Online Sports Gambling in Michigan
Michigan is one of the largest states in the U.S. to authorize and subsequently launch retail and online sports betting. Michigan is home to nearly 10 million residents and plenty of visitors who pay a visit to the Great Lakes State annually. Michigan is one of those states where online gambling is huge, with more than a dozen onlinesportsbooks accepting bets there.
The process that saw Michigan online sports betting come to life wasn’t easy as you may think. It took 6 years and two administrations to have legal sports betting finalized in The Great Lakes State. The long wait was the result of a trio of laws that were signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that saw the legalization of sports betting, online gaming and daily fantasy sports.
Once online sports betting became legal in Michigan, operators and regulators advanced forward steadily. Now, major online sportsbooks in Michigan maintain a huge presence there. In its first full month of lawful sports betting, Michigan managed to pull $300 million total bets. The Great Lakes State consistently ranks among the top 5 for states with lawful sports betting, and it’s projected to offer unrivaled competition to heavy-hitters Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
January 2021 Michigan’s online sports betting launch is up to now the single largest debut for sports gambling in the history of the United States. On the first day of service, 10 online sportsbooks opened their doors for business. Since then, others have joined Michigan online sports betting market, and several more are expected. Whether you reside in the heart of Detroit or in the Upper Peninsula, here’s everything you need to know about Michiganonline sports betting.
Top Bookmakers in Michigan
With everything to do with online sports betting being legal in the state of Michigan for a couple of months now, it’s a surprise to learn that there are a many sportsbooks operating in the state, all engaged in fierce competition to attract bettors’ business. If you dig slightly deeper, you’ll notice almost all of them claiming to be the best in business. However, that’s not the case. Some online sportsbooksoffer top-notch sports betting services, while other are just in business to profit from your hard-earned funds. So, which are the absolute best? The following are nine of our recommended selections.
BetMGM Sportsbook
In terms of online sports betting in Michigan, without favor, it’s fair to say that BetMGM Michigan towers the rest of its competitors. So far, we’ve seen none that’s on the same level with BetMGM. Of course, there are other outstanding Michigan Sportsbooks, but BetMGM is so far the best of them all. BetMGM has some of the most brilliant odds around, an impressive range of betting markets and bet types, and the current promotions they have put their rivals to shame. BetMGM Michigan new customer sign-up offer also prove to be one of their major strong points, thereby putting BetMGM on the top of the list as a top of the list as one of the best Michigan Sportsbook.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Michigan is another top online sports betting site that has turned out to become very popular among bettors in Michigan. Since launching, plenty of bettors, especially those in Michigan have flocked to this bookmaker in droves. But why manage to attract a huge number of bettors despite having less than 2 years in the besting market? There are plenty of reasons for this. For instance, FanDuel has one of the best welcome offers for new users, along with a live streaming option. Should you wish to wager on U.S. major sports, international and fringe sports, undoubtedly, your best bet is FanDuel Sportsbook. And did you know that you can enjoy DFS at FanDuel Sportsbook? Only two Michigan online sportsbooks offer such, and FanDuel is one of them. Additionally, there are lots of promotions available here, both on their site and the app.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars is another new kid on the block, but making heads turn. They have been operating in Michigan for less than 8 months but already, they seem to be on the lips of many bettors. With their recent acquisition of William Hill Sportsbook, one of the oldest and the most respected bookmakers globally, it shouldn’t come as a shock to find Caesars Sportsbook pop up on our list. The sportsbook boast of one of the best and irresistible sign-up offers in the market that’s in the form of $5,000 risk-free bet. And given their generous range of futures markets and enticing odds, you really can’t go wrong the moment to make Caesars Sportsbook your online bookmaker of choice. Since they opened doors for business, they’ve never disappointed. If they continue this way, established should be prepared for tough competition ahead.
BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers started small in Michigan but based on how things look right now, they seem to be making progress in the right direction. Offering an impressive selections of sports markets to choose from, ranging from football, hockey, baseball, soccer and basketball among others, as well as competitive odds, BetRivers possesses almost everything that top online sportsbooksshould. BetRivers have a top of the line sign-up offer also in store for its new customers, something that makes this bookmaker one of the best choices, especially when you are on the hunt for a new sportsbook to try. It’s ideal for those who are starting out on online sports betting.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings is one of those top bookmakers operating in Michigan, and home to plenty of bettors in the state. DraftKings not only offer a their customers a great range of odds and markets that cover a wide selection of sporting events, but they also boast of having the best Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) betting sections out there, with only FanDuel Sportsbook managing to get close to them in this regard. Given this, along with their hard-to-resist sign-up offer makes this newly established bookmaker one of the out-and-last top bookmakers to rely if you are a resident of the Great Lakes State. Even though they have only been in Michigan for a short time, what they’ve managed to achieve so far is something commendable.
PointsBet Sportsbook
Even though it has its roots in Australia, PointsBet has managed to make its way across the Pacific and now available in the United States. In the state of Michigan, PointsBet Sportsbook is now alive and running. PointsBet major areas of appeal are their signature products and their player-centric approach. The sportsbook main offering, Points Betting, is more of a twist on the traditional total bets or point spread found in every other bookmaker. Michigan bettors that choose to sign up with PointsBet automatically qualify for risk free bets worth up to $2,000. Here, rest assured of a wide range of betting markets, a native app for Android and iOS devices, and plenty of running promotions. PointsBet Michigan is one of those bookmakers that reward loyalty and if you happen to be a loyal customer here, you can be sure to benefit too.
Barstool Sportsbook
Barstool online sportsbook Michigan is now active and accepting bets from Michiganders. In a small amount of time that they have been operating in the Great Lakes State, they’ve managed to create too much buzz, along with generating favorable reviews. Barstool Sportsbook has got its users plenty of reasons to be happy. They support plenty of banking options that Michigan bettors will find safe and convenient. The sheer number of betting markets available here is something else to be proud of this bookmaker. If you are looking for a bookmaker with almost an unlimited number of bet types in Michigan, amazing promotions, and one of the most attentive customer support department, don’t look further than Barstool Sportsbook Michigan.
TwinSpires Sportsbook
Formerly known as BetAmerica, this Michigan sportsbook rebranded in January 2021 to TwinSpiresMichigan Sportsbook. When it was first launched, this bookmaker was solely a platform dedicated to horse racing only. However, they now offer players a chance to wager on other sporting events such as football, basketball, baseball, and tennis to mention but a few. From their ease of navigation to great contests, TwinSpires offers players plenty of reasons to keep coming back to their site. At TwinSpires, you can expect to find competitive odds on a massive range of sporting events. If you are keen on lucrative promotions, along with a site where you’ll have excellent user experience both on mobile and desktop, TwinSpires is the right place for you.
WynnBet Sportsbook
WynnBET is another excellent online sports betting operator that we couldn’t forget to include here as one of those top bookies in Michigan. WynnBET are widely known in Michigan for their wide range of irresistible promotions that both new and existing customers can take advantage of when betting. For instance, WynnBET Michigan’s generous sign-up offer is one of the several reasons as to why some bettors keen on bonuses and promotions in Michigan find WynnBET their ideal sportsbook. With a healthy number of sports and other futures markets available, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise to see why WynnBET take their rightful place as one of the best online bookmakers in the Great Lakes State.
A Comparative Look of Michigan Betting Sites
| Bookmaker | Offer | Mobile App for Android and iOS | Star Rating out of 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | Up to $500 risk free bet | Yes | 4.5 |
| FanDuel CO | $1,000 risk free bet | Yes | 4.5 |
| Caesars | Up to $1,001 in bet match | Yes | 4.0 |
| BetRivers | 100% up to $250 welcome bonus | Yes | 4.5 |
| DraftKings | Instant free bet up to $500 | Yes | 4.0 |
| PointsBet | 2 risk free bets up to $2,000 | Yes | 4.0 |
| Barstool | Up to $1,000 risk free bet | Yes | 4.0 |
| TwinSpires | Up to $1,000 risk free bet | Yes | 3.5 |
| WynnBET | Up to $500 risk free bet | Yes | 3.5 |
Mobile Apps for Android and iOS in Michigan
Several ambitious Michigan sports betting sites have gone ahead and launched their own dedicated mobile betting apps following the state’s legal betting industry took effect in 2021. The best sports betting apps are those that are intuitively designed, rich with some helpful features, quick and a breeze to use. While bettors can wager from the mobile site, some prefer usingthe app for some reasons worth noting. For instance, there are bookmakers who with the intention of promoting their app will offer bonuses to those who wager from the app. Otheronline sportsbookswill also make their app easy to use, faster, and other additional features that may not be found on the website.
All the bookmakers that we mentioned earlier have decent apps for both Android and iOS. Of importance to note is that these apps differ from one another. For example, some are designed intuitively, while others load quite fast. It varies from one bookmaker to the next. The following are some of the differentiating features of all the bookmaker apps for top Michigan Sportsbooks:
- BetMGM –Its mobile sports betting app offers an outstanding user experience
- FanDuel – Very reliable app with no glitches
- Caesars– Offers some quick and effective navigation
- BetRivers – Easy to download and use
- DraftKings – It has a user-friendly interface and helpful stats hub
- PointsBet – It comes with a very polished interface
- Barstool – Stylish design
- TwinSpires – It has a simple and effective layout
- WynnBET – It has a user friendly interface
How to Place Online Sports Bets in Michigan
Now that online sports betting is live and legal in the Great Lakes State, there are a few things that you’ll have to do before you can begin wagering. Here’s a quick look at what you’ll have to do to place your first bet in Michigan:
Step 1
Download a sportsbook app of your choice–The number one thing that you need to do is get a download of a Michigan sportsbook app or apps of your choice. There are plenty of them. The moment you get to the bookmaker’s site, it will direct you on where to go for downloads for Android and iPhone devices.
Step 2
Sign up for a sports betting account–Landing the app is the initial step. Once you’ve done that, carefully go through the registration process of the bookmaker that you choose. Here, you’ll need to provide the sportsbook with your information such as name, address, password, email address and the last four digits of your social security number. Thereafter, you’ll have to verify your account.
Step 3
Fund your online betting account- Now that your account is up and running, the next thing you need to do is to put some funds in your account. Most Michigan online sportsbooks offer plenty of deposit options that you can use.
Step 4
Place your bets! – Now that you have funds in your account, go ahead and begin placing bets on your favorite teams or players. It’s as simple as that.
Different Types of Bonuses and Promotional Offers at Michigan Bookies
The sports betting market at Michigan shapes up to be one of the most competitive sports betting markets in the U.S. Leading online sportsbooks are continually engaging in fierce competition for market share, and one of the most effective tools that they use to help attract customer attention are bonuses and promotions. Here are the common offers that most Michigan bookmakers offer:
- Deposit Match–MI bookmakers will tend to match the initial deposit for new users. The amount of match tends to vary, but it can be up to 100% in some bookies.
- Free bet – Most Michigan sports betting sites will provides new bettors with site credits to use in placing real money wagers. Should the wager win, the player can withdraw the proceeds. However, in most cases, the free bet amount will come with some wagering requirements attached.
- Risk-free bet–In this case, after making the initial deposit, some sites will allow you to place your initial bet in risk-free fashion. The amount of the offer tends to vary, though some books may offer a maximum of $500-$1,000.
- Refer-a-friend bonusand reload bonus – Here, if you refer a friend to a betting site, you get some sort of reward, but only if the person you refer deposits and certain amount and wagers. In terms of reload bonus, a bookie will reward you based on how constantly you reload your account.
- VIP/Loyalty scheme – Here, you get to be rewarded for being loyal. In most cases, you get to earn a certain number of points every time you wager. You can then redeem the points to cash prizes, free bets, or any other available offer.
Payment Methods Available for Michigan Bettors
Legal and regulated online sportsbooks in Michigan offer several funding options that customers can use. But again, the exact offering differs from one operator to the next. The following are some of the most common methods available:
- eCheck/ACH Transfer – The moment you verify your account, you can quickly use this method to transfer funds via a bank account.
- PayPal – A popular eWallet provider that bettors can use to make both deposits and withdrawals.
- Wires / Money Orders–These options are mostly intended for large sums of deposits to a sportsbook.
- Skrill/Neteller – They are other wallet providers that function the same as PayPal.
- PayNearMe – With this option, users can pay with cash a 7-Eleven stores when funding their account.
- Bill pay – This is another option used in processing transactions via a bank account.
- Cred/Debit Cards –MasterCard and Visa are standard options with Discover and American Express acceptable by some operators.
- Prepaid cards – Some bookmakers have their own branded options, but standard prepaid cards can also be accepted.
Different Types of Sports Bets Offered by Michigan Sportsbooks
Online sportsbooksin Michigan understand that in order to attract customer business, among other things, they need to offer different types of bets. Bettors differ based on the terms of bet types that they prefer. Top bookies are those that offer several types of bets for bettors to choose. The following are common types of sports bets that you’ll find at almost every other bookmaker in Michigan:
- Moneyline bets – The moneyline are the simplest of them all. Here, you just select which team will win the match. The odds are in positive or negative. For example, you may see -150 or +140. Minus means less money while plus, stands for more cash. Odds of -150 mean that you have to wager $150 to so that you win $100.
- Parlay – Parlays link two or more wagers/bets into a single bet. A big advantage here is that a player can increase his or her bankroll than wagering on each match independently. The downside is that in parlays all the bets have to win so that you get your funds.
- Round Robin- This is also another popular type of betting, especially in online sports gambling. Round Robin allows a bettor to lay several parlay wagers at the same time in a single wager. Unlike standard parlays, bettors don’t need to win every wager for their bet to win.
- Teasers – These are points spread wagers where there’s the adjustment of the spread by points in a bettor’s favor on more than a single game. You’ll mostly find them on professional sporting activities such as football and basketball.
- Futures – This is the placing on wagers on an event in the future, but not in the near future. For example, you can’t bet on a match scheduled to take place tomorrow, but on events well into the future such as which team will emerge winners of the Super Bowl when the season ends.
- Totals – This involves betting on the score of both teams paired together. After the bookmaker sets the line, you can choose to wager on the “under” or the “over.”
- Spreads – Spreads is another popular form of wagering that’s common in many places across the globe. For you to win, you must beat the spread which is a line that the bookmaker sets. This form of wagering is ideal for matches where both teams score many points.
In-play Betting and In-game Bets at Michigan Sportsbooks
Live betting, also known as in-game wagering by some people is one of the fastest-growing segments across the sports betting industry. These are wagers that you can place in real-time as the sporting action unfolds.
Top online sportsbooks will provide updated odds and every other important stats at every step of the way. You’ll notice that there will be new lines on every result of a match, along with many opportunities that resemble what you’ll find in prop wagering markets.
In-play betting is alive at all the Michigan sports betting operators you find here. Live betting is a fast-moving marketplace, but luckily, leading bookies in Michigan have made attempts to make major strides on this offering to the extent of offering decent platforms that are up to the task.
Live betting can significantly help in enhancing engagement with sporting contests as they play out, while at the same time providing bettors with additional chances to make some profits.
Sports Games and Leagues to Bet on in Michigan
Bettors in Michigan can place bets on every major sports league available in the United States, and most of the top offshore leagues. The list includes the NBA, NFL, MLB, NCAA college football and basketball, NHL, MLS and European and English Premier League soccer. Others include WNBA, LPGA, PGA, and European PGA Tours. That’s not all. If you so wish, you can go on to place bets on NASCAR, Formula 1, NASCAR, WTA tennis, ATP, boxing and UFC. Betting lines for fringe sports such as darts, lacrosse, Aussie Rules Football, and cycling are also available.
Pro Sports Teams to Bet on in Michigan
Michigan is home to some of the biggest and the most respected professional sports teams that take part in different leagues. Unlike other states such as Iowa that lack major professional sports teams, the case is different in Michigan. Here, you’ll find teams that play in different such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB among others. With that said, the following are professional sports teams that you may want to wager on in Michigan:
- Detroit Lions (NFL)
- Detroit Pistons (NBA)
- Detroit Tigers (MLB)
- Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
Even though the sport betting law allows for betting on games that involve state-based college teams, there are quite a number of them, though not taking part in major leagues in the U.S.
Responsible Sports Betting in Michigan
Several resources are available to identify and subsequently address the problem of problem gambling in Michigan. Gambling can be fun and entertaining. However, for some it may end up being addictive and problematic. The State of Michigan has in place a toll free helpline (1-800-270-7117) aimed at assisting those with problem gambling. Available 24 hours and 7 days a week, all the discussions that take place are kept confidential.
There’s also the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services that funds statewide programs for the help and treatment of problem gamblers, along with their families. The Michigan Gaming Control Board also allows bettors to sign up and self-exclude from sports wagering. At the same time, Michigan Sportsbooks allow players to set their daily limits on deposits, wager and time that they get to spend on the site.
The Legality of Online Sports Betting in Michigan
It’s completely safe and legal to engage in online sports betting in Michigan. In December 2019, legislators in the Great Lakes State passed a bill to legalize betting on sports and daily fantasy sports, a move that saw full online wagering going live in the state. The first live online bets in Michigan were placed on January 22, 2021, with 10 operators opening doors for business on that very day. Of importance to note, though, is that you need to be 21 years of age and above to be able to place bets in Michigan. Again, you’ll need to pay taxes from your gambling winnings as IRS considers such winnings as some form of income.
Online Casinos in Michigan
Michigan can be described as a gambling state. Apart from more than a dozen bookmakers that are currently operating there, by the time of writing, we established that there were 26 online casinos in Michigan. The sports betting act in Michigan permits online casinos to operate provided they seek licenses to operate.
DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports in Michigan)
Just like online casinos, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is legal in the state of Michigan. The regulation and taxation of DFS in the state of Michigan took place in December 2019.
Michigan Sports Gambling FAQs
What’s the legal gambling age in Michigan?
You need to be 21 years and above to be able to place bets in Michigan.
Must I be a resident of Michigan to be able to place online bets there?
That’s not a necessity. You just have to be within the borderlines of Michigan.
Can I wager from my iPhone in Michigan?
Yes. Almost all bookmakers in Michigan have high-end apps that are compatible with iOS devices.
Are all forms of betting legal in Michigan?
Yes. Sports betting, poker, casino wagering, DFS and pari-mutuel wagering are all permitted online. You can also go ahead and purchase and play some select Michigan Lottery games.
Is Bovada, BetUS and MyBookies legit sites in Michigan?
While considered offshore in Michigan, all of them are legit as they have license to operate in Michigan.
Do I have to pay taxes from my gambling winnings in Michigan?
Yes. The IRS considers winnings from gambling as some form of income. Therefore, you’ll have to pay taxes.
Is DFS legal in Michigan?
Absolutely! Taxation and regulation of daily fantasy sports in the state of Michigan was legalized in December 2019.
How safe are Michigan betting sites?
Most of them are safe since they are licensed and under the watch of the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Some offshore sites may lack proper regulation, making them unsafe.
Yan Zhylinski
Pro
Published: 12/17/2021
Related Posts
12/17/2021
Indiana joined the states with legal sports betting in September 2019 the moment retail books opened for business in the Hoosier State. Online bookmakers followed a month later, and since then, the...
12/17/2021
Iowa is one of those states in the US that quickly legalized sports betting immediately the Supreme Court lifted a federal ban and overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act...
12/17/2021
Michigan is one of the largest states in the U.S. to authorize and subsequently launch retail and online sports betting. Michigan is home to nearly 10 million residents and plenty of visitors who pay...
12/17/2021
New Jersey sports betting launched three years ago in 2018 and almost immediately, it transformed to become one of the most robust online sports betting markets in the United States. While legal...
12/17/2021
Pennsylvania has for long been a big state for sports. Now, it’s a great state for sports betting, too. The Keystone State was among the first states in the U.S. to legalize sports betting, with the...
12/17/2021
Online sports betting became fully legal in the state of Tennessee on November 1, 2020 and since then, Tennessee sports bettinghas grown to become one of the fastest-growing states in terms in...
12/17/2021
Virginia sports betting is live and legal. Sports betting became legal in VA in April 2020 after the Virginia General Assembly and the Senate passedsports betting bill SB 384 and HB 896 to bring...
12/17/2021
September 9, 2021 was a historic day for online sports betting enthusiasts in the state of Arizona with the first legal online sports being officially accepted in the Grand Canyon State. Yes, you...
Leave a comment