Michigan Online Gambling FAQs

FAQS Michigan Online Gambling and Sports Betting

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guide below to help you understand some of the common questions people ask about Michigan online gambling and sports betting.

How old do I have to be to participate in legal online gambling in Michigan?

Any person 21 and over can wager online through legalized online casinos and sports betting applications run in conjunction with casino partner providers. In January 2021, Governor Whitmer signed the Lawful Internet Gaming Act. This Act authorized the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) to issue licenses to internet gaming operators. Today, a 21 years old can legally gambling and bet from their phone or computer.

Do I have to live in or be a resident of Michigan to gamble or participate in sports betting online?

You do not have to be a resident of Michigan to participate in online gambling and sports betting. So in order to gamble online, you must be physically within the Michigan state lines. If you and your family come for a vacation in Michigan you can sign in a play many casino games. You can also participate in sports betting all from your hotel room. If you leave the State of Michigan while you are gambling online or placing a wager, your connection will be interrupted. You cannot continue gambling once you leave the State of Michigan.

Is it legal to gamble online now or do I have to wait?

It is legal to gamble online in the State of Michigan now. The law for online gaming went into effect in December of 2020. The rules were in place in Mid January 2021. Sports betting was authorized and up and running in March of 2021. Online poker is also now also available for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Is online gambling and sports betting allowed in all tribal and commercial casinos?

Yes. All Class III gaming casinos both tribal and commercial can open platforms for online gambling. Each casino can set up partner provider relationships to offer online gambling, sports betting and now poker. There are 3 commercial casinos in Detroit- MGM Grand, Motor City and Greektown. In addition, Twelve tribes have compacts with the State of Michigan allowing for class III casinos and online gambling. These tribes operate over two dozen casinos throughout the entire State of Michigan. There are currently 13 online casinos available to enjoy in the state. More will be coming. These offer internet gaming and in most cases internet sports betting.

What kind of online betting or gambling is available to me in Michigan?

There are many games available for online play and more are on the way. Some of the top choices for Michigan casino game enthusiasts include: Blackjack, Poker, Slots, Roulette, Video Poker and Cards. For those interested in online sports betting, you can bet on just about any sport imaginable. There are many popular sports betting choices. Baseball, Basketball, Football, Soccer, Boxing, Golf, Cycling, Hockey, Motorsports, Tennis and so much more are available in Michigan. You cannot bet on high school sports. All kinds of professional sporting activities are open for betting opportunities.

How do I start if I want to gamble using my cell phone or other device?

If you are within the State lines of Michigan and are 21 + you can place an internet wager an open up an account. Most online partner providers follow similar steps in setting up an online account. It should take only about 5 minutes to set up your account and start. You will see a “Play Now” button or “Sign up Here” or “Register”. This is where you will begin. You will need to fill out some personal information (name, phone, social security number etc.). Then you will set up a user name and password. Once this is complete, you will be able to deposit funds and start. The funds can be deposited via credit card, checking account, wire etc. There will be several options available with the online partners.

Is there a minimum amount of money I must bet to gamble or wager online?

It will depend on the game you are playing or the sports betting application you signed into. Some casino games even give you free money to get start. When you find a game you would like to play, be sure to look for special offers. These often occur for first time players. In addition, some special offers will match a portion of deposits when you log into a sports betting site.

How does Michigan use the tax revenue that they collect from the online casinos?

The three Detroit commercial casinos have their online sports betting and gambling taxes allocated accordingly:
  • 65% of the taxes allocated goes into the Internet Sports Betting and Internet Gaming Fund
  • 30% goes to the City of Detroit
  • In addition, 5% also goes to the Michigan Agriculture Equine Industry Development Fund
Taxes collected by the The Tribal Casinos are allocated differently. Here is the breakdown of the funds: For online sports betting: 90% goes to the Internet Sports Betting Fund and 10% to the Michigan Strategic Fund For Internet gaming: 70% goes to the Internet Sports Gaming Fund, 20% to Local governments for distribution and 10% to the Michigan Strategic Fund. Money collected for the Internet Sports Betting and Internet Sports Gaming Fund goes to:
  • State School Aid Fund
  • Compulsive Gaming Prevention Fund
  • Funding for the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB)
  • First Responder Fund

If I have a problem with gambling who can help me?

As indicated above, the taxes collected in part from online gambling and online sports betting go to the Compulsive Gaming Prevention Fund. If you are concerned about problem gambling or an addiction there are resources to help.
  • Contact the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline: 800-270-7117. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services operates this 24 hour helpline. A trained professional can counsel, offer financial assistance details and offer treatment to clients with compulsive gambling problems.
  • There is also a Disassociated Persons Program (DAP). This program allows a person to be on a list and banned from Detroit Casinos. In addition, an individual can also fill out a form to have their name removed from the list.
  • Another option is applying for inclusion in the Internet gaming and sports betting responsible gaming database. This is similar to the DAP. However, it only bans a person from participating in online sports betting or gambling. If you try and create an online account while on this list you will be unable to proceed.
  • Other useful resources available to those wanting to stop gambling or betting in the State of Michigan: Gamblers Anonymous, National Council on Problem Gambling and Gam-Anon.