Online gambling is coming to Michigan, and possibly by the end of the year. The state continues to move through the process quickly in order to be ready to provide online gambling options to their residents. Just last week, the Michigan Gaming Control Board authorized the first game testing lab in the state.
Moving Full Speed Ahead
Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) was the first to receive approval in the state and should start taking applications for services quickly. BMM Test Labs is yet another company looking for authorization and hopefully will receive it soon.
Peter Wolff, the Director of Global Technical Compliance for GLI, stated that the company is honored to have been approved to test and certify online gaming and mobile sports betting in Michigan. The company has vast experience in the gambling sector and is ready to put their experience to work in Michigan.
GLI is based in New Jersey but services the world, with labs located on six continents. They have already worked in the state of Michigan, having helped the Gun Lake Tribe with certification needs.
Current Status of iGaming in the State
Right now, Michigan is tackling two steps at the same time to get things going with online casino gambling and sports betting. The Gaming Control Board is working on the rules for the industries and a public hearing is set to discuss the current draft next week.
At the same time, the board is also working to get started with the licensing process. Now that the testing labs are starting to earn approval, the licensing process should be able to start in the near future. For licensing, companies will need to receive certification from a game testing lab.
The labs review the software used by operators to ensure they are providing safe and legal options for players. However, it is the Board that has final say as to if the software can be used and if the company will be given licensing to offer services.
Regulators are working quickly to get online casinos as well as poker and sports betting services going in the state. Retail sports betting started in March, but launched right before the pandemic set in, so the timing was less than stellar.
It was expected the online gambling would not start up in the state until early next year. However, since the casino sector was hit hard by the pandemic, it was a smart move by lawmakers to move up the timeline. It has been projected that sites might start launching by October, but it seems as though November or December is a more suitable timeline.
Right now, there have not been any roadblocks along the way and the path to launch seems clear. However, there is still time for something to get in the way. Hopefully though, regulators will continue to stay on course and get the industry up and running within the next few months. If they do, Michigan will become the latest state to provide legalized casino, poker and sports betting in the United States.
