The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) announced that advance deposit wagering (ADW) has been reinstated after granting a track license for Northville Downs in Hastings.
That means the MGCB lifted the suspension for online racebooks and granted an amended 2025 Simulcast Permit. The previous permit expired on Dec. 31, 2024 after Northville Downs ceased operations last February. However, the track was able to find a new location, which allowed ADW to come back.
MGCB Public Information Officer, Lisa Keith, told PlayMichigan in an email on Monday:
“As a result, NYRA Bets, FanDuel Racing/TVG, and Xpressbet can resume accepting Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) in the state of Michigan effective immediately. However, TwinSpires will not be able to resume ADW operations due to ongoing litigation.“The MGCB remains committed to ensuring a fair and regulated gaming environment in Michigan.”
Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) filed a complaint against the MGCB about the licensing process last month, which is now impacting the ability to accept wagers in Michigan.
Twinspires starts 2025 behind the eight-ball
The three other ADW operators complied with the the Board’s shutdown mandate at the end of 2024. Twinspires did not, which ultimately led to its suspension and resulting in a legal complaint.
According to the complaint, CDI was aware of Northville Downs securing a new location for racing operations, but still went ahead with legal proceedings.
The MGCB required CDI to partner with a licensed racetrack within the state, which CDI claims was not necessary. It claims the MGCB overridden the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 (IHA):
“[Congress] determined in the IHA that ‘the federal government should prevent interference by one State with the gambling policies of another,’ and provided that an off-track betting platform may accept interstate wagers on horseraces if it obtains three, specific consents.
“TwinSpires has obtained these requisite consents for the interstate horseraces on which Michigan residents can wager, enabling TwinSpires to lawfully accept such wagers pursuant to the IHA.
“By seeking to impose additional state licensing requirements, Michigan is not just attempting to interfere with federally-authorized wagering on interstate horseraces, it has effectively banned such wagering—unless TwinSpires meets its demands.”
CDI is fighting that it doesn’t need a license to operate ADW wagering. It appears it chose to litigation over being on a level playing with field competitors by complying with the MGCB.
Twinspires accepted 62.1% of the $35.8 million wagered in online horseracing bets from Michigan residents in 2021. CDI is leaving a lot of wagers on the table by taking its issues legal with the regulator.
