Sports Betting Laws in Michigan: What Are Your Options?

Until 2018, the PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) prohibited the vast majority of states from betting on sportsbooks. This federal law was abolished by the Supreme Court and allowed states to decide for themselves whether they would legalize sports betting.

Michigan officially legalized sports betting in the state in December of 2019 and there are lots of ways for locals to place bets including in-person, online, and off-shore.

In-Person

After the legalization of sports betting in Michigan in December 2019, the first in-person retail sportsbook opened in March 2020. The Michigan Gaming Control Board regulates sports betting and casino gaming in the state.

State legislation gives all commercial casinos and tribal casinos the right to operate retail sportsbooks.

In 2020, 12 locations launched between March and October, these were;

  • Greektown Casino & Hotel
  • MotorCity Casino & Hotel
  • MGM Grand Detroit
  • FireKeepers Casino & Hotel
  • Hartford Four Winds
  • Dowagiac Four Winds
  • New Buffalo Four Winds
  • Island Resort and Casino
  • Little River Casino & Resort
  • Leelanau Sands Casino
  • Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel

Licenses to operate a sportsbook in Michigan are made up of a $50,000 application fee and a further $50,000 operating fee that must be paid annually.

Online

January 22ns 2021 was the official launch of online sports betting in Michigan. Any doubts the state might have had about the popularity of online sports betting were soon put to bed with more than $100m being wagered within the first 10 days.

Online sports betting in Michigan is also regulated by the MGCB (Michigan Gaming Control Board) which states that all online sportsbooks must have a partnership with one of the land-based casinos in the state.

The 15 online sports books currently operating in Michigan are:

  • Barstool Sportsbook
  • BetRivers Sportsbook
  • BetMGM Sportsbook
  • Caesars Sportsbook
  • Eagle Casino and Sports
  • DraftKings Sportsbook
  • FanDuel Sportsbook
  • Four Winds Sportsbook
  • FireKeepers Sportsbook
  • FOX Bet Sportsbook
  • Play Gun Lake
  • Golden Nugget Sportsbook
  • PointsBet Sportsbook
  • WynnBET Sportsbook
  • SI Sportsbook

The minimum age for online sports betting is 21 and, unlike other states, there are few limitations on what you can bet on. Markets that can be gambled on include the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and college teams. It is worth noting that college player propositions are not permitted in Michigan, but this is the only bet type that is prohibited.

Many Michigan online sportsbooks also offer to bet on foreign sports and teams.

Anyone who uses mobile betting must also be in the state of Michigan to place bets. This will be verified by the geolocation technology in the mobile device being used.

Offshore

There are currently no state or federal laws prohibiting the use of offshore sportsbooks in Michigan. However, as these are run outside the jurisdiction of the Michigan Gaming Control Board, anyone who uses them will do so at their own risk with little to no protection.

While Michigan residents can enjoy the security and diverse range of markets offered by regulated online betting sites, there are still temptations to use offshore sites.

Greater odds, incentives, and betting markets can be found on many of these sites. While there is no protection, that is not to say that all offshore betting sites are illegitimate.

Most U.S. gamblers who use offshore betting sites do so to circumvent state legislation. Even residents of states with relatively open gambling laws might benefit from exploring options. You can learn more information about offshore sites on thesportsdaily.com.

Legal Age of Betting in Michigan

The legal age for gambling in Michigan is a minimum of 18. This can rise to 21 depending on the type of betting and the establishment.

Daily fantasy sports (DFS), sports betting, and casino-style games are typically set at 21. The minimum age to bet on horse racing or lottery games is 18.

Taxation

Sports betting is taxed by the state at 8.4%. Detroit-based casinos also have an additional city tax of 1.25% to pay. Of the tax received, 4.62% goes to the City of Detroit and 3.78% goes to the State of Michigan.

Bettors will also have to declare winnings on tax returns. Since 2021, the option to deduct betting losses is possible for itemized deductions.

 

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