With one of the nation's lowest tax rates and a multitude of legal gaming options, Michigan has established itself as an environment where everybody wins.
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About Sports Betting in Michigan
With one of the nation's lowest tax rates on sports betting, a vigilant state regulator, and a multitude of legal gaming options, Michigan has established itself as an environment where everybody wins -- save for shady offshore outfits and storefront bookies.
Be it online or in-person, commercial or tribal, poker or player props, Michigan has found a way to legalize and regulate most forms of gambling for a populace that embraces all major (and minor) sports with considerable zeal. The state was relatively early to the U.S. sports betting party, taking its first legal wagers just as the COVID-19 pandemic sent much of the nation into lockdown mode and quickly adapting to mobile mania.
Michigan has gone on to post steady, if not spectacular, sports betting numbers, handling a then-record $671 million worth of wagers in November 2024. There are nearly a dozen mobile platforms and about twice as many retail locations through which to bet on sports, with Indian tribes statewide and a trio of downtown Detroit casinos aligned with some of the nation's top operators.
Michigan was the first state with regulated sportsbooks, online casino games, online poker, DFS, commercial casinos, and Indian casinos.
The sports betting tax rate is 8.4%, with commercial Detroit casinos required to pay an additional percentage to a municipal fund.
$150,000 initial license fee for sports betting operators, along with a $50,000 application fee and a $50,000 annual renewal fee.
21+ age minimum for betting, except at certain tribal properties, where the minimum may be 18.
Online sportsbooks must partner with a land-based casino.
No restrictions on college wagering, but no betting on esports or elections.
Legalization Timeline
Gov. Whitmer signs sports betting bill into law
December, 2019
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signs a comprehensive gaming bill that includes the legalization of sports betting. Once everything launches, Michigan becomes the first state with regulated retail and online sportsbooks, online casino games, online poker, DFS, and brick-and-mortar casinos of both the Native American and commercial ilk.
Detroit casinos accept first in-person sports wagers
March, 2020
Two downtown Detroit casinos, the MGM Grand Detroit and the Greektown Casino-Hotel, accept Michigan's first in-person sports wagers -- right before the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily puts a halt to retail betting.
First mobile sports wagers are placed
January, 2020
Online sports betting gets off the ground in Michigan, with major operators like BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel accepting mobile wagers.
ESPN BET opens first U.S. retail sportsbook
April, 2024
ESPN BET opens its first in-person sportsbook in the United States in downtown Detroit's Hollywood Casino at Greektown.
Gaming board tells popular offshore site to shut down
January, 2025
The Michigan Gaming Control Board instructs the popular offshore site MyBookie to cease operations in the state. This continues an impressive trend of vigilance by the MGCB when it comes to rooting out illegal or unregulated gambling outfits in the state.
FAQs
Is sports betting legal in Michigan?
Yes. The first in-person sports wagering in Michigan was placed in March of 2020, with online wagering commencing in January of the following year.
Who can bet on sports in Michigan?
People betting on sports within Michigan's boundaries must be 21 or older to do so online and at commercial sportsbooks. Some tribal casinos may allow bettors as young as 18 to place wagers.
Who regulates sports betting in Michigan?
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) regulates sports betting along with several other forms of legal gaming in the Wolverine State.
What can I bet on in Michigan?
The MGCB boasts one of the country's most dynamic sports wagering catalogs, which lists betting on the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, and Golden Globes alongside the following approved sports: Australian Rules Football, cornhole, Ultimate Frisbee, badminton, baseball, basketball, billiards, snooker, bowling, boxing, cricket, cycling, darts, drone racing, football, Gaelic Football, golf, ice hockey, hurling, lacrosse, MMA, motorsports, competitive eating, NCAA field hockey, NCAA wrestling, Olympics (Summer & Winter), pickleball, bull riding, rugby, sailing, skateboarding, soccer, surfing, softball, table tennis, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
What can't I bet on in Michigan?
As long as a sporting event is approved for wagering by the MGCB, there are no restrictions on what Michiganders and visitors to the state can bet on, be it in the professional or collegiate realm. There is no betting on esports or political elections, however.
Is DFS legal in Michigan?
Yes. It's been legal to participate on daily fantasy sports platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel in Michigan since 2019.
Is it legal to bet on horse racing in Michigan?
Yes. Michigan state law dictates that third-party operators who accept bets through advance-deposit wagering platforms (ADWs) must contract with a racetrack in Michigan to offer simulcast betting online. ADWs were briefly prohibited from accepting simulcast wagers while the state's lone racetrack, Northville Downs, sought relicensing after relocating its meet, but they were back online by the end of January 2025.
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