video gambling machines to the state. As of 2021, the industry has grown to include 23 tribal casinos.

Commercial Casinos In Michigan

The 1997 passage of the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act authorized the construction of three commercial casinos in Detroit. This bill negates parts of the state compact, as tribal interests no longer held exclusive rights to operate casinos in the state. The tribal casinos were also no longer required to pay the 10 percent “tax” on video gaming profits.

All three of the proposed Detroit-area casinos opened in 1999 and 2000. The MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino Hotel, and Greektown Casino-Hotel are still in business as of 2020.

These three casinos realized all-time highs in combined revenue for both 2018 ($1.44 billion) and 2019 ($1.45 billion).

Michigan’s tribal casinos are owned and operated by 12 different Native American tribes. Of the commercial casinos, MGM Resorts International owns the MGM Grand. IH Gaming owns the MotorCity Casino Hotel. Penn National Gaming operates Vici Properties, which in turn owns Greektown Casino.

Other Reading On Michigan Gambling

Michigan Online Casinos & Gambling FAQ

Yes. Michigan is home to 23 tribal and three commercial casinos, all of which legally offer gambling in the state.

Michigan was one of the first states to introduce tribally owned casinos. These properties can be found throughout the state. The state authorizes tribal casinos to operate anywhere in the state, including on non-reservation lands.

Michigan’s three commercial casinos are all located in Detroit.

18 at some casinos, 19 or 21 at others. Michigan’s tribal casinos can individually set the minimum gambling age at their respective properties. Depending on the casino, this age can be 18, 19, or 21.

The minimum age to gamble at the three Detroit commercial casinos is 21. For horse racing and lottery, the minimum age is 18.

All online gambling platforms mandate a minimum age of 21, including those licensed to tribal casinos.

Yes, on gambling winnings of $5,000 or more. Federal laws require a 25 percent tax to be paid on all gambling wins of $5,000 or more.

For proper tax reporting, the casino will require paperwork for any players winning $5,000 or more. If a player provides a social security number, the casino withholds 25 percent. If the SSN is not provided, the casino withholds 28 percent.

The state tax rate of 4.25 percent also applies to winnings of more than $5,000. It is the player’s responsibility to report winnings to the state.

Yes. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed off on a package of bills in December 2019 that legalized online sports betting, casino games, and poker. Michigan’s online gambling platforms launched on January 22, 2021.

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The Michigan Gaming Control Board regulates the state’s land-based tribal and commercial casinos. The land-based casinos operate all legal online gambling sites.

Michigan legalized online horse race betting in May 2020. TwinSpires and BetAmerica online wagering sites now operate legally in Michigan. The Michigan Lottery also offers online purchases for tickets.

No, apart from the online lottery. Michigan’s online gambling platforms allow any players within state borders who are of legal gambling age to play.

Purchasing online tickets for the Michigan Lottery is different. Players must be located in Michigan and be able to provide proof of residency.

Yes. In 2019, Gov. Whitmer signed off on a package of bills that legalized sports betting, both online and retail.

Michigan’s tribal and commercial casinos are eligible to apply for licenses and to launch online sportsbooks in the state. The first 10 of Michigan’s mobile sportsbooks launched in January 2021.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) and the National Indian Gaming Commission. The MGCB, a government agency, regulates commercial casinos in the state.

The National Indian Gaming Commission oversees tribal casino operations. Both of these agencies take part in the overall regulation of Michigan’s online gambling industry.

A variety of options should be available for players to deposit and withdraw when Michigan’s online gambling platforms launch. This includes ACH/eCheck, credit/debit cards, prepaid cards, casino cage deposit, PayPal, eWallets, and wire transfers.

These are the most common ways to deposit and withdraw in other states that offer legal online gambling.

Yes. DraftKings Casino is partnered with Bay Mills to offer online sports betting and an online casino as well.

The DraftKings Casino homepage displays a map of all states in which it legally operates. The platform’s geolocation software will not allow for players outside of these states to play.

Yes. FanDuel Casino operates in Michigan under the license of MotorCity Casino Hotel, one of three Detroit-area commercial casinos in the state. They also operate a retail sportsbook at MotorCity Casino in Detroit.