New Michigan Online Sportsbooks

The waiting is over for sports bettors in Michigan. Legal retail sports betting is now a thing, and the official online and mobile rollout is coming before too long.

Expectations are high for the legal sports betting market here at home, and a number of top operators are lining up to do business. You’ll have plenty of options to explore to legally and safely place wagers.

All of the major sports will be available for betting, and there’s a host of different bet types to consider. We have you covered with the most important information to know. From where you can play to what the rules are and all points in between, it’s all here. Let’s get to it.

Timeline for sports betting launch in Michigan

In May 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned PASPA, the federal law that outlawed sports betting in most of the US. The court left it up to individual states to decide for themselves. Many of them have done just that in the months and years that followed.

It took some time for things to get going here in Michigan. After an extended period of discussion, legislation to approve sports betting was signed into law in December 2019.

The first retail sportsbooks opened for business in March 2020. A handful of tribal casinos followed over the summer. Online and mobile sports betting remains a work in progress, but estimates put the official launch sometime between October 2020 and early 2021.

New online sportsbooks in Michigan

The general expectation is that the Michigan sports betting market will be an active one. Several of the industry’s top operators have big plans for the Wolverine State as a result. Let’s take a closer look at the new online sportsbooks we could end up seeing.

BetMGM Sportsbook Michigan

BetMGM is among the many operators with big plans in US sports betting. Beyond the instantly recognizable brand name, there’s a lot for sports bettors to get excited about.

The platform is solid overall, but some improvements on the navigation front would be nice. BetMGM is on point with betting odds and lines, and it offers up all of the markets and bet types you need.

BetRivers Sportsbook Michigan

BetRivers has debuted in several states to date with positive reviews. The company hits all of the right notes with a smooth platform, ongoing promotional offerings and a rewards program that’s open to sports bettors.

The sportsbook is simple to use while also being filled with features, which is not the easiest trick to turn. There’s a dedicated section for live betting, as well as daily house special bets.

DraftKings Sportsbook Michigan

DraftKings has been making a lot of noise in legal states, and expectations are high that it’ll do the same here in Michigan. The slick platform has been a hit with users, as has the company’s generosity with promotional offerings.

Among the top features at DraftKings is its live betting offering. Quite simply, it’s one of the best in the industry. The company places a high priority on tech and overall functionality, and it shows throughout its offerings.

FanDuel Sportsbook Michigan

FanDuel has also emerged as a top destination for sports bettors in a number of legal states. When you put together an online and mobile sportsbook that looks great and is easy to use, that tends to happen.

Ease of navigation is a huge plus, but FanDuel is also filled with features. Among the items that have really been resonating with users is its same-game parlay feature.

FOX Bet Sportsbook Michigan

FOX Bet is the result of a partnership between the US media giant and The Stars Group, which has since merged to become part of Flutter Entertainment. The tag-team effort is a solid one as it brings together a gambling titan and a company with a knack for promotion.

That’s one of the top features at FOX Bet, but there’s a lot more to see. You’ll see plenty of promotional tie-ins with network personalities, but the platform is also really good. FOX Bet is a solid choice for both new and experienced sports bettors.

PointsBet Sportsbook Michigan

Australia-based PointsBet has debuted in a number of states already, and the company has its sights set on much more. The company is solely focused on sports betting for the time being and has been steadily gaining traction.

PointsBet has a regular assortment of ongoing promotional offerings, including reduced or no-juice bets on select events. The platform is functional and easy to use, and there’s a good assortment of funding options.

Michigan casinos with sportsbooks

Retail sportsbooks opened for business in Michigan in March 2020. Here’s a look at which spots you can check out, along with which operators they have partnered up with on the online and mobile front.

Greektown Casino, Detroit

  • Partner: Barstool Sportsbook
  • Retail opening: A temporary retail outlet opened onsite on March 11, 2020. A permanent spot bearing the Barstool name is expected in the future.

BetMGM Grand, Detroit

  • Partner: BetMGM Sportsbook
  • Retail opening: Also debuting on March 11 was the retail sportsbook at the MGM Grand in Detroit. The online and mobile launch is expected for late fall 2020.

MotorCity Casino, Detroit

  • Partner: FanDuel Sportsbook
  • Retail opening: A retail FanDuel Sportsbook opened at the property to much fanfare on March 12, 2020. The online and mobile rollout is on the same timeline as the rest: late 2020/early 2021. Six of the tribal casinos in the state have opened up retail sportsbooks thus far, and more are expected to follow. Four of the six have deals in place for online and mobile platforms.

Hannahville Indian Community

  • Partner: BetAmerica Sportsbook
  • Retail opening: Sept. 10, 2020

Little River Band of the Ottawa Indians

  • Partner: BetRivers Sportsbook
  • Retail opening: July 17, 2020

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

  • Partner: FOX Bet Sportsbook
  • Retail opening: Sept. 24, 2020

Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Indians

  • Partner: TBD
  • Retail opening: June 22, 2020

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians

  • Partner: TBD
  • Retail opening: July 13, 2020

Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

  • Partner: William Hill Sportsbook
  • Retail opening: Sept. 18, 2020

What sports can you bet on in Michigan?

There’s a wide range of betting markets available at Michigan sportsbooks. Let’s start with the ones you should be able to find at all outlets.

  • NFL: The most popular item on the wagering menu is the NFL, as each game from the regular season through the playoffs attracts lots of football betting action.
  • NBA: Pro hoops has established itself as the second-most popular option at legal and regulated sportsbooks, and interest only seems to be growing.
  • MLB: Baseball betting dominates the conversation during the summer months, and there are plenty of opportunities to be found from opening day through to the World Series.
  • NHL: Hockey has a very passionate and loyal fanbase, and that transfers right over to the betting window for the regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs.
  • NCAA football: College football attracts a ton of betting interest from the fall right into bowl season, with interest seriously spiking for the College Football Playoff.
  • NCAA basketball: March Madness is one of the biggest betting events of the calendar year, but there are plenty of bettors who stay engaged with college hoops throughout the season.
  • Soccer: You’ll be able to find action on the big organizations such as the Premier League and MLS, as well as on the top international competitions.
  • Golf: You can wager on golf tournaments all year-round, but the four majors bring the most bettors to the window.
  • Tennis: It’s the same story with tennis: wagering on tennis available nearly all year-round, with a big spike in interest for the Grand Slam events.
  • NASCAR: Daytona 500 and the NASCAR Cup Championship are the top draws, but there’s live racing action to bet on for much of the year.
  • UFC: The biggest fights are a huge attraction at sportsbooks, while even the smaller cards receive their fair share of action from MMA fans.
  • Boxing: When there’s a marquee fight on the docket, interest goes through the roof for boxing, but betting action can be a little quiet outside of that.

When it comes to smaller sports, offerings may vary by operator. However, each book generally has a solid assortment to choose from. Here’s a list of what you might find.

  • Australian rules football
  • Cricket
  • Cycling
  • Darts
  • Handball
  • International sports
  • MMA
  • Motor sports
  • Olympics
  • Rugby
  • Snooker
  • Table tennis
  • Volleyball

What kind of bets can you make in Michigan?

You’ll find all of the bet types you could ask for at legal and regulated sportsbooks. Here’s a quick refresher on the major ones and how they work.

  • Moneyline: Just pick the winner from the favorite (negative odds) or underdog (positive odds). A close range in the numbers points to a tight contest, while a big difference could be a mismatch.
  • Point spread: You can choose the favorite minus a designated number of points or go with the underdog plus the number. To win the bet, the side you choose must cover the spread.
  • Totals: These are wagers on the total number of points scored in a contest. Oddsmakers set the bar with an estimate, and bettors can then choose the over or under.
  • Props: A prop is basically like a side wager on a game or event. Many of them will revolve around a specific performance metric for a player involved in the action.
  • Live betting: These are bets that can be placed in real time. It’s a fast-paced market, as wagers are based on what’s happening on the field of play.
  • Futures: This is a popular market that features wagers on events that will happen down the road, such as the winner of the next Super Bowl or NBA Finals.
  • Parlays: These are bets in which you place multiple outcomes on a single betting slip. Parlay bets are high-risk, high-reward, but also popular due to the potential for great returns.
  • Teasers: A teaser bet affords bettors the opportunity to shift the point spread more to their liking on a handful of games by a designated number.

How safe are new betting sites?

Brand new sportsbooks looking to set up shop in Michigan have to go through a rigorous vetting and application process. There are costs to doing business, starting with a $50,000 application fee and $100,000 license fee.

Those who are granted approval are also on the hook for renewal fees, as well as stringent reporting with state tax authorities. Operators across the state are subject to an 8.4% tax rate on adjusted gross sports betting receipts.

Casinos in Detroit have to pony up an additional 1.2% in city tax. In short, it takes a lot for an operator to set up shop. The Michigan Gaming Control Board keeps a watchful eye, and it’s on standby should any problems arise.

If you’re doing business with a legal and regulated operator here in Michigan, your funds will be safe and your data will be secure. This is not the wild west of the offshore markets, as the state took its time crafting sports betting laws with an eye toward protecting consumers.

Legality of new sportsbooks

In December 2019, the Michigan Legislature gave the green light to sports betting, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the legislation into law soon thereafter.

To place bets, you need to be 21 or older and located within state lines. Sports betting is available at three commercial and several tribal brick-and-mortar casinos throughout the state.

Once the online and mobile rollout takes place, the same rules will apply. To confirm compliance and that you are within state lines, operators will use what’s known as geolocation tracking software to verify that you are where you say you are.