Michigan Sports Betting
With Michigan sports betting launching in 2020, it was a good omen that the first-ever bet was successful. On March 11, 2020, Michigan State Representative Brandt Iden (R) placed a successful $100 bet on Michigan State University Spartans to win the Big Ten Tournament, which they did, and he collected $350 in winnings. Retail sportsbooks opened that day, followed by online sportsbooks on January 22, 2021. Since then, the state’s sports betting industry has exploded, with a handle of nearly $500 million in October 2022.
A previous attempt was made in 2018 to legalize sports betting through bills introduced by Iden. These bills gained the approval of lawmakers before Governor Rick Snyder vetoed them two days before the end of his term.
Since Governor Gretchen Witmer signed the Lawful Sports Betting Act in December 2019 to legalize sports betting, many sports betting apps and retail sportsbooks are now available in Michigan, giving Great Lakes State bettors a wide choice of operators.
| Regulator | Launch Date | Tax Rate | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) | March 11, 2020 | 8.40% | Online or In Person |
Read our expert guide to Michigan sports betting to discover the sports teams most popular with local bettors and the history of the state’s sports betting legislation. We’ll also look at Michigan’s best sports betting apps, some of the retail sportsbooks in the state, and answers to a few commonly asked questions about sports betting in MI.
Sports Betting Operators in Michigan
Michigan offers bettors a wide choice of online sportsbooks, with fifteen operators launching since the betting became legal in the state. Operators include big names like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars, alongside local operators like Four Winds, FireKeepers, and Play Gun Lake.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) licenses online sportsbooks, and each operator must partner with a land-based facility to operate legally within the state.
| Online Sportsbook | Operator | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
| Barstool Sportsbook | Penn National Gaming | 22 January 2021 |
| BetMGM | MGM Resorts | 22 January 2021 |
| BetRivers | BetRivers | 22 January 2021 |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Caesars Entertainment | 22 January 2021 |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | DraftKings Inc. | 22 January 2021 |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Flutter | 22 January 2021 |
| Golden Nugget | Fertitta Entertainment | 22 January 2021 |
| PointsBet | PointsBet | 22 January 2021 |
| WynnBET | Wynn Resorts | 22 January 2021 |
| FoxBet Sportsbook | Stars Group | 29 January 2021 |
| Four Winds Sportsbook | Four Winds Casino | 15 February 2021 |
| FireKeepers Sportsbook | FireKeepers Casino | 12 July 2021 |
| Play Gun Lake | Gun Lake Casino | 02 August 2021 |
| Eagle Casino and Sports | Saganing Eagles Landing | 14 April 2022 |
| SI Sportsbook | 888 Holdings | 07 September 2022 |
The state is almost at the maximum capacity for online sportsbook operators. While each of Michigan’s twenty-three casinos can partner with a particular skin, many tribes own multiple casinos and already partner with an operator. Therefore, it is unlikely that more sportsbook apps will launch in MI in the near future.
Best Sportsbook Apps and Bonuses in Michigan
DraftKings launched its sportsbook in Michigan on January 22, 2021, one of nine sportsbook apps to go live that day. It received its license from the MGCB through a partnership with Bay Mills Resort & Casino.
Before the launch of sports betting in MI, DraftKings signed a deal with Detroit Red Wings in November 2015, becoming its official daily fantasy sports partner. Similarly, DraftKings signed a partnership with NBA’s Detroit Pistons in November 2020 before going live in Michigan. The betting platform became its official daily fantasy sports partner and official sports betting and iGaming partner.
DraftKings did not initially open a retail sportsbook at its partner casino, Bay Mills Resort and Casino, when retail sportsbooks launched in March 2020. However, on November 8, 2022, the first DraftKings retail sportsbook opened at Bay Mills.
On December 1, 2022, DraftKings opened a “sports and social” venue at the luxury shopping destination Somerset Collection. This facility does not contain a retail sportsbook but a sports bar and restaurant. It instead encourages bettors to place bets on the sportsbook’s mobile platform while in the facility.
Sports Illustrated Sportsbook (SI Sportsbook) became the fifteenth sportsbook app to launch in Michigan in September 2022. The Great Lakes State was the third state SI Sportsbook launched within. Carrying the brand of the iconic magazine, SI’s operator, 888 holdings, obtained its license with MGCB through a partnership with Island Resort & Casino. The casino partnered with TwinSpires Sportsbook until it closed in September 2022, and the next day, SI Sportsbook launched.
While SI Sportsbook does not operate an SI-branded retail sportsbook, its land-based casino partner, Island Resort & Casino, operates a sportsbook at T McC’s Sports Bar.
FanDuel Sportsbook launched its app and desktop site in Michigan on January 22, 2021, when online sports betting went live in MI. FanDuel’s operator, Flutter, obtained its license with MGCB through its land-based casino partner, MotorCity Casino Hotel Detroit.
A two-story, FanDuel-branded retail sportsbook opened at MotorCity Casino on March 12, 2020, with HDTVs, a sports ticket, 54 self-service betting kiosks, and lounge seats.
In April 2021, FanDuel partnered with Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings, with the deal seeing FanDuel become the Tigers and Red Wings’ official gaming partner. The partnership also means you’ll see FanDuel branding and signage prominently displayed at both Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena.
The BetMGM Sports Lounge at MGM Grand Detroit was the site of the first legal sports bet in Michigan on March 11, 2020. BetMGM’s operator, MGM Resorts, followed by launching its online sportsbook on the opening day of mobile sports betting on January 22, 2021.
BetMGM obtained its license through its partnership with the MGM Grand, owned and operated by MGM Resorts. Its retail sportsbook at the MGM Grand Detroit features lounge seating, HDTVs, self-service kiosks, and a bar.
The sportsbook has also been endearing itself to Michigan sports fans with its partnerships. In September 2020, it became the first official sports betting partner of the Detroit Lions and signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Detroit Tigers in October 2022.
Caesars Sportsbook initially launched its online sportsbook in Michigan in January 2021 under William Hill branding. Its partnerships with the Chippewa Indians enabled William Hill Sportsbook’s operator to obtain its license with the MGCB.
Two William Hill retail sportsbooks opened in September 2020 at its Chippewa Indians casino sites, Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel, Williamsburg, and Leelanau Sands Casino, Peshawbestown. Former Detroit Piston and NBA champion Rick Mahorn attended the opening of its retail sportsbook at Turtle Creek and placed the first bet.
While the Turtle Creek Caesars Sportsbook features over 20 HDTVs, complimentary games, a full-service bar, and an outdoor patio, the Leelanau Sands site features only self-service kiosks. In August 2021, the sportsbook rebranded to Caesars Sportsbook, and its retail locations became Caesars-branded following Caesars Entertainment’s purchase of William Hill.
Australian operator PointsBet launched in Michigan in January 2021 and opened a retail sportsbook at its partner casino Northern Waters Casino Resort, in December 2021. Its retail sportsbook at Northern Waters features a multi-screen video and odds display wall alongside a sports bar.
PointsBet has been partnering with sports teams to boost its popularity in the Great Lakes State. In January 2021, it signed an agreement to become a sports betting partner of the Detroit Pistons. Its operator also announced that former Piston and NBA Champion, Rip Hamilton, had become a PointsBet ambassador.
The same day, it signed a partnership with Detroit Red Wings, and as part of the deal, the Sports & Social at Little Caesars Arena became the PointsBet Sports Bar. While this is not a retail sportsbook, the facility contains a sports bar, restaurant, and live betting odds on gameday.
FOXBet launched its online sportsbook a week after the launch of mobile sports betting in the state on January 29, 2021. FOXBet’s operator, StarsGroup, obtained its license from the MGCB through a partnership with Odawa Casino, with sites in Petosky and Mackinaw having FOXBet-branded retail sportsbooks.
While FOXBet Sportsbook at Odawa Casino in Petoskey features an on-site sportsbook and several automated kiosks, the Odawa Casino Mackinaw facility features only automated kiosks.
TVG is a racebook that offers pari-mutuel horse racing betting to players in Michigan. You can use its app or desktop site state-wide to bet on horse racing, including racing races from MI’s only racetrack, Northville Downs. Flutter Entertainment operates TVG, which means you can use winnings from FanDuel (also operated by Flutter) for horse racing bets.
Michigan Legislative Timeline
- May 14, 2018 – US Supreme Court rules that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is unconstitutional, paving the way for Michigan to legalize sports betting.
- April 25, 2018 - Representative Brandt Iden introduces HB 4926, HB 4927, and HB 4928, collectively proposing to legalize sports betting in MI.
- December 6, 2018 – Rep. Iden’s package of sports betting legislation passes the House by a vote of 68-40.
- December 21, 2018 – The Senate passes HB 4926, HB 4927, and HB 4928 by a vote of 34-4.
- December 31, 2018 – With just two days remaining on his term, Governor Rick Snyder vetoes HB 4926, HB 4927, and HB 4928. Gov. Snyder indicates that the next legislature and administration should “thoroughly evaluate the revenue implications from authorizing internet gambling.”
- April 9, 2019 – Representative Matt Hall introduces HB 4917, or the Lawful Sports Betting Act, to legalize Michigan sports betting.
- October 30, 2019 – The House of Representatives passes HB 4917 by a vote of 65-43, sending it to the Senate for approval.
- December 11, 2019 – The Senate approves HB 4917 by a vote of 35-3 and is sent to Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
- December 31, 2019 – Gov. Whitmer signs HB 4917, paving the way for Michigan legal sports betting by allowing casinos to apply for sports betting licenses.
- March 11, 2020 – Michigan’s first retail sportsbooks open, with the BetMGM Sportsbook at the MGM Grand Detroit and the Barstool Sportsbook, at Greektown Casino Hotel taking the first bets. Rep. Iden made the first-ever bet at the MGM Grand Casino, a successful $100 wager on Michigan State Spartans winning the Big Ten tournament.
- January 22, 2021 – The first online sportsbooks launch in the state. Nine sportsbook apps, including BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel become available in MI.
Sports Betting in Michigan
Both retail and online sports betting are legal in Michigan, with a range of sportsbooks available in the Great Lakes State. Find out more about how you can bet safely and legally in MI below.
Is online sports betting legal in Michigan?
Yes, online sports betting is legal in Michigan, launching in January 2021. There are currently fifteen online sportsbook apps available in the Great Lakes State.
What sports can you bet on in Michigan?
You can bet on professional and collegiate sports in Michigan, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, college football, and college basketball. There are also no restrictions to betting on in-state collegiate teams or games. In addition, you can bet on NASCAR, MMA events, tennis, golf, and soccer. You cannot, however, wager on high-school sports.
Who can bet on sports in MI?
To bet on sports in Michigan, you need to be 21 or older and within state lines. Those criminally barred from betting and members of a self-exclusion program cannot bet. Also, if you are a team official or play within a key league, you cannot wager on sports.
Official League Data usage in Michigan
Sportsbooks partner with official league data providers to enable them to have live in-game data, stats, and up-to-date information that is accurate from major leagues. Genius Sports is the leading provider of official league data to many Michigan sports betting operators.
Sportsbooks in MI, like DraftKings and FanDuel, have partnerships with Genius Sports, enabling them to have accurate in-game data, enhancing your betting experience.
Michigan Sports Betting Handle
Sports betting handles are the total amount wagered at a particular time. Looking at the monthly handle gives a good indication of the size of Michigan’s betting market.
While Michigan’s handle dropped to zero from April 2020-July 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it recovered when venues reopened in August and exploded in January 2021 when mobile betting launched. Over $100 million worth of sports bets were placed in the opening ten days of legal sports betting in the Great Lakes State.
| Month | Handle |
|---|---|
| March 2020 | $593,956 |
| April 2020 | $0 |
| May 2020 | $0 |
| June 2020 | $0 |
| July 2020 | $0 |
| August 2020 | $15,774,256 |
| September 2020 | $33,503,929 |
| October 2020 | $46,120,824 |
| November 2020 | $25,080,140 |
| December 2020 | $9,720,393 |
| January 2021 | $150,849,896 |
| February 2021 | $325,569,037 |
| March 2021 | $383,681,892 |
| April 2021 | $274,212,630 |
| May 2021 | $257,748,035 |
| June 2021 | $259,504,203 |
| July 2021 | $206,277,088 |
| August 2021 | $208,565,955 |
| September 2021 | $386,780,231 |
| October 2021 | $497,565,425 |
| November 2021 | $500,521,376 |
| December 2021 | $514,630,536 |
| January 2022 | $532,681,709 |
| February 2022 | $423,768,381 |
| March 2022 | $477,967,948 |
| April 2022 | $396,009,789 |
| May 2022 | $356,130,390 |
| June 2022 | $292,389,430 |
| July 2022 | $224,966,257 |
| August 2022 | $229,797,027 |
| September 2022 | $383,102,604 |
| October 2022 | $504,336,507 |
Michigan Sports Teams
Michigan has professional sports teams in each of the major leagues: the NFL’s Detroit Lions, MLB’s Detroit Tigers, NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, and NBA’s Detroit Pistons.
Alongside its professional teams, collegiate sports are also popular in the Great Lakes State. The University of Michigan’s Wolverines and Michigan State University’s Spartans attract significant interest from college football and basketball bettors and fans. Below is an overview of some of Michigan’s sports teams.
As a member of the American League Central Division, Detroit Tigers was founded in 1894 as a member of the minor league Western League before moving to the American League (AL) as a charter member in 1901. They are the oldest one-name, one-city franchise in the AL.
The Tigers initially played at Burns Park for its inaugural American League season in 1901 but moved to its long-time home, Tiger Stadium, in 1912. Detroit would continue its home games at Tiger Stadium until 1999 when the Tigers moved to Comerica Park.
Since the Tigers began to compete in the major leagues in 1901, they have won four World Series championships in 1935, 1945, and 1968, with its last win coming under the stewardship of George “Sparky” Anderson in 1984. They’ve also won eleven AL pennants, four AL Central, and three AL East divisional titles.
Detroit Lions compete in the National Football League’s NFC North Division and have been a member of the NFL since 1928. Founded as Portsmouth Spartans in 1928, George Richards purchased the Spartans for $8,000 in 1934 and moved the team to Detroit. Richards named them the Lions because he wanted the team to be the “King of the NFL” as the lion is the “King of the Jungle.”
Initially, the side was tremendously successful, winning its first NFL championship in its second season in 1935. That year, Detroit became the “City of Champions” – as the Tigers and Red Wings had won the 1935 World Series and 1936 Stanley Cup, respectively.
Despite that, the Lions began to struggle after 1939. The struggles peaked in the late 1940s, winning just five games between 1946 and 1948. The team had a revival in the 1950s, winning the 1954 and 1957 NFL championships, but this would be the team’s last championship.
Since the 1957 win, Detroit has only won a single playoff game in 1991. They hold the league’s longest postseason win drought and are the only NFC team to never appear in a Super Bowl. The Detroit Lions have played its home games at Ford Field since 2002.
One of the “Original Six” NHL teams present before the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Detroit Red Wings are one of the most successful and storied franchises in professional ice hockey.
A member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference, they were founded as Detroit Cougars in 1926 and became the Falcons in 1930. They finally settled on the Red Wings name in 1932.
The Red Wings have won the most Stanley Cup championships of any NHL team in the United States, with eleven wins. Despite its success, the Red Wings have had periods of success and disappointment; while they only missed the playoffs four times between 1931 and 1966, they only made the playoffs twice between 1967 and 1983. After 1983, they made the playoffs 30 times in 32 seasons.
Alongside its eleven Stanley Cup wins, the Red Wings have won six conference championships, six Presidents’ Trophies, and nineteen divisional championships. Having played for 52 years at Olympia Stadium, Detroit moved to Joe Louis Arena in 1979 and, in 2018, moved to its current home, Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit Pistons are a member of the NBA’s Eastern Conference Central Division. Workers at the Zollner Corporation founded the Pistons as a works team in 1937. In 1941, the team ended its works team status and joined the National Basketball League (NBL), winning the 1944 and 1945 championships.
In 1948, the team joined the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The Pistons owner, Fred Zollner, brokered a merger agreement between the BAA and NBL at his kitchen table in 1949 to form the National Basketball Association (NBA). Despite a solid local following, the Pistons moved from Fort Wayne in 1957 to nearby Detroit. In 1974, Zollner sold the team to Bill Davison, who owned the team until his death.
The Pistons became a series contender when the Pistons drafted Isiah Thomas from Indiana and recruited Vinnie Johnson in a trade with the SuperSonics. They reached the playoffs in 1984, 1985, and 1986. After adding star player Dennis Rodman in 1986, the team won its first NBA championships in 1989 and 1990.
Detroit had another lean spell of success throughout the 1990s after the loss of Rodman to Chicago but would bounce back with six consecutive Conference Finals appearances in the early 2000s. They would win another NBA championship against Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s LA Lakers in 2004.
In 2017, the Pistons moved to its current home, Little Caesars Arena.
Michigan Sporting Events
Alongside the state’s major league teams, many exciting sporting events are held throughout the year that attract fans and bettors in Michigan. There’s something for everyone, including NASCAR, college football postseason games, and an intense rivalry between two in-state college football programs.
Quick Lane Bowl
The Quick Lane Bowl is a college football postseason game held at Ford Field since the 2014 season. The bowl game replaced the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, first played at Pontiac Silverdome in 2002. The competition is also traditionally played on December 26, the former date of the former Pizza Bowl.
In 2013, the Detroit Lions proposed hosting a new bowl game at Ford Field, discontinuing the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Ford sponsored the new event, giving it its Quick Lane Bowl name.
The game usually features a representative from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Big Ten, although an additional tie-in exists with the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The inaugural game featured the University of North Carolina Tar Heels face-off against Rutgers University Scarlet Knights, with Rutgers becoming the game’s first champions.
Only the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers has won multiple Quick Lane Bowls, winning the 2015 and 2018 against Central Michigan University Chippewas and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, respectively.
NASCAR Cup Series
Michigan International Speedway has hosted stock car races annually since 1969. Until 2021, the track hosted NASCAR Cup Series races in June and August, when NASCAR dropped the second race as part of a broader schedule realignment.
The remaining event, the FireKeepers Casino 400, is now usually towards the end of the NASCAR Cup Series. David Pearson and Kevin Harvick have won the joint most August races, with Pearson winning five between 1969 and 1978 and Harvick winning five between 2010 and 2022. RFK Racing has won the event most times as a team, winning seven titles between 1990 and 2012.
Paul Bunyan – Governor of Michigan Trophy
The University of Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State University Spartans compete in college football for the Paul Bunyan-Governor of Michigan Trophy. First played in 1898, the two schools have met every year since 1945.
Since Michigan State’s elevation to the Big Ten Conference in 1953, the winner of the matchup receives a four-foot statue of a lumberjack. In 1999, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr called the statue “the ugliest trophy in college football.”
The Wolverines dominated early contests, winning 23 matchups between 1898 and 1933. In 1902, the Michigan team, known as the “Point a Minute Wolverines,” won the game 119-0.
Michigan State (then Michigan Agricultural College) won its first games against the Wolverines in 1913 and 1915. During the 1950s and 60s, after the Spartans joined the Big 10, the school had its first period of prolonged success against the Wolverines.
Usually, Spartan Stadium hosts contests in odd-numbered years, and Michigan Stadium hosts in even-numbered years. The two schools have been incredibly successful in college football, with the Wolverines claiming 11 national titles and the Spartans claiming six.
Michigan Land-Based Sportsbooks
While online sportsbooks offer convenience and the ability to be on the go, heading to a retail sportsbook is a great way to watch your favorite sports while placing bets. Most offer a wide range of amenities, including bars and restaurants.
With hundreds of other sports fans enjoying watching and betting on games, there is no atmosphere like it. Below is a list of land-based sportsbooks in Michigan.
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Barstool Sportsbook | Greektown Casino Hotel, Detroit |
| BetMGM Sportsbook | MGM Grand Detroit |
| BetRivers Sportsbook | Little River Casino and Resort, Manistee |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel, Williamsburg |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Leelanau Sands Casino, Peshawbestown |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Bay Mills Resort and Casino |
| PointsBet Sportsbook | Northern Waters Casino Resort, Watersmeet |
| WynnBET Sportsbook | Kewadin Casino, Hessel |
| WynnBET Sportsbook | Kewadin Casino, Manistique |
| WynnBET Sportsbook | Kewadin Casino, Christmas |
| WynnBET Sportsbook | Kewadin Shores Casino, St. Ignace |
| WynnBET Sportsbook | Kewadin Casino, Hotel and Convention Center, Sault Saint Marie |
| FOX Bet Sportsbook | Odawa Casino Resort, Petoskey |
| FOX Bet Sportsbook | Odawa Casino, Mackinaw City |
| Four Winds Sportsbook | Four Winds, Hartford |
| Four Winds Sportsbook | Four Winds, New Buffalo |
| Four Winds Sportsbook | Four Winds, Dowagiac |
| FireKeepers Sportsbook | FireKeepers Casino Hotel, Battle Creek |
| Gun Lake Sportsbook | Gun Lake Casino, Wayland |
| Eagle Casino & Sports | Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Mount Pleasant |
| The Sportsbook at T. McC’s Sports Bar | Island Resort & Casino, Bark River |
Michigan Responsible Gambling
Michigan offers a state-wide self-exclusion program like many US States. The self-exclusion list prevents players from gambling at any casino licensed by the MGCB and registering at casinos.
You can voluntarily join the program for either five years or life. You can either change your status after the end of your designated self-exclusion period.
Every sportsbook must offer this to bettors under MGCB regulations. To sign up for this service, you can call the MGCB or visit its website for more information. Sportsbooks must also provide resources for problem gambling and include tools to manage your betting, including deposit limits, loss limits, and spend limits.
Michigan sportsbooks will also direct players to third-party organizations, like the National Council on Problem Gambling and Michigan Association on Problem Gambling. Government departments like the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services provide a helpline for those needing problem gambling support.
FAQs
Yes, sports betting is legal in Michigan. The first retail sportsbooks opened in March 2020, with online sportsbooks launching in January 2021. To legally bet on sports in MI, you must be 21 or older and within state lines.
All major league professional sports are available at Michigan sportsbooks. State law also allows you to bet on college sports. You can bet on totals, over/under, points lines, futures, and player props on both professional and collegiate events. However, you cannot wager on high-school sports.
Of course, you can bet on college sports in Michigan. There is no restriction on in-state teams or the types of bets you can place on collegiate events.
Absolutely - you can enter DFS contests in Michigan. In December 2019, Gov. Whitmer signed expanded gambling legislation that included regulation and taxation of fantasy contests. The Michigan Gaming Control Board licenses DFS operators. This legislation means you can use popular DFS operators like FanDuel and DraftKings, but you must be 18 or older and within state lines to use a DFS operator in MI.
Only betting sites licensed by the MGCB (Michigan Gaming Control Board) operate legally within Michigan. Other sportsbooks not authorized by the MGCB are not regulated or permitted to provide Great Lakes State bettors with a safe and secure environment.
You sure can use Caesars Sportsbook in Michigan as the MGCB licenses the site. Caesars also has a retail sportsbook at the Turtle Creek Casino and will open a second at Leelanau Sands Casino in Peshawbestown.
Yes, FanDuel Sportsbook is available for bettors in Michigan. You can access its sportsbook through its mobile app, desktop site, or retail location at MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit.
You’ll need to be over 21 and within state lines to bet for mobile betting in MI. In addition, you’ll usually have to verify your age with your ID or social security number when registering for a mobile sports betting site.