is sports betting legal in michigan
Yes, sports betting is legal in Michigan after Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s 2019 signing of House Bill 4916. Michigan was quick to the market with three retail shops in Detroit opening in March of 2020, thanks to Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, and FanDuel. Online sports betting launched 10 months later (January of 2021) giving sports bettors in Michigan several more options. It’s worth noting that unlike some other states, betting on the NFL draft is allowed for Michigan bettors.
Michigan Quick Facts
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Launch Date: March 2020 -
ImageLegal Betting Age: 21 years old
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ImageOnline Sports Betting: Yes
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ImageOnline Casino Sites: Yes
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ImageOnline Poker Sites: Yes
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ImageBest Available Sportsbook: FanDuel
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ImageRegulatory Body: Michigan Gaming Control Board
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ImageLegal online sportsbooks: 12
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ImageCollege Sports Betting: Yes
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ImagePolitical or entertainment betting: No
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ImageHigh School sports Betting: No
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ImageEsports betting: No, besides at Little River Casino Resort
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ImageNFL Draft: Yes, but betting window ends at midnight the prior evening
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ImageRemote registration: Yes
timeline of betting legislation & latest news
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed HB 4916 into law in December of 2019, legalizing retail and online sports betting in the state. Michigan’s first retail sportsbooks opened in March of 2020 and online betting launched in January of 2021. The path to legalized betting has been a bit of a roller coaster in Michigan as HB 4926 was poised to bring sports betting to Michigan in 2018, but was struck down by former Governor Rick Snyder’s veto pen.
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december 28, 2018
Former Gov. Rick Snyder vetoes HB 4926, which would have legalized sports betting.
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september 4, 2019
Rep. Brandt Iden introduced HB 4916, “To allow and establish a comprehensive licensure and regulatory regime for sports betting through casinos”.
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december 20, 2019
HB 4916, legalizing retail and online sports betting, is signed by Gov. Whitmer.
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march 11, 2020
First retail sportsbooks open in Detroit.
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january 22, 2021
Online sports betting launches.
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june 13, 2022
Additional retail sportsbook opens at Bay Mills Resort & Casino in Brimley, Michigan.
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may 27, 2024
A new online platform launched by the World Series of Poker (WSOP) includes a three-state collaboration with Michigan, New Jersey, and Nevada.
how to start betting in michigan
Getting started betting in Michigan is easy because the state allows remote registration, meaning you can register and fund your accounts from home. You can download the sports betting app of your choice on a phone, verify your identity (including the last 4 digits of your social security number), deposit money, and start betting immediately.
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select a sportsbook
First, decide which sportsbook you want to use and download that sports betting app on your phone. Some sportsbooks will allow you to get started from their website on a computer as well. With the help of this article, make sure the app you’ve chosen is regulated in your state.
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create account
Click the button on your sportsbooks’s app that says “signup” or “get started,” while you’re inside state lines, to begin creating an account. You’ll be required to fill in some personal information and verify your identity.
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deposit
To fund the account, select the payment option you prefer. Each sportsbook has different options for deposits, but common options include: Credit/debit card, bank transfers, PayPal, etc. Remember to keep an eye out for any fees that might be associated with the deposit.
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choose your bet and bet size
There are a variety of wagering options within each sportsbook. If you’re just getting started, moneylines are the most straight-forward bet and allow bettors to wager on who will win an event. Point spreads, over/unders, parlays, player props and futures bets are also popular choices.
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place a wager
Every sportsbook runs independently from each other so they each may offer different point spreads or odds on the same wager. Before placing your wager, try shopping around at other betting apps to get the best price. Once you’ve found odds you like, type in your wager amount and submit your wager. If your wager wins, your winnings and your original bet will be deposited back into your account shortly after the event you bet on finishes.
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withdraw
Each online sportsbook has different methods and processes for cashing out money if you’re successful betting. It’s normal for withdrawals to take longer than deposits, but the money is typically received within a couple days.
Home Field Advantage
Michigan is one of the heavy-hitters on the U.S. sports scene, with four major pro teams in Detroit, a pair of college teams (Michigan and Michigan State) with immense followings, and major events in Detroit ranging from annual PGA Tour and IndyCar stops to the occasional Final Four. It’s a big market with a lot going on, and one that generates a ton of sports betting interest—evidenced in the $600 million in handle the operators took in during December of 2023.
But the beating heart of Michigan’s sports scene is the Motor City, and the four major pro teams that call Detroit home—and see loads of sports betting interest as well.
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ImageNFL – Detroit Lions: Want to know what the Lions mean to Michigan? Just think back to the din in Ford Field when this long-suffering franchise won its first playoff game since 1991, and then reached the doorstep of the Super Bowl. Michiganders love this team, seeing a lot of themselves in a gritty squad that’s had to work extremely hard to get where it is. Is that passion reflected in sports betting? The $30 million jump in handle from November to December 2023 suggests so.
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ImageMLB – Detroit Tigers: A fixture in Major League Baseball since their founding in 1901, the Tigers are steeped in lore—Ernie Harwell, Tiger Stadium, the Old English D, Cecil Fielder, Sparky Anderson and the like. In fact, it’s almost difficult to believe their last World Series title came in 1984, and that they haven’t been very good since. But even through rebuilding years, passion for the Tigers remains high, and that 162-game season provides Michigan sports bettors with lots of wagering options throughout the summer.
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ImageNBA – Detroit Pistons: They’re great, or they’re terrible. That about sums up the Pistons, a staple in the NBA since 1957. The Bad Boys won two titles and made the playoffs in eight straight seasons. Another title and another stretch of playoff runs came during the Ben Wallace years, but since then things have been as quiet as a 1962 Chevy Corvair. You have to go back to 2019 to find the last time this team won more than 23 games in a season. Thank goodness for sports betting, one of the few things keeping the Pistons relevant these days.
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ImageNHL – Detroit Red Wings: From 1982 through 2016, the Red Wings were among the elite of the NHL, unleashing a run of excellence that netted four Stanley Cups to go with the six others the franchise won earlier in its existence. But times have been uncharacteristically tough since, and in 2024 the proud Red Wings missed the playoffs for an eighth straight season. Yet the team’s legacy and brand name endure, making them of interest to Michigan sports bettors no matter the record.
USA Betting News
Responsible Gaming Message From State
Michigan cares about responsible gaming and has created several resources for those concerned about their gambling habits. For instance, a Responsible Gaming Database (RGD) is available for bettors who want to voluntarily be excluded from all Michigan-regulated online sports betting. The Michigan Gaming Control Board’s (MGCB) provides an application packet for those who want to be excluded from gambling at Detroit-area in-person casinos for life.