BetMGM Launches As Second Online Poker Operator In Michigan

Written By Matt Schoch on March 22, 2021 - Last Updated on December 8, 2023
BetMGM Online Poker Michigan Launch 2021

BetMGM launched its online poker platform in Michigan on Monday afternoon, becoming the state’s second online poker provider.

The software is available for download through the platform, in addition to the BetMGM Poker MI app. PlayMichigan was able to play through the app on Monday, but not yet otherwise.

Michigan joins New Jersey as the second state with live BetMGM Poker.

BetMGM Poker makes it two Michigan online poker sites

BetMGM Poker had the Michigan Gaming Control Board’s approval to go live Jan. 22. At that time, however, it instead only launched its online casino and sportsbook platforms. PokerStars MI launched Jan. 29, giving it close to a two-month head start in the market.

BetMGM partnered with MGM Grand Detroit, the busiest casino of Detroit’s downtown trio. That partnership comes with plenty of name recognition in the state.

It took just one week for PokerStars Michigan to pass Pennsylvania for filled seats and lead the country in traffic. That site awarded more than $2.2 million over 60 events in the first Michigan Championship of Online Poker series, which ended earlier this month.

BetMGM already off to strong start since Michigan launch

Over the first 10 days since the Jan. 22 online launch, BetMGM led nine Michigan online casinos with $11.1 million in revenue, or 37.7% of the market. The brand was fourth in online sports betting handle with $22.8 million in bets and 19.8% of the market share. In February, BetMGM still led the way among casino operators with $26.9 million in internet gaming revenue, good for a 33.8% market share.

It is expected that the addition of a second legal online poker site in Michigan will up the ante for BetMGM and poker players.

“The launch of BetMGM Poker in Michigan fully rounds out our premier gaming portfolio in the state,” said Adam Greenblatt, chief executive officer of BetMGM, in a news release. “BetMGM’s sports betting and casino offerings have been met with incredible early success in Michigan, and we’re thrilled to provide players with another exciting gaming option.”

BetMGM promoting weekly, special online poker tournaments

The site is advertising daily tournaments. Buy-ins range from as little as 25 cents, all the way up to $535.

Promotions for BetMGM Poker started to trickle into accounts last week, even before the platform went live.

The platform will have many poker variants, signature tournaments and cash games of all buy-in levels. BetMGM Poker will have single account integration with BetMGM sports betting and online casinos, easily managing funds with one wallet. There’s also integration into the MGM Resorts’ M life Rewards program.

Some of the tournaments being advertised include:

  • A daily $10,000 tournament at 7 p.m. ($109 buy-in, guaranteed pay for top 14)
  • A weekly Progressive Knockout (PKO) Tournament at 8 p.m. Thursdays ($320 buy-in, with bounties)
  • Regular Sit & Go Tournaments, about an hour in length in regular, turbo and hyper-turbo structures (10 cents to $500 buy-ins)
  • Weekly Mega Tuesday $535 Six-Max Tournament at 8 p.m. Tuesdays ($535 buy-in, $12,000 guaranteed prize pool)
  • Weekly Network Sunday $40,000 Tournament at 5 p.m. Sundays ($215 buy-in, $40,000 guaranteed prize pool)

All BetMGM players in the state will be invited to a $50,000 Freeroll Invitational Tournament scheduled for April 4.

Photo by Dreamstime stock
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Matt Schoch

A Michigan native, Matt has worked at newspapers in Michigan, Missouri and the Virgin Islands. A versatile sports reporter, Matt has covered sailing on the Great Lakes, cricket in the Caribbean, high school and pro playoffs, and the Olympics in Rio. He's also the former host of the Locked On Pistons Podcast and producer of a documentary on Emoni Bates. A former blackjack dealer, Matt has studied the industry from all sides.

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