Sports betting in Michigan is now a reality. The first casinos to open legal Michigan sports betting sites did so in early March 2020. Despite the late passage of the legal betting in Michigan legislature, casino owners and state officials worked tirelessly. They got all the needed infrastructure to begin running legal Michigan sportsbooks before the start of March Madness. Unfortunately, that was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, though state law permits online sports betting, delays mean online Michigan sports betting sites won’t launch until early 2023.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Michigan House Bill 4916 into law by back in December 2019. She ensured the passage of the bill would not impact the School Aid Fund. HB 4916 taxes sports betting revenues in Michigan at a rate of 8.4%. That is a friendly number compared to other states in the region. The online betting USA legal industry in Michigan will take a while to realize its potential. The expected returns are massive. Sportsbooks for US players are expected to handle over $1 billion in annual bets.
Yes, sports betting in Michigan is now legal. So far, the only two Michigan sports betting sites are the MGM Grand Casino and the Greektown Casino. Both of these legal Michigan sportsbooks are in Detroit. The MotorCity Casino, also in Detroit, is expected to launch a US sportsbook before March Madness. Legal betting in Michigan is here but as yet unsupported. That’s because casino and state government representatives have yet to outline its regulations. Fortunately, several sports betting sites accept Michigan residents. It is safe to use those as if they were legal Michigan sports betting sites. No Michigan law states it is illegal for residents to bet in USA online. The state has never charged any sports bettors for using a sportsbook in USA.
State-run sports betting in Michigan still has some growing pains to go through. But residents can legally place bets with online sportsbooks that are regulated internationally. Being international Michigan sports betting sites, they aren’t subject to the Federal Wire Act. These sportsbooks are subject to the laws of whichever country they are based in. They observe universally-accepted business practices and standards. Michigan has no laws criminalizing the act of joining offshore bookmakers and placing bets online. In 2021, the state should launch its own legal betting in Michigan platforms. That will add many legal Michigan sportsbooks.
Michigan residents have many options for betting on sports online. We have a list of licensed, safe, and secure offshore online bookmakers. State players can register and bet online legally as if at legal Michigan sports betting sites. These online bookies are ideal for Michigan players. They offer interesting betting odds on local Michigan teams. And also on international sports events. They will often have better odds on local teams. That’s because they are not flooded with local bettors betting on the Wolverines and Spartans. Online sportsbooks provide the ultimate betting experience, from the comfort of your computer or phone screen.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed HB 4916 in December 2019. Thus legalizing retail and online sports betting. Two, possibly three, casino sportsbooks will be open and taking bets before March Madness. Online sportsbooks are legal already, but the first licenses are about a year away. State officials are trying to determine how to regulate them. Meanwhile, Michigan residents can legally use online sportsbooks based in other countries.
At the moment, Michigan only offers retail sports betting. It does not host domestic online sportsbooks. The online international sportsbooks accepting Michigan players have regulations from the governments of their home countries. There are universal industry standards. Major companies adhere to these standards. That includes an emphasis on protecting consumers’ personal and financial information. The companies we recommend are acclaimed and trusted in the sports betting industry. They have a flawless record of integrity and customer service.
Michigan will have one of the five largest betting markets in the US in its first calendar year of operation. Outside of the two states with millions of gambling tourists every year (Nevada and New Jersey). The average per capita betting handle in states with legal sports betting is $149.64. Michigan’s population is close to 10 million. That would result in $1.5 billion in the annual handle. The national average for the percentage of bets that sportsbooks convert to revenue—called the hold rate—is 6.97%. At this rate, Michigan would earn $104.3 million revenue.