Detroit sports fans have a lot to cheer for. The Lions are 3-1, fresh off a thrilling Monday night win, and the Tigers disposed of the Houston Astros in the Wild Card round of the MLB playoffs.
Not only do they have some success to celebrate. They also have quite a bit of hometown sports to bet on.
As a result, the Michigan Gaming Control Board issued a reminder to its local gamblers. Because of the excitement, the MGCB reiterated a message of responsible gambling in Michigan to its bettors.
Detroit success prompts RG message from MGCB
The fall is certainly one of the best times to be a sports fan, with football in full swing along with playoff baseball and the start of basketball and hockey. However, Detroit’s sports teams have not had much success lately.
Four years after the state legalized gambling, the Lions and Tigers are starting to put the pieces together. The Lions won the NFC North for the first time in 30 years last year and reached the NFC Championship, and the Tigers reached the postseason this year for the first time since 2014.
When the hometown teams are successful, it’s easy for the local betting market to bet a ton on their favorite teams. For example, the New England Patriots went to the Super Bowl in 2019 and defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. In the lead-up to the big game, New Englanders wagered mostly on the Patriots. As a result, Rhode Island sportsbooks ended up losing $2.35 million on the game.
However, if the game swung the other way, it would’ve looked much different for Rhode Island sports bettors. Amid the current madness, MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams is preaching responsible gambling.
“The Michigan Gaming Control Board is committed to promoting responsible gaming initiatives and ensuring the well-being of residents through its Emmy Award-winning and prominent ‘Don’t Regret the Bet’ campaign, which is aimed at educating and protecting individuals from the potential harms of excessive wagering,” he said in a statement.
“In line with this commitment, the agency provides resources and support for individuals who may be struggling with self-regulation.”
The MGCB takes responsible gambling extremely seriously. Its “Don’t Regret The Bet” campaign that launched in March 2023 won its eighth award last month.
It provided ways for players to help gambling responsibly through the Responsible Gaming Database for online gaming or the Disassociated Persons List (DPL) for the three commercial Detroit casinos.
What Detroit fans have been waiting for
The Lions and Tigers having magical seasons should not be a reason to be reminded to gamble responsibly, which is a pillar of the MGCB.
However, the excitement in the city can certainly enhance or change the behaviors of bettors within the state. Hopefully, Michiganders will take the advice of the MGCB during the chaos.
It’s certainly been a while since the Lions and Tigers played simultaneously in October, especially with winning records. The last time that happened was in 2014. It’s only happened once since 2000, in 2011, when the Lions had a winning record entering October while the Tigers made the postseason.
The down years have also affected basketball and hockey. The Red Wings have not made the playoffs since 2017, and the Pistons have made three playoff appearances since 2009.
Both the Lions and Tigers have a chance to create a serious buzz for the rest of the year in Detroit. While the excitement is understandable and expected, the responsible gambling aspect should not be lost on anyone.
