Michigan online gambling sites — take a look at our detailed guide
Michigan online gambling continues to increase in popularity since MI gambling sites were legalized in 2019.
The Great Lakes state is fast becoming one of the biggest players on the online casino and sports betting front, and Michiganders now have a decent variety of gambling options.
Choosing the site that suits you best can be time-consuming, so our experts have created a full guide to online gambling in Michigan to make the job easier.
Best online gambling sites in Michigan — at a glance
Since the first licenses were awarded to MI gambling sites, many brands have joined the rush to offer a variety of gambling and betting options to Michiganders. The good news is that most gambling sites in Michigan offer bonuses and promotions that are as good as their NJ counterparts. But there’s a lot more to an ace gambling experience than just a decent bonus. Here, our experts have gathered together the cream of the Michigan crop to bring you those sites that rank highest across the board.
| Casino Logo | Odds rating | Bonus | Go to casino Button | Show more | T&C |
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1
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93/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 89% Playscore based on |
100% up to $500 or 100% lossback up to $1,000
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2
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91/100 Expert rating by Alex K. 87% Playscore based on |
100% up to $1,000 + 200 free spins
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3
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87/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 91% Playscore based on |
100% up to $1,000 + $25 Free Play
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4
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85/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 86% Playscore based on |
100% up to $1,000 + $10 bonus bet + 2,500 Reward Credits
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5
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84/100 Expert rating by Lorella F. 87% Playscore based on |
$20 no-deposit bonus
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6
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80/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 86% Playscore based on |
Daily Free Spins and Credit Bonus
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7
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79/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 92% Playscore based on |
Up to 380,000 Gold Coins and 1,400 Fortune Coins
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8
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79/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 85% Playscore based on |
200 free spins + 25,000 free credits
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9
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78/100 Expert rating by Claire S. 85% Playscore based on |
Bonus Money reload up to $500
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Play now |
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Michigan gambling sites by type — what’s legal in MI?
The Great Lakes state pretty much threw its hat in the ring as soon as New Jersey gambling took off.
Granted, the whole process of launching fully-fledged online gambling sites in Michigan did meet a few hiccups between the landmark PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) ruling in May 2018 and the licensing of the first 15 operators in January 2021. Then again, there was that small matter of a global pandemic creating havoc everywhere, which makes the delay kind of understandable.
Today, online gambling in Michigan has caught up very fast, with players able to legally enjoy a full MI online gambling package that includes casino, sports betting, poker and lottery. There was one close call that could’ve seen online slots being outlawed so as not to risk jeopardizing considerable state revenue from online lottery, but happily this didn’t come to pass.
| Vertical | Legal age offline | Legal age online | Legal since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casinos | 21 | 21 | January 2021 |
| Social casinos | N/A | 21 | January 2021 |
| Sportsbooks | 21 | 21 | January 2021 |
| Betting apps | n/a | 21 | January 2021 |
| Poker | 21 | 21 | January 2021 |
| Lottery | 18 | 18 | August 2014 |
| Fantasy sports | 18 | 18 | May 2018 |
Michigan online casinos — legal since 2021
It’s been an exciting ride for Michigan online gambling, with operators in the Great Lakes state scrambling to catch up with their NJ neighbors as soon as US online gambling was legalized in 2019.
A global pandemic and two state-wide shutdowns put the brakes on the process, until January 2021 finally brought with it the mass licensing of 15 MI online casinos and gambling sites. In contrast, fantasy sports contests have been legal since May 2018.
Today, there are a total of 16 Michigan gambling sites, offering an assortment of online casino games and poker. One fun fact about online gambling in Michigan is that poker games are offered separately on specific sites. Look out for the fast payout casinos if you score a jackpot!
- Biggest industry names available
- Reputable software providers
- 24 – 48 hour payouts
- Less game variety than NJ
Michigan online betting sites — legal since 2021
Online sports wagering joined the fray for online gambling in Michigan immediately upon legalization, but went through the same hiccups as online casinos. Although the official green light for Michigan online sports betting given in December 2019, it would take another 13 months for the first sports MI gambling sites to go live.
Clearly, it’s what the Great Lakes state had been waiting for as, within 10 days of the first legal online bet, over $100 million had been laid down in wagers. Interestingly, Michigan sports betting sites are able to legally offer wagering on college sports, although the line is drawn at high school sports. This is unlike the situation within NJ betting, where a referendum that makes provision for such wagers keeps getting shot down.
- College sport wagers legal
- More licenses expected
- VIP rewards for top bettors
- Less choice than NJ
| Sportsbook Logo | Odds rating | Bonus | Go to sportsbook Button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1
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90/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 94% Playscore based on |
Up to $1,250 Stakeback + 2,000 loyalty credits
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Play now |
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2
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85/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 91% Playscore based on |
Up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets
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Play now |
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3
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83/100 Expert rating by Ian Z. 86% Playscore based on |
Second Chance Bet of up to $500
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Play now |
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4
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80/100 Expert rating by Ramona D. 83% Playscore based on |
100% up to $100 FC
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Play now |
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5
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76/100 Expert rating by Anna M. 92% Playscore based on |
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets + a daily No Sweat SGP
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Play now |
Good to know
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Michigan online poker — legal since 2021
Real money online poker joined the rest of the MI online gambling scene the moment the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) gave the official seal of approval and granted the first licenses in January 2021.
The first online poker room to go live in MI was PokerStars, bang on the dot before January was done. BetMGM Poker MI followed fast on its heels, with mere hours in between, turning what’s usually a dreary month in one of the coldest US states into a second Christmas for poker enthusiasts.
Things pretty much reached a stalemate after that, with no new poker licenses being added to the Michigan gambling industry. Our experts have done the work to check which site offers the best poker all-round experience to determine the top ranking.
- Specialist sites offer full poker experience
- Reputable brand names
- Numerous promotions
- Only two licensed sites available
Other forms of gambling in Michigan
Clearly, players in the Great Lakes state take their games very seriously, and even before the legalization of all forms of MI online gambling happened in 2019, there were actually other popular gambling options available.
The oldest is undoubtedly the state lottery in its offline form, which has seen players win millions since the first lottery ticket was sold in 1972. Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) also takes up a big chunk of the attention when it comes to online gambling in Michigan since it became legal in October 2018, with a full regulatory framework drawn up in 2020.
Lottery
Lottery is a big deal in Michigan, and since the online version became legal on August 11, 2014, its popularity continued to explode. Lottery clubs, which see various players forming a syndicate and splitting the wins, have become the norm and are also viewed as an efficient way for the winners to keep their anonymity. Which, given that some players have landed wins in excess of $5 million, can be an understandable desire.
Fantasy sports
The DFS market enjoyed a full two years of unregulated legality after it was given the green light by lawmakers in 2018. It took them till 2020 to formalize a regulatory framework, during which time existing providers were pretty much allowed to operate without a license. Which just goes to show just how big of a pull DFS enjoys in MI.
Bingo
Bingo falls within the MI gambling framework and as such is regulated by the MGCB. However, whereas the legal gambling age for MI online casinos is 21, the minimum age to take part in bingo games – as long as they don’t require a casino registration – is 18. Most legal online gambling sites in Michigan offer bingo options for 21+ players, but outside of that, the options are actually rather limited.
Social casinos
Available in most US states, including Michigan, sweepstakes and social casinos are a great alternative to real-money casino gaming. No deposit is necessary to play, and you can benefit from a variety of rewards, contests, tournaments, and other social activities on top of an excellent selection of casino games.How we rate the best Michigan gambling sites
Our Time2play experts have devised a thorough rating system to rank the top US online casinos. This system is based on several objective criteria that take into account all the important aspects that spell the difference between an amazing online gambling experience and a mediocre, or even a bad one. All these elements affect the final expert score on our online casino reviews.
We take the strictest approach with respect to license, safety and security, so you can be sure to trust us. We also cast a very critical eye on things like game variety, software providers and, of course, the quality of Michigan online gambling promotions. Below, we delve deeper into our criteria of how we determine which sites make it on our list of safe casinos.
Licenses and other seals of trust
All the top-rated MI gambling sites that received the Time2play seal of approval are legal and licensed by the MGCB, which very conveniently publishes a public list of licensed online casinos, sportsbook operators and poker parlors.
If you don’t see it on this list, it means that the site is not kosher. But we’ve also done the legwork for you so you don’t need to go hunting. You can take it for granted that all Michigan online gambling sites you find on Time2play are fully-licensed, because if they weren’t, our experts wouldn’t go anywhere near them.
Over and above the basic license, we give our top scores to online platforms that guarantee fairness and security by means of SSL-encryption, that have players’ welfare at heart with an effective responsible gaming platform. Michigan-approved seals of trust, like the Gaming Laboratories International logo, will get our attention more than those without such seals. Finally, sites with multiple states licenses, such as Bet365 casino, also score higher because it means that it’s passed the standard for several authorities.
Products
Our top-ranking MI online gambling platforms offer a huge variety of popular games and options, according to vertical. Of course, Michigan remains very much a young online gambling market, with operators still trying to play catch up with states that are more established. Having said that, we do expect a certain minimum standard.
If we’re talking online casino, an operator like BetMGM online casino offering 700+ online slots will score higher than a site that only offers a couple of hundred. Likewise, a sports betting platform like FanDuel sportsbetting, which has significant market options, would score better than Golden Nugget sportsbook, with a mere 17 sports to bet on.
Live gambling
Even here, sadly Michigan is still trying to catch up with other states and the live casino options are not exactly amazing. Even our highest-rating casinos with excellent live offerings in NJ, like Borgata Casino, don’t yet offer live gaming in Michigan. That said, we will state once again that this is a fast-growing market, so we do expect our experts’ ratings to change pretty fast, and we promise to keep this page updated with the latest news.
Gambling apps
Does the Michigan online gambling platform being reviewed by our experts offer players an experience comparable to the greatest mobile USA casinos? We look for native apps that offer full functionality and work equally well on iOS and Android systems. Even higher ratings go to platforms that offer their entire games library on mobile, like the Caesar’s casino app with its 800+ mobile games. Michigan gambling apps only receive a high Time2play rating if the answer is yes across all fronts. Extra points for special bonuses for those players who download the app.
Payments
Ease of financial transactions and reasonably fast payouts play a big role in enjoying your online gambling experience to the max. Usually, our experts would insist that only those operators with at least 15 payment methods have a chance to reach the top of our list. For example BetMGM is one MI online gambling platform that is already offering 15 options and this is why it consistently scores higher than the rest.
Platform
No-one wants to waste time navigating a platform that requires you to jump through hoops just to register. Is it fast and easy is it to register? Is the UX design user-friendly and intuitive? Is the experience smooth both on desktop and mobile? Is it simple to claim your bonus, and are T&C easily visible? If you’ve answered yes to all these questions, there’s a good chance that the site will rank high on our top list. When you register to SugarHouse casino, for example, you’re done in two to three minutes, and you can claim the bonus throughout this fast process – that’s the standard we look for.
Promotions
A generous and fair online casino bonus is a must for our top scorers. Our experts expect to find at least a 100% match deposit up to $500 to welcome new players in MI. If the operators also throw in some free spins they definitely get some brownie points. Apart from that, bonus conditions for Michigan online gambling promotions need to come with fair wagering requirements, preferably under 15x, decent cashout limits and a minimum 30-day expiry. If you score high on all these requirements, like BetMGM, you’ll make it on our experts’ top favorites.
Michigan gambling and safety
We’ll just kick off with this little gem. Online gambling was legalized in Michigan in December 2019. The actual regulatory framework was finalized in January 2021, with the first MI gambling sites being awarded an official license that same month. Seeing that authorities took a year to create a strong infrastructure, it is safe to say that the bar for legalized online gambling in Michigan is set pretty high, and that obtaining an MGCB license is a solid indication of an operator’s trustworthiness.
MGCB license requirements include a highly-secure, almost unhackable connection via SSL encryption, an easily accessible responsible gambling page and real-time customer support.
It’s easy to understand why the number of MI gambling sites is taking somewhat longer to increase than, say, in New Jersey.
Having said that, Time2play experts aren’t satisfied with the minimum license requirements. We look for additional Michigan-approved seals of trust like BMM testlabs and Gaming Laboratories International – the approval of these organizations shows us that operators have gone above and beyond the minimum standards in an effort to protect players. Award-winners like SugarHouse Casino, or those that submit to additional RNG auditing like FanDuel, get extra points.
Michigan gambling laws through time
It’s been quite a colorful journey for Michigan to reach the stage it has today, with some of the top brands in online gambling present and operational in the Great Lakes state.
The onset of a global pandemic certainly didn’t help, and it is very likely that had world events not taken the turn they did, Michigan online gambling sites would have gone live much earlier than they in fact did. Let’s take a look at some key events that affected the industry.
Detroit casinos open
The state approves the launch of the first three landbased casinos in Detroit City. MGM Grand, MotorCity and Greektown.
First online gambling bill tabled
The bill was brought forward by the Republican Mike Kowall, and covered both commercial and tribal casinos. However, it failed to make it through senate.
Second bill falls through
Republican senator Brandt Iden proposes a new version of the bill with a lower tax rate of 8%. The bill makes it all the way through senate but ends up vetoed by Governor Snyder among fears that lottery revenue would be negatively affected.
Gambling and sports betting bills approved
Iden once again presents his proposals, this time with two separate bills for online casino and MI sports betting. Both laws are overwhelmingly approved by senate in December.
First MI online gambling licenses granted
A full year after online gambling is legalized across the state, the regulatory framework is finalized and the first MI online gambling site licenses granted.
MI latest updates
Because the MI online gambling scene is still very much in its starting stages, the number of sites that are legally available to players may appear low. However, the MGCB is currently very actively working to increase this number.
With online gambling and sports betting sites taxed at 8.4% and online casinos fluctuating between 20% and 28%, it is easy to see why the state is likely to be wanting to cooperate on this one. News updates are regularly released by the MGCB and below you can find some of the latest announcements about Michigan gambling sites.
- May 17, 2021 — Senate appoints Henry Williams MGCB executive director
- June 8, 2021 — Small-business owners allowed to conduct up to $100,000 in non-gaming business with Detroit casinos annually without notifying the MGCB
- July 12 2021 — FireKeepers Casino and NYX Digital get the green light to go live
- July 30, 2021 — Gun Lake/Parx Interactive cleared for Michigan sports betting license
- November 19, 2021 — Michigan Charitable Gaming Association announces fundraising plan
- January 2022 — Michigan online casino gambling and sports betting operators report a combined $1.4 billion total gross receipts for 2021
- February 2022 — Unregulated machines used for illegal gaming removed across the state
FAQs
Is online gambling legal in Michigan?
What gambling sites are legal in Michigan?
What is the gambling age in Michigan?
The legal gambling age in Michigan is 21 years for online casinos, sportsbook and land-based outlets. However, lottery and Daily Fantasy Sports have a lower minimum age of 18.
When did Michigan legalize online gambling?
Michigan legalized online gambling in 2019, but the first licenses were awarded to online gambling sites in January 2021.