For many weeks now, casino and sports betting fans in Michigan have been waiting patiently for iGaming to begin. The state approved online gambling some time ago but has yet to launch any services. It was expected that some form of online gambling would begin early this year, and now the state’s Gaming Control Board has confirmed that services will start on January 22.
Ready to Go
The wait is just a few days now, as players will be able to log on to sites in just two days to begin playing online casino games and place sports bets. The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) announced that eight operators have been approved for both sectors while one has been approved solely for online wagering.
As the new industries get started, MGCB executive director Richard S. Kalm believes that the state will see high revenue earnings. Taxation will help to produce a significant amount of cash and with consumer demand being high, the incoming wagers should be large as well, once tallied together in monthly revenue reports.
Both commercial casinos in Detroit, as well as tribal casinos, will be able to offer services. The online options will allow land-based providers to become more engaged with customers. State and local municipalities will be able to benefit from tax payments by operators along with payments.
In the days leading up to the launch, time will be used for testing as well as adjustments. Kalm said that the goal is to ensure operators meet all the standards of the state, with protections in place to ensure players are cared for. Kalm also said that the board wants players to feel confident in the services offered.
Partnership Details
So, who is partnered with who? The partnerships are important as it reveals what brands to expect as well as the type of services to be offered. The commercial casinos in Detroit have been approved for gaming. Penn National’s Greektown Casino will work with Barstool Sports. The property will be the only one to focus on sports betting instead of casino games as well.
MGM Grand will launch services with BetMGM, a well-known brand in the sports betting industry. For MotorCity Casino, the sportsbook will be based on the FanDuel brand, thanks to a partnership with Flutter.
For tribal operations, six tribes have decided to provide sports betting and casino operations online. DraftKings has signed a new deal with Bay Mills to focus on sports betting services. William Hill will also offer services in the state, working with Grant Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
Additional approvals should be given in the future, according to the MCGB. The market is set to be quite larger from the very beginning and only grow from there.
The revenues from online gambling are much needed in the state. Michigan has been one of the hardest hit when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic. Casinos were forced to close for several months last year, which led to a significant decrease in overall earnings. With the launch of these new iGaming options, there will be a back up source of revenues as the state along with the US tries to recover from the pandemic.
