Michigan Sports Betting

Michigan stands out for being one of the most vibrant sports betting markets in the United States. The state legalized the activity in late 2019 and shortly after, various Michigan sportsbook venues began accepting in-person bets from the residents. The Michigan sports gambling culture has always been rather robust and it was not too surprising to see the retail sports betting business grow as rapidly as it did.

Today, there are three major retail sports betting venues in Michigan. The casinos which are all located in Detroit include Motor City Casino, MGM Grand, and Greektown Casino.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Michigan?

Yes, Michigan is one of the states in the country that boasts of having a legal and regulated sports betting sector. This was all thanks to the Lawful Sports Betting Act that the state’s lawmakers discussed for quite a while before it was signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in December 2019.

Michigan Online Sports Betting

When Michigan passed the Lawful Sports Betting Act, some of the other things aside from legal in-person sports betting that came into place were Michigan online betting and mobile sports betting. These two options finally went live in January 2021 bringing the long wait for even more sports betting options to an end.

Is Online Betting Legal in Michigan?

As it stands, Michigan allows operators to offer online sports betting (Michigan-only), online casino games as well as poker sites to the state’s residents. Prior to this, to access online betting, Michigan residents had to utilize offshore sportsbooks to experience Michigan sports betting online as those platforms were technically acceptable as there are no state laws that prohibited their use.

Online Sportsbook: Michigan Choices

Lots of people had been anticipating the arrival of Michigan sports betting online and, as expected, several operators were also making the necessary preparations to venture into the nascent but very lucrative market of online betting in Michigan.

As it turns out for sports betting online, Michigan is proving to be one of the fastest-growing states to adopt it. As for general sports gambling, Michigan’s legal betting markets are growing just as fast.

Michigan Sports Betting App Choices

As mentioned above, lots of stakeholders had their sights set on Michigan’s sports betting market. That said, as soon as the soon gave the green light for operators in the state to offer online wagering, several popular brands jumped at the opportunity to make the most out of Michigan mobile sports betting. Now, the state boasts of having one of the most impressive selections of mobile sports betting Michigan residents can dream of choosing from.

The top online sportsbooks and sports betting apps that are available in Michigan include:

• Draftkings Sportsbook (Michigan)
• Fanduel Sports (Michigan)
• Barstool Sportsbook
• BetRivers Sportsbook
• BetMGM Sportsbook (MGM Grand)
• Golden Nugget Sportsbook
• Pointsbet Sportsbook
• WynnBet Sportsbook
• William Hill Sportsbook
• FOX Bet
• TwinSpires Sportsbook

1. DraftKings Sportsbook Michigan – Bay Mills Resort & Casino

Previously known for its world-class daily fantasy sports offering, this operator has quickly spread its wings and is now arguably the most notable sportsbook in Michigan. Its entry into the Michigan sports betting market, therefore, comes as no surprise. In addition to an amazing user-friendly design, the operator offers dozens of popular sports markets, very competitive odds, and insanely enticing reward schemes for all its customer to enjoy.

2. FanDuel Sportsbook Michigan – MotorCity Casino

FanDuel has since time immemorial been DraftKings’ most aggressive competitor and if history is anything to go by, its offerings are just as competitive when it comes to the claim for the best online sportsbook Michigan has to offer. It has also grown to become a household name in the US sports betting scene which means that bettors in Illinois certainly have a lot to look forward to. These include lots of sports markets including international and US-based leagues, some of the most competitive odds in the industry as well as bonuses and promotions for days. It does not slack in areas such as design and usability either.

3. Barstool Sportsbook – Greektown Casino

The Barstool Sportsbook is barely a year old but it currently boasts of being the fastest growing sports betting brand in the United States. Its meteoric rise can be attributed to its full array of customer-centered focused offerings that give even the leading brands a run for their money. These features include a robust betting menu, uniquely-tailored generous promotions as well as integrations that allow sports betting content to be displayed alongside live streams of Barstool sports personalities.

4. BetRivers Sportsbook – Litter River Casino Resort

This Rush Street Gaming-owned sports betting platform is also a great option especially for people who are looking for a simple and straightforward gaming experience. It does a superb job when it comes to nailing the basics. One of the things that set it apart is the fact that it offers many betting markets per game which is often higher than what its competitors have made available. Moreover, its users can also take advantage of its neat live-streaming feature as they place their bets.

5. BetMGM Sportsbook – MGM Grand Detroit

Apart from Michigan, BetMGM which is part of ROAR Digital has proven its prowess in delivering world-class sports betting services in six other states. Its entry into this market allows it to expand its footprint further while delivering great experiences that are defined by decent odds, innovative value-adding features as well as a solid selection of bonuses and promotions.

6. Golden Nugget Sportsbook – Ojibwa Casino

Best known for its stellar retail gambling operations in various markets across the country, Golden Nugget could not let the opportunity to venture into a new market pass it by. Its online sportsbook and mobile app feature neat designs, amazing odds as well as generous bonuses and promotions. The operator tried to emphasize a simple and straightforward approach that appeals to lots of sports bettors in Michigan.

7. PointsBet Sportsbook – Northern Waters Casino Resort

The PointsBet brand stands out as one of the most polished sports betting service providers in the United States. Its best selling points are its sleek app design and its innovative offerings such as the point spreading feature. In addition to that, the app covers multiple markets and offers amazing rewards to its users. All these add up to a wholesome sports wagering experience that most people will keep coming back to.

8. WynnBet Sportsbook – Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

Wynn Resorts which operates the WynnBet sportsbook is already an established brand in the gambling and entertainment scene. This sports betting brand is a new venture for the company but this has not stopped it from bringing its A-game to the party. The sportsbook nails all of the basic features but tries to lean more towards social features such as player profiles and handicapping leaderboards. This is perfect for people who are looking for an even more engaging sports betting experience.

9. William Hill Sportsbook – Turtle Creek Casino

William Hill has been very aggressive in its pursuit to become a dominant player in nascent or emerging sports betting markets such as Michigan. Bettors in the state can already enjoy the platform’s unbeatable new-user promotions and reward schemes. The odds which are available for lots of sports markets are also very competitive. Moreover, William Hill also has plans for a retail sportsbook which should further cement its position as a key player in the state’s market.

10. FOX Bet – Odawa Casino

With FOX Bet Sportsbook, players in Michigan get to immerse themselves into the best that renowned gaming and entertainment brand The Stars Group has to offer. The app is part of Flutter Entertainment which is one of the top gambling companies on the planet. As such, it sets itself apart by throwing in lots of enticing prices and super competitive odds in addition to the standard sportsbook features available in competing sportsbooks.

11. TwinSpires Sportsbook

This is Churchill Downs Inc.’s second attempt at venturing into the country’s sports betting market. If their current offering is anything to go by, the company has learned a lot and is putting a lot of effort and resources into delivering an outstanding sportsbook. The software is super-sleek and the site offers generous promotions frequently to add value to the sports betting experience.

Michigan Sports Teams

Sports is a pretty big part of Michigan’s culture – no wonder sports betting is such a big deal. The state has several teams that play across both professional and collegiate sports leagues. To make it even better, unlike the case in other states, there are no restrictions when it comes to the teams you can bet on in Michigan.

Michigan Professional Sports Teams:

• Detroit Lions (NFL)
• Detroit Pistons (NBA)
• Detroit Shock (WNBA)
• Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
• Detroit Tigers (MLB)
• Detroit Fury (AFL)
• Grand Rapids Rampage (AFL)

When it comes to collegiate sports, some of the teams representing the state include:

• Michigan Wolves (NCAA Football)
• Michigan Wolverines (NCAA Basketball)

Michigan Sports Betting Law and Regulations

Sports betting in the state is overseen by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) which is responsible for not only regulation but also ensuring compliance. According to state gaming laws, online sportsbooks that wish to operate in Michigan have to be tethered to any of the existing three commercial casinos or any of the 12 federally recognized Indian tribes that currently own and operate a total of 23 casinos.

The online sportsbooks are also only allowed to take bets from residents or visitors who are at least 21 years old. These bettors also have to be within the state’s borders to access the state-sanctioned online sportsbooks – a geo-location feature is required for this.

The Michigan Sports Betting Bill

The Lawful Sports Betting Act was the bill that officially brought sports betting to Michigan. By the time it was passed in 2019, the bill had already been through several failed attempts at changing the Michigan sports betting law scene. Thankfully, after some negotiations in the Senate as well as a few tweaks, the bill was finally able to pass with a landslide win of 35-3. In addition to legalizing both in-person and online sports betting, the Lawful Sports Betting Act also legalized online casinos, online poker, and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS).

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