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Real Money Online Gambling in Michigan
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The story may be short in many US states, but gambling online in Michigan is a hot topic, and there’s a lot to say about it. The state has been at the forefront of gambling expansion for years.
Michigan covers all of the bases using legal real-money gambling opportunities that are regulated in-state to boost the state budget. There is a lottery, 26 casinos, pari-mutuel wagering, and charity gambling. The best Michigan online gambling sites also offer various other betting and gaming options.
How We Rate
Safety & Security
You should be able to gamble online without fear. So we only recommend licensed sites that use the latest security and encryption techniques.
Bonuses
Maximize your bankroll with fantastic bonuses. Our recommended sites offer valuable bonuses with fair terms and conditions, including manageable wagering requirements.
Games & Betting
The best sites have the best wagering options. That’s why you will find extensive games and betting opportunities on our recommended sites.
Banking
Getting your money to and from your account shouldn’t be a hassle. We only recommend sites with a variety of convenient banking methods, including cryptocurrency and e-wallets.
In December of 2019, Michigan became the 20th state to legalize sports betting. The package also includes a web-based component as well, which also includes online casino gambling, poker, and DFS (daily fantasy sports).
While Michiganders have access to real money online gambling websites from out-of-area providers, they’ll soon have even more options. The 26 Native American casinos, as well as three Vegas-style venues in Detroit, can each provide fully-licensed and regulated Michigan online gambling sites.
So, MI is leapfrogging over many of its sister states by embracing our new online lifestyles with a progressive stance on internet gambling opportunities.
Best Michigan Gambling Sites
Newly licensed and regulated Michigan online gambling sites have yet to roll out, and there’s not a definitive timeline attached to the planning process. It’s likely that soon, residents of the Great Lakes State will be able to play on at least a few state-sanctioned sites.
Our job is to monitor all the ins and outs of the online gambling world. So, we’ve produced reviews of the top real money gambling sites for Michigan that are already available. We’ve also compared and contrasted each of the operations to come up with our list of the best MI gambling sites.
Our team has extensive expertise and knows what to look for when it comes to fair, safe, and secure gambling online. When you’re accessing any real money gambling website, whether it’s state-regulated or from outside the area, it’s essential to use a reputable provider.
We’ll delve more into the specifics of our review process in a bit. But you can be assured that we take online gambling seriously and look for more than just a pretty face (or homepage, in this case).
History of Michigan Gambling Laws
Pari-mutuel wagers legalized.
Voters approve the operation of three casinos in Detroit.
Road to Legal Online Gambling in MI
The name of the game when it comes to real money gambling in Michigan is formal legislation.
While the state’s official gambling history spans less than a century, it’s evolved through systematic planning.
Back to the ‘30s
First up was pari-mutuel racing, which came about through the Racing Act of 1933. Since then, there have been several attempts to turn racetracks into racinos, but Michigan gravitated to traditional casino venues instead.
Before the first casino opened its doors, though, the lottery and charitable bingo emerged in 1972. Then, the ‘80s ushered in Native American Casinos that started small with Class I and II gaming. When three non-tribal casinos opened in the Detroit area in the ‘90s, though, the status changed. Players wanted Vegas-style gambling, so Michigan casinos now have Class III status.
Virtual Gambling Begins
In-state regulated online gambling in Michigan began in 2014 when the state became one of the few places in the US to unveil a virtual lottery program. Not only can residents buy tickets, but they can also play instant online games.
Both the MO government and its residents have witnessed the positive economic impact of legalized gambling programs firsthand. So, it wasn’t too much of a stretch that the Great Lakes State would embrace sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and online gambling. The new programs were made official at the end of 2019.
In and Out of the State
In the meantime, there is already real money online gambling in Michigan courtesy of sites that originate outside of the area. Regulation for these operators is from other jurisdictions, but they still welcome Michiganders.
Online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker rooms accommodate MI players with US-licensed gaming and preferred financial methods.
Overview of Michigan Gambling Laws
- Casinos: legal
- Sports Betting: legal
- Lottery: legal
- Pari-mutuel Betting: legal
- Online Lottery: legal
- Online Gambling: legal but pending a launch date
- Daily Fantasy Sports: legal but pending a launch date
- Online Poker: legal but pending a launch date
- Online Sports Betting: legal but pending a launch date
Online Gambling Bonuses
As a Michigander, you may be well-versed in the land-based casino bonus world.
But when it comes to bonuses and promotions for online gambling, it’s an entirely different animal.
Welcome Bonuses
New player offers are one of the first things you’ll see when you pull up online gambling sites in Michigan or anywhere else in the world. The incentives are enticing, and many players use them in their selection process. If you’re trying to stretch your budget, then some free play cash is welcome.
But before you move forward and accept any online gambling bonus, you’ll want to know how they work.
Most of the incentives issued are in the form of a deposit match. So, you’ll see something like a 200% deposit match up to $500 or similar. That sounds pretty good, right? Well, maybe.
Rollovers
There’s nothing incorrect about the advertising of the promotion. If you take advantage of it, you will get a 200% deposit match up to $500. However, that’s only part of the story, as you’ll need to keep one word in mind, and that’s “rollover.”
Online bonus rollovers are the number of times you need to wager both your bonus and the amount of your deposit before you can reap the benefit of the award.
Bonus Math
For example, if the rollover is listed as “30x” and you deposited $100, then you’ll need to accomplish $9,000 in betting before any winnings are free and clear ($100 deposit + $200 bonus = $300 total x 30 rollover = $9,000).
The bottom line is that it’s always wise to read through the terms and conditions. Then, depending on the situation, you’ll either be excited to accept the offer, or you know enough to decline it.
How We Rank MI Online Gambling Sites
We previously touched on how we arrive at the best online gambling sites for Michigan players. You now know that we review each site, compare those reviews, give them ratings, then compile the rankings.
But what is it mainly that merits a high rating by a particular website? There’s not just one deciding factor, as it’s a compilation of many things.
Reputation Matters
Above all else, the operator needs to cater to Michigan players and have a good reputation. Some sites may have had a rocky start, but have taken the proper measures to make changes. That’s why we must stay on top of all of the changes within the virtual gambling world.
We look closely at the financial situation to make sure that there are enough banking options to accommodate MI players. That includes a variety of debit, credit, and prepaid cards, as well as Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency, and it also helps to have EBT transfers on the menu.
Cash In and Out
There’s more to it than a variety of accepted payments. For example, you don’t want to pay enormous fees for the privilege of moving money in and out of your gambling account. And we’ll venture a guess that you don’t want to have to wait weeks to receive your payouts as well.
The financial side of gambling online for real money is a top consideration, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our vetting process.
Our Ratings Formula
We review, rate, and rank MI gambling sites by analyzing all of the data. That means the betting, gaming, bonuses and promotions, customer service, transparency, user and mobile-friendliness, and player feedback all factor into our list of recommendations.
Not only do we position the top sites on an all-around best list, but we take things a step further for you. If you’re looking for an online sportsbook or poker room, you won’t find them on every casino website. So, we’ve also got abbreviated lists that categorize the top options for real money gambling online in Michigan.
Where Can I Gamble in Michigan?
MGM Grand Detroit
MotorCity Casino Hotel
Greektown Casino Hotel
Bay Mills Resort & Casino
Island Resort & Casino
Further Reading On Michigan Gambling Law
This is the homepage of the Michigan Gaming Control Board. They regulate and enforce the regulations for gaming in the state. You can find everything from a list of licensed casinos in the state to specifics on the Michigan tribal casino agreement. A useful FAQ page is available in the menu on the left side of the page, though it refers mostly to casino gambling issues. You may also find the contact information (mostly for government agencies) useful as we did. It’s the most comprehensive list of contact details for Michigan’s gaming authorities.
This is a really cool feature put out by the top newspaper in the state. It’s a map that lays out the location and contact details for all commercial, tribal, and racino venues in the state. If we were planning a gambling trip through the Great Lakes State, this would be an invaluable resource.
This link goes to the Michigan legislature’s page dedicated to the Gaming Control Revenue Act of 1996. That might seem like a really droll subject for a link, but as far as we’re concerned, this act contains the meat and potatoes of the state’s casino law, including aspects of the treaty it has with various tribal groups that provide casino games. We’re dorks about stuff like this, but we think you’ll enjoy it if you’re into American gaming law. The page also links to other Michigan law resources.
Ready to Gamble Online in Michigan?
Over the years, Michigan has had its fair share of gambling expansion. But even the inception of the lottery and approval of land-based casinos was just the tip of the iceberg.
The 21st century has already ushered in significant progress in the industry. Not only will players soon have sports betting and daily fantasy sports, but state-regulated online gambling in MI is also a top priority.
While there are already real money gambling sites that have extended their services to Michiganders, the state is ready to launch a full-blown licensed and regulated program with online sports betting, casino, and poker room options.
Rollout specifics are still up in the air, but it shouldn’t be too long before your local casino transforms its in-house products into a similar virtual experience. But you don’t have to anxiously wait by your keyboard, as the best Michigan online gambling sites are already open 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
