One online gambling operator building steam in the United States is Bet365.
The United Kingdom-based company has hit the shores in America and already has established itself in five different states. Bet365 is also eyeing additions in other states, including Illinois.
Could Bet365 eventually make its way into Michigan?
While there are some hoops to jump through, never say never.
Is Bet365 available in Michigan?
Currently, Bet365 Michigan is not one of the available online sportsbook or online casino options in Michigan.
The state has 15 available online sportsbook and online casinos licenses. While all 15 online casino licenses are filled, one of the 15 online sportsbook licenses is opening up.
Bet365 has been able to make a name for itself overseas before starting to make a splash here in the states.
Currently, Bet365 Sportsbook can be found in Colorado, Iowa, New Jersey, Ohio and Virginia. New Jersey is the only state where Bet365 operates an online casino.
The operator also is established in neighboring Ontario, with potential to land in Illinois and Pennsylvania in the future.
How can Bet365 Michigan happen?
There is potential for Bet365 to work its way into Michigan through a variety of possibilities.
Replace Fox Bet
Just this week, Flutter elected to shut down Fox Bet Sportsbook, which was one of the 15 licensed online sportsbooks in Michigan.
With that decision, that leaves an open online sportsbook license for Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, which operates Odawa Casinos.
While still currently locked into PokerStars Casino as its online casino, it’s unclear how Odawa Casinos will proceed finding a new sportsbook.
With Flutter also tied to FanDuel, it could muddy the waters for Odawa Casinos to find a new sportsbook companion.
If Odawa is able to entertain any and all possibilities, Bet365 could be among the interested parties. It already is established in bordering territories of Ohio and Ontario.
Bet365 would simply need to get licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, which shouldn’t be a big challenge given it is regulated in multiple states already.
Purchase assets of another operator
We recently saw Fanatics will establish itself here in Michigan when it purchased the US assets of PointsBet.
Fanatics is an established national brand that has set its sights on expanding its business into the online gambling industry.
Having a big name to build an audience with, Fanatics sees itself as a brand that can have more success than what PointsBet has done in its 2-plus years in Michigan.
As other national brands struggle to keep up with the big three of BetMGM, FanDuel and DraftKings, they could also look to sell off their access in the state. That could open the door for Bet365 to step in.
Wait it out
Another option could be just for Bet365 to wait it out and be patient.
Similar to PointsBet selling off assets, other operators have simply ceased operations here in Michigan.
That was the case with TwinSpires, which elected to remove itself from the online casino and online sportsbook game.
That left the Hannahville Indian Community without a partner and allowed it to go shopping once again.
What it found with Sports Illustrated, an already established sportsbook name in the US. That also allowed SI to get into the online casino game over time, once it was regulated.
Should business be too difficult for other online operators in the bottom half of the state’s revenue list, we could see them opt out of the game and give other operators like Bet365 a chance.
Overall, it’s not just as simple anymore to say the state’s licenses are all spoken for. The industry is changing, which mean more deals are being done.
Bet365 Michigan isn’t a thing right now, but don’t be surprised if Bet365 Sportsbook Michigan and Bet365 Casino Michigan are things in the future.
