Michigan's Online Gambling Delayed Until 2021

Online gambling has been on the cards in Michigan for some time now. The state governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Lawful Sports Betting and Lawful Internet Gaming Acts back in 2019. These acts legalized both online and in-person gambling, including online casino games, sports betting, and online Poker. Although the law was signed into effect back in 2019, there have been some delays in setting up the regulations.

Online gambling may now be legal in Michigan, but there are restrictions on how and where it can take place. The Michigan Gaming Control Board is responsible for establishing the regulations and ensuring that all online gambling is safe and fair. These rules are still in development, so Michigan online gambling hasn't gone live just yet. It's predicted that the first legal Michigan sportsbooks and other online gambling platforms will go live by early 2021.

Michigan Gaming Control Board

The Michigan Gaming Control Board is the state agency in control of gambling rules and regulations in the state. While in-person sports betting launched in March 2020, online gambling rules have taken a bit longer to set up. Currently, the only way to place bets on sports is at some of the land-based casinos in the state, although it won't be long before online and mobile sports betting sites go live. 

The state regulators used the details from other states which have previously legalized online gambling. Using this data, they were able to determine suitable restrictions as well as a timeline for implementing the legal framework. The delays may come as a disappointment to gamblers in Michigan, but it's a good thing that the state regulators are taking the time to get it right.

Michigan Online Gambling Restrictions

Michigan gambling has been legal at various tribal casinos around the state for many years. Now, the law also includes online casinos, and when these sites go live, residents and visitors to Michigan will be able to play and wager online. There are still some rules over how players can gamble, however. These rules include:

•       Players must be at least 21 years old to sign up and play.
•       Players don't need to be from Michigan but must be within the state boundaries when playing.
•       Online casinos and sportsbooks need to be licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
•       Online gambling operators must be partnered with one of the state's legal land-based casinos.
•       Social gambling sites and sweepstake casinos are banned, so players can only play at legal casinos and sportsbooks approved by the state.

These rules help to ensure that players are protected when gambling online and that all the casinos and sportsbooks are fair and safe to use. While these rules have taken some time to set up and approve, a lot of online gambling sites have already received provisional licenses. This should mean that online gambling can launch early on in 2021. 

Michigan Online Gambling Platforms

Online casinos, online sportsbooks, and online Poker sites are all expected to go live in 2021. Michigan regulators have already preapproved provisional licenses for several sites, and although there are still some details to be worked out, Michigan gamblers don't have to wait much longer. Some of the gambling platforms that have gained a provisional license to launch in Michigan include:

•       Golden Nugget Casino
•       FanDuel
•       BetMGM
•       DraftKings

These are some of the biggest US sports betting and gambling brands and will no doubt provide an excellent gambling experience to MI players. While it's still too early to know exactly what will be on offer, we can make a pretty good guess by looking at what's available in other states. All of these platforms are available in states such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania and provide lots of betting opportunities as well as some fantastic bonuses.

Once online gambling goes live in 2021, Michigan will have loads of choice when it comes to online casinos and sportsbooks. All of these sites are also expected to launch mobile apps, giving players extra convenience and making online gambling more accessible. Whether you want to bet on Michigan football or on casino games, you'll have lots of opportunities to wager and win real cash.