Michigan Online Betting Launch Dates

Michigan is among the states where gambling is legal. On December 20, 2019, governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Lawful Internet Gaming Act that legalized online casinos, online betting on sports, DFS, and betting on horses. Decades of discussion and a couple of years of shaping this law made this legalization possible. Also, the law was signed in 2019, and only a few operators started their activity in 2020, whereas all others began to operate in 2021. This prolongation has a simple explanation – all operators were to prepare documents and get their licenses. That means you can visit land-based casinos or enjoy gambling at online casinos, betting on sports at sportsbooks, and playing Daily Fantasy Sport safely and legally. The best international online casinos and sportsbooks did their best to receive the license to operate legally in Michigan. Let us find out which online casinos and sportsbooks are available for Michiganians and when they have started to run.

Understanding the Michigan Online Gambling Laws

The history of the legalization of online gambling in Michigan started in December 2019, when the Legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer legalized internet gambling and sports betting. It was only a first step, and many more laws and legislatures would be discussed, passed, and administrated. After no more than two years, all necessary bureaucratic work was done, and some major players in the US world of online gambling received their permissions and licenses to regulate in this area. Since January 22, 2021, online casinos and sportsbooks have “opened their doors” for the first Michiganders. One week later, online poker went live too.

Even though the history of online gambling in the state of four Great Lakes is short, this activity has already proved its financial efficiency. Monthly revenues are impressive, so it’s no wonder many other trusted and reliable online casinos struggle to get the official license and start their work. By the way, please, do not forget that Michigan offers land-based casinos so that you can pick your gambling routine.

Michigan Online Sportsbooks Launch Dates

Michigan Online Daily Fantasy Sports Launch Dates

Since online gambling became legalized in Michigan, different DFS operators have entered the market. The major operators like DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo! Fantasy Sports  and smaller local ones like Boom Shakalaka, Fantasy Football Players Championship, Fantasy Sports Shark, FullTime Fantasy Sports Network, and SportsHub Games Network. However, the market of DFS in MI is less profitable than operators were expecting, so since November 2022, gamblers have had few options.

Michigan Online Casinos Launch Dates

Michigan Online Poker Launch Dates

Michigan Horse Betting Online Launch Dates

Current Status For Online Gambling in Michigan

Michiganians can enjoy such online gambling activities like:

Online Casinos

Since early 2021 dozen online casinos have started operating in Michigan, the best and most well-trusted casinos offer their players tons of games: slots, classical table games like Baccarat, Blackjack, or Roulette, and Live Dealer Games.

Online Sportsbooks

As well as online casinos, sportsbooks “came” to Michigan in 2021. All sports lovers, who want to bet and win real money, can pick the best site and bet on Football. Racing, Hockey, Baseball, etc., right now!

Daily Fantasy Sports

This type of online gambling is relatively new but continuously gathers more and more fun. Michiganders can try this gambling legally now. All possible sports, athletes, and teams are there waiting for bettors.

Responsible Gambling in Michigan

For some players, gambling turned out to be addictive, destructive behavior that can cause harm to their health and well-being. Aware of this problem, the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services created a special helpline. If you suffer from problem gaming or know someone who needs help, please, contact 1-800-270-7117.

To make your gambling experience safe, we want to share with you 12 tips that were written by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, which is actively cooperating with the Michigan Gaming Control Board.

1. Not for Profit: Remember that gambling is entertainment and not a way to make money. The odds are you won’t come out ahead, so play for fun, not to make money.
2. Entertainment Cost: Don’t think of the money you spent gambling as money lost. Just accept it as the cost of entertainment.
3. Mix It Up: Make sure gambling isn’t the only leisure activity you enjoy. Eat, watch a movie, or join a local sports team. You might even find that you enjoy gambling more after a break from it.
4. Bring Friends: Friends make everything more fun, and you can help keep each other from going overboard.
5. Remain Realistic: Don’t gamble with money you need for everyday expenses. Thinking you’ll somehow make it back by gambling will cause serious problems when bills come due.
6. Avoid ATMs: Too many trips to the ATM can quickly turn an evening of fun into a significant financial setback.
7. Don’t Bet Belongings: If you run out of money, it’s time to quit.
8. Know Your Limits: This includes money and time. Put the amount of cash you’re willing to spend on entertainment in your wallet before you go to a casino. When it’s gone, you’ll know it’s time to stop. It’s also easy to lose track of time when you’re gambling, so set a time limit before you start and stick to it.
9. Never Borrow Money: If you don’t have the money to gamble without getting a loan or handout, then you can’t afford to.
10. Take Five: If you don’t have the money to gamble without getting a loan or handout, you can’t afford to.
11. Check Yourself: The risk of gambling too much is higher if you’re stressed or depressed. Be extra careful during these times. If you’re feeling this way, a better option might be to see a funny movie with a friend.
12. Be Careful with Alcohol: Free alcoholic drinks when you’re gambling come with the cost of lowered inhibitions and skewed judgment. Know your drink limit and stick to it.”

We also recommend you benefit from the self-limitation option available at all legal gambling sites. You can limit the time you want to spend gambling on deposits and bets. This simple option helps you control yourself without any additional effort. A good choice is to pause your account for a certain amount of time.

If you can not control your behavior, please remember there is a special “Disassociated Persons” list to which you can add your name and never be let in MI land-based casinos. As an alternative, you can self-ban yourself at most online gambling sites. All you need is to write to the support, and they will delete your account, stop sending you emails with promotions, and never let you create a new account again.

Written by:

Stewart Nash

[email protected]

Stewart is an advantage gambler, author of reviews and contributor at Luckymichigan.com. Stewart knows all there is to know about casino games and has written extensively on the topic - his reviews and guides are the perfect answer to all your questions. When he's not playing or writing about casino games, Stewart enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children.