Michigan Online Gambling

Yes, online gambling is legal in Michigan. Online casinos and online sports betting officially launched on Jan. 22, 2021, and online poker went live a week later. There are now more than 20 regulated online gambling sites available to Michigan bettors.

Michigan bettors can wager on most sports and sporting events taking place in MI and throughout the world. Those categories include all the major sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS) as well as many college sports, such as Michigan and Michigan State football, and the NCAA Tournament. A few wagers off the table are high school athletics and many novelty prop bets, such as the length of the anthem at the Super Bowl.

Yes. Because of federal and state law, only persons physically located inside state lines are permitted to place wagers on Michigan gambling apps.

Online sportsbooks, casinos and poker rooms all employ geolocation verification software to ensure that players are in the prescribed area. If the software can’t verify you are within state borders, you won’t gain access to the site or be able to place a bet.

No. You don’t need to be a Michigan resident to legally play online casino games or bet on sports. It is only required that players be inside the state at the time they access the site and be of legal age (21) in order to wager on a Michigan gambling app.

All legal Michigan betting sites are regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). The MGCB diligently reviews all gambling sites to ensure required consumer protections have been met before they can go live and accept deposits and wagers.

All regulated MI gambling apps and websites use SSL encryption to safeguard personal information, such as payment data. Funding options vary from site to site, but generally, Michigan players can deposit and withdraw funds via credit/debit cards, electronic/paper checks, bank/wire transfers and prepaid cards.

Michigan residents have a variety of online casino games to choose from, including:

• Slots
• Progressive jackpot slots
• Baccarat
• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Video Poker
• More table games

Live dealer games are very popular, since they are the closest thing to being at a casino while playing from home. Nearly all Michigan online casinos offer live dealer games.

The process for registering for an online casino, sportsbook or online poker account is quite easy and takes just a few minutes.

The procedure begins with a simple click or press of a button. Online gambling sites tend to denote these buttons with phrases such as “Register,” “Sign up” or “Play Now.”

The button will lead you to a screen where you’ll be asked to fill out some personal information, including your name, phone number, email address, date of birth and Social Security number. These are intended to verify your identity. Your information is safe and secure on sites approved and regulated by the MGCB.

Once you have an account, you can make a deposit using one of several approved options, and then you’re ready to play your game of choice.

Before you stuff those slot winnings in your mattress or splurge on a new toy, just know the government is entitled to a piece. In the state of Michigan, you are required by the letter of the law to report any and all gambling winnings, even the smallest of wins. The government considers those wins as taxable income, at tax rates of 25% for federal, and another 4.25% for the state.

Depending on the game you’re playing, a win above a certain dollar amount will trigger the casino to automatically file a W-2G tax form with the IRS on your behalf. If you are fortunate to win $5,000 or more, the casino is also required to automatically withhold the fed’s cut of 25%. In both cases, you still need to report the income on your tax return.

For more on IRS reporting thresholds, and how to report gambling winnings or losses on your tax forms, visit our comprehensive tax page.

Michigan has 26 casinos with 10 active card rooms for poker players.

There are three retail sportsbooks at the commercial casinos in Detroit: Hollywood Casino at Greektown, MGM Grand Detroit, and MotorCity Casino. In addition, several tribal casinos opened retail books, including:

• FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek
• Four Winds Casinos in New Buffalo, Dowagiac and Hartford
• Little River in Manistee
• Island Resort in Harris
• Turtle Creek in Williamsburg
• Leelanau Sands in Peshawbestown
• Gun Lake in Wayland
• Odawa in Petoskey and Mackinaw City
• Kewadin Casinos (added WynnBET kiosks to its five locations)
• Soaring Eagle in Mount Pleasant

Gambling is designed to be a source of entertainment and fun. Michigan is serious, though, about compulsive and problem gambling.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board keeps a list of problem gambling resources online. The MGCB and Detroit’s commercial casinos have developed a “Disassociated Persons” list, which allows gamblers to voluntarily make a lifetime commitment never to visit a Detroit casino.

You can request a permanent ban from Detroit casinos by calling 1-888-223-3044 or filling out an application online.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) maintains a 24-hour, toll-free helpline for problem gamblers through the Michigan Association on Problem Gambling at 1-800-270-7117.

Some other resources for responsible gambling:

• The MDHHS funds a statewide Health Management Systems of America Gambling Treatment Program for compulsive gambling individuals or groups and their families.
• Gamblers Anonymous offers local support groups, gambling literature and other resources. Use the group’s website to find a meeting in Michigan.
• NFCC.org is the website of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. This nonprofit organization can be of assistance if gambling has created financial hardship for you or your loved ones.
• The Gam-Anon organization is specifically for family members and friends of compulsive gamblers.
• The National Center for Responsible Gaming helps individuals and families by supporting research and improving prevention, diagnosis, intervention, treatment and public awareness strategies. The National Council on Problem Gambling also offers information on problem and compulsive gambling.