Best Michigan Sports Betting Apps
It’s no surprise why Michigan made online sports betting a part of its most recent gambling expansion. After all, mobile sports betting has proven to be an extremely viable and profitable offering for states that have gone before the Great Lakes State.
However, the prospect of using a Michigan sports betting app might be a bit daunting.
As Michigan residents are finding out, technology has allowed sports betting to take a giant leap forward in terms of flexibility and opportunity. So, here is a handy guide to help Michiganders step into the world of Android and iOS sports betting apps.
Best Michigan sports betting app bonuses
You have many MI sports betting apps to choose from. Each of the sportsbooks featured below offers an excellent app for both iPhone and Android. Here’s a short preview of each site and tell you about the features that distinguish one Michigan sports betting app from another.
BetMGM sports betting app
The BetMGM sportsbook app represents gaming behemoth MGM Resorts International. Naturally, the sportsbook enters Michigan in partnership with its sister property, MGM Grand Detroit. As befitting the representative of one of the world’s largest casino companies, the BetMGM betting app has plenty of methods to bet and a plentiful slate of promotions.
There is one feature that allows the BetMGM sportsbook app to stand out from the crowd, however. It’s called Edit My Bet.
Many sports betting apps have a Cash Out option. This functionality allows you to end your open bets earlier than the conclusion of the match. In exchange for a reduced payout, you can settle the wager without having to sweat out the final minutes of the game.
However, Edit My Bet allows a much greater level of flexibility to the bettor by empowering you to augment your Cash Out-eligible bets in a more meaningful manner. You can cash out, of course, but you can also change the amount of your wager, add teams to the bet or swap out pieces of the existing ticket.
The Bet MGM Android and iPhone app also maintains a healthy roster of odds boosts each day. If you are looking for a reputable company with a few quirks, BetMGM Sportsbook might be the app for you.
BetRivers sports betting app
The BetRivers sportsbook app is a relatively new brand of sportsbook that is quickly becoming a mainstay in US sports betting states. The book is owned and operated by Rush Street Interactive, which notably runs the Rivers chain of casinos in the Midwest and New England. For its Michigan launch, BetRivers partnered with the Little River Casino.
The BetRivers app distinguishes itself in how quickly the app moves. The speed and fluidity with which the app moves from screen to screen is noteworthy and important. Seconds count with online sports betting, especially for in-game wagering. And BetRivers won’t let you down on that front.
The BetRivers mobile sportsbook, somewhat unusually, also maintains a rewards program for its sportsbook customers. The iRush Rewards program allows you to earn points for both its online merchandise and your reward tier. There’s no cost to enter the program, and there’s only upside if you were planning to play on BetRivers, anyway.
One thing to mention, however, is that the Apple version of the app remains a bit clunky. BetRivers did not have an iOS app for many months after its Android debut, and there are still some bugs. However, there are still plenty of reasons to take a look at BetRivers.
DraftKings sports betting app
The DraftKings Sportsbook App is one of the best in existence. The DFS giant splashed onto the sportsbook scene in 2018 and has never looked back. The sportsbook operates in cooperation with Bay Mills Casino.
One of the key reasons that the DraftKings Android/iPhone app is so stellar is its betting carousel. This wheel feature proposes possible bets to each player when they log onto the site. Each bet, however, is specifically chosen based upon the player’s stated preferences and past betting history. So, everyone gets a custom experience when they play on DraftKings.
DraftKings was also the first site to offer a live ticket system to players. The ability to cash out an open bet and avoid any sort of late-game catastrophe is quickly becoming a must-have for online sportsbooks in the US. None of them has been offering this feature longer than DraftKings.
FanDuel sports betting app
FanDuel is the DFS pioneer that has joined the sports betting market in a big way. The company continues to expand its reach into both retail and online sportsbook spaces across the country. Its Michigan partner is MotorCity Casino, where it operates the retail book.
The front-and-center reason to try FanDuel app for Android and iOS is its extensive promotional framework. No other sportsbook operator approaches FanDuel when it comes to a diverse set of daily, generous bonus offers and promos.
That list of promos also includes an extremely healthy dose of odds boosts. There are boosted odds available in every major market, and you can put yourself in a great spot to pick up some extra cash each day.
Like DraftKings, FanDuel also integrates its DFS and casino functions into the site. So, it’s a snap to move back and forth between the different types of games.
Between the integration and the swath of promotions available, it’s easy to see why FanDuel Sportsbook is so popular. Give it a try, and see what you think.
FOX Bet Sportsbook App
FOX Bet Sports Betting is a joint venture between two powerhouses in the gambling and sports worlds. The Stars Group, which owns the top Michigan poker site PokerStars, has joined forces with media giant FOX Sports to create this amalgamated offering. FOX Bet is partnered with the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians.
The FOX Bet betting app has all the bells and whistles that you’d expect from a joint effort from such large companies. In fact, the Stars Group already had an existing sportsbook platform prior to its union with FOX, so the site has plenty of experience behind it.
What you’ll notice about FOX Bet, though, is the unmatched level of integration between the two aspects of its corporate ownership. There are running promotional series on the site that feature “picks” from various FOX Sports personalities.
In addition, FOX Sports now hosts content specifically designed as extra information about wagering for its clients. You can hear the explanations behind the picks and get some more ideas if you watch FOX Sports while you play on FOX Bet.
In a way, FOX Bet is ahead of its time. The melding of a sportsbook operator and a media company makes all the sense in the world.
PointsBet Sportsbook App
PointsBet is an Australian sportsbook that has made quite the splash into America in the past few years. It has been one of the first to market in several states. Its Michigan partner is the Northern Waters Casino.
PointsBet is unlike any other sportsbook because of its namesake product. PointsBetting is a unique innovation that puts a clever twist on the classic spread or totals bet.
You begin one of these wagers by making a selection, as usual. For spreads, you pick the team you expect to beat or cover the spread. For totals, you choose over or under.
However, the distance that the outcome of the game is from PointsBet’s estimate serves as a multiplier for your winnings or losses. If you win, your payout will increase by however many points of difference that exist. Of course, if you lose, then your losses are compounded by the difference.
So, if you make a $10 bet on a game to go over and it goes over by 10 points, you will win $100. On the other hand, if the game goes under by 10 points, then you are now on the hook for $100. Needless to say, there is a high-risk, high-reward component to PointsBetting, but it’s certainly a memorable way to place a bet.
PointsBet has also shown itself to be quick to recompense players in the case of unforeseen outcomes, such as referees’ mistakes or other external errors. The site’s commitment to the players is actually palpable, and makes PointsBet worth a try.
Other sports betting apps in Michigan
There are several other sportsbooks available in Michigan. We will update our list as news occurs.
- Barstool
- Golden Nugget
- Caesars
- Sports Illustrated
- WynnBet
- Four Winds
- FireKeepers
- Play Gun Lake
- Eagle Casino & Sports
Sports betting app instructions for Apple users
There are two main types of mobile devices that Americans use on a daily basis. The first of these types is Apple devices, which use the iOS platform to run.
The good news is that downloading and accessing a sportsbook app will be largely the same process as any other app. Here is the procedure:
- Click through our link above to access the sportsbook of your choice.
- Once there, look for the Apple download button to get started.
- The button should take you to the download site, where you can click the “Get” button to begin the process.
- However, make sure to double-check that the app you’re downloading works in Michigan. Some sportsbook apps are specific to particular states and won’t work in Michigan.
- Once the app is downloaded to your device, click to open it as you normally would open any other app.
- If you have an existing account with the sportsbook, go ahead and log in. If not, look for a button that says “Register” or “Sign Up” to begin the process of opening a new account.
- If you are registering for a new account, make sure to check PlayMichigan for any bonus codes we might have. They could be worth hundreds of extra dollars in your account.
System requirements
Most MI sports betting apps will work with iOS version 8 or higher. However, just to be safe, it might be worth updating your phone to version 9 or above — a few sportsbook apps do require the latest updates to function properly.
It is worth reiterating that newer phones will be operating on iOS versions more than capable of accommodating modern sportsbook apps. And with yearly iOS updates and phone models being a regular occurrence, you want want your mobile device getting too far behind the times.
Sports betting app instructions for Android users
Android users will be able to download and use betting apps in Michigan, too. However, there will be a couple of extra steps in the process.
Google does not always allow gambling apps to download from the Google Play Store. As a result, it can be necessary to get the programs directly from the sportsbooks themselves. If you’re finding that’s the case for you in some circumstances, here’s how to go about it:
- First, you will need to set your phone or device to allow downloads from other sources. You can accomplish this task by going to Settings.
- Once in Settings, select More, and then the Security button. Select Unknown Sources, and you’re done.
- Then, use our link to find the sportsbook of your choice.
- The link should take you to a page with a download link and the Android logo.
- Download and install as usual. If you get any error or warning messages, go ahead and accept the terms.
- As is the case with Apple users, you can log in directly if you already have an account with your sportsbook of choice.
- If not, look for the registration function at the top right corner of the page. It will be a prominent button, and you won’t be able to miss it.
- Be sure to check our page for any bonus codes before you submit an application for a new account. We often have exclusive discounts and deals that you cannot find anywhere else.
System requirements
Usually, Android users with Version 5.1 or higher will be able to use most sportsbook apps.
Who is allowed to bet on sports in Michigan?
The gambling age in Michigan varies between 18 and 21, depending on what type of gaming it is and which casino you are at. The three Detroit casinos set the age requirement at 21 for all forms of gambling, sports included. Betting on sports at tribal casinos varies by the tribe. However, by virtue of the new law, it will be necessary to be 21 or older to bet online in the Great Lakes State.
Though it might seem obvious, it will be necessary for you to be physically inside the state in order to play. Neither state nor federal law permits sports betting across state lines.
How would they know where I’m playing?
The short answer is that all online sportsbooks use geolocation verification software. The programs that they use create a virtual fence around Michigan to keep out those from other states and countries.
This software is quite effective at performing its stated function. Most books set the parameters of their programs to deny service a few feet inside state lines.
In other words, there is a small chance that someone who actually should be able to play would get falsely denied. There is virtually no chance that a player across the border could slip by.
In most cases, the software uses the GPS functions of your phone to verify your location. There’s really no extra step required on the part of the user.
However, if you happen to be using a laptop or other computer, make sure that you are stationary and using a valid in-state IP address. Use of a VPN, a virtual client network or any other connection that allows remote access could get you booted from your sportsbook of choice.
Michigan Android and iOS App Features
If you’ve never used an online sportsbook app before, you may be surprised to learn how in-depth they are. Few sportsbook apps cannot match the offerings of their land-based alternatives.
In fact, in many cases, they exceed their retail brethren in terms of the number of bets, types of bets and flexibility that they offer. Numerous features make sportsbook apps a better option than retail books much of the time.
Bonuses and promotions at Android/iPhone betting apps in Michigan
One of the first things you might notice about Android and iOS sportsbook apps is the frequency and breadth of bonuses and promotions. It is common practice for many sportsbooks to offer at least one new promotion every day.
This practice contrasts sharply with retail sportsbooks, which might only offer one or two promos every month or so. However, mobile sportsbooks in Michigan have to deal with much stiffer competition, since their competitors are only a button tap or two away.
Because of that pressure, sportsbook apps can ill afford to be stingy with their offers. There are several types of bonuses that you could encounter when you log on to your app of choice. Here are a few of those bonus types:
No-deposit bonuses
No-deposit bonuses are perhaps the best type of bonus that you can find. Consequently, they are also some of the rarest.
In a no-deposit bonus, a player receives a perk or prize from the sportsbook for little in exchange. Usually, the bonus comes as a reward for something relatively innocuous, such as signing up for a new account.
So, once the player completes the required action, he or she will find the bonus waiting in the account. It will usually come in the form of free sportsbook bets or bonus dollars, as cash bonuses are quite rare.
Bonuses in these first two formats are not eligible for withdrawal, so you will have to bet them in order to convert into any withdrawable winnings. However, since you were wanting to “test drive” the site anyway, it shouldn’t be a problem to gamble with these types of vouchers.
First-deposit bonuses
Deposit bonuses are the opposite of their no-deposit cousins. For this type of bonus, you are required to place money into your sportsbook cashier account.
Once you claim the bonus and do so, the sportsbook will match a certain percentage of your deposit with its funds. The book will specify both the match percentage and the absolute limit for bonus dollars that you can receive.
The sportsbook will often require you to play through your bonus amount a certain number of times before the bonus becomes eligible for withdrawal. This number of times will be a predetermined multiple of the bonus amount and is known as the “playthrough requirement.”
Once you finish wagering the required amount, the deposit bonus money will become part of your account.
Cash-back offers
A cash-back bonus is a parachute for when things go wrong. Instead of adding extra money to your account, cashback serves as insurance for any net losses that you show in a given time period or on a given bet.
As is the case with deposit bonuses, a cashback bonus will come with a specified percentage and limit for the amount of refund you can get. Although it might not be much, it can help to take the sting out of a bad day of wagering.
One thing to note, however, is the fact that cashback only activates for net losses. So, if you suffer some setbacks but still show an overall profit, you won’t receive anything extra.
Odds boosts
Odds boosts are so common to sportsbooks that they often get overlooked as bonuses. Instead, sportsbooks pull them out as a regular feature onsite.
Nevertheless, they are a promotional item, and they can help to sweeten the pot for players. The sportsbook will select various bets each day and increase the payout potential for each one.
Odds boosts are most common with moneyline wagers. They are usually denoted by a line striking through the original moneyline and the boosted line appearing next to it. So, a bet opportunity at +200 might move to +220, for instance.
The amount of the boost is usually not enough to warrant making a special bet. However, if you were already planning to make a similar wager, it might be worth a look, considering that the payoff for a successful bet is now more attractive.
What markets can I bet on using a sportsbook app in Michigan?
For those unfamiliar with sportsbook apps, you might think that a traditional retail book would outpace the electronic version in terms of different sports it could offer. However, not only are online books able to compete, but they are often able to outpace their land-based counterparts in terms of selection.
Here are the sports currently being wagered on in Michigan sports betting apps:
- Academy Awards (Oscars)
- Auto racing (NASCAR, Formula 1, IndyCar)
- Australian Rules Football
- Baseball (Major League Baseball, NCAA, Nippon Professional League in Japan and KBO League in South Korea, World Baseball Classic, Chinese Professional League)
- Basketball (NBA, Division I NCAA men’s and women’s basketball, WNBA, FIBA World Cup, EuroCup, EuroLeague, NBA Draft, The Basketball Tournament, several foreign leagues)
- Billiards and snooker (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association)
- Bowling (PBA)
- Boxing (IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO, State Athletic Commissions)
- Cricket (International Cricket Council, Indian Premier Cricket League)
- Cycling (UCI World Races)
- Drone Racing (Drone Racing League)
- Eating (Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest)
- Football (NFL, FBS NCAA football, Canadian Football League)
- Golf (PGA, LPGA, European Tour, Champions Tour, USGA, PGA of America, R&A, Ryder Cup Europe, International Federation of PGA Tours)
- Hockey (NHL, NCAA, several foreign leagues)
- Lacrosse (NCAA and Premier Lacrosse League)
- Mixed Martial Arts (UFC, Bellator, Professional Fighters League)
- Olympics (Winter and Summer Games)
- Rugby League and Rugby Union (World Rugby)
- Soccer (Major League Soccer, English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italy Serie A, German Bundesliga, Europa, UEFA Champions League, several FIFA leagues)
- Softball (NCAA)
- Tennis (Association of Tennis Players men’s, Women’s Tennis Association, International Tennis Federation)
- Ultimate Frisbee (American Ultimate Disc League)
What are the bet types?
Of course, all that selection would be meaningless if the online books could not offer more than a couple of types of wagers. However, this is decidedly not the case.
In fact, online sportsbook apps have pushed the envelope for what bets are available. The result is a sports betting experience that only vaguely resembles the old days of backrooms and chalkboards. Here are some of the most common types of bets on mobile betting apps:
- Point spreads
- Money lines
- Totals (over/under)
- Futures
- Propositions
- Parlays
○ Teasers
○ Pleasers
○ Round robins
In addition to the above selection of sports betting options available, live betting on sporting events is another form of gambling that has exploded in popularity online.
Live betting
Most of those types of bets are familiar, even to those who are not sports bettors. However, one of the biggest modern innovations in sports betting has been the rise of live betting in Michigan.
Live betting, or in-game wagering, allows players to wager on events that are already underway. Instead of making a bet before the game and waiting, you can now wager throughout the course of a game.
Live bets tend to come in three distinct flavors:
- Continued pregame wagering: The book simply keeps point spreads, money lines and totals bets going as play proceeds. The only difference is that the lines become dynamic and will change according to the progress of the game.
- Milestone achievement: Bets may appear about whether a player or team will achieve a given milestone by the end of the game or a certain period of play. These milestones can be any statistic of the sportsbook’s choosing, and can span the game, the season or even a career.
- Partial game results: A sportsbook may choose to offer action on the eventual outcome of a particular segment of the game. These pieces of the game can be anything from major periods of play down to single-game events.
This last type of live bet, partial game results, is the source of live betting’s ascension. The technology that sportsbook apps use for live betting allows for an extreme amount of granularity in the betting options.
Bettors can bet on the outcome of single plays in a game or match. As a result, it’s not uncommon for a single game to offer more than 100 different wagers.
Naturally, the sportsbook is happy to offer as many bets as it can. Generally speaking, a sportsbook’s profit increases as the number of bets goes up.
However, bettors like this flexibility, too. Live betting offers the ability either to augment pregame selections that seem to be going well, or hedge against those that are going badly.
Cash-out option
Another feature of sports betting apps for Android and iOS is the cash-out option. Like live betting, the cash-out option yields a tremendous amount of flexibility to your wagering and creates a situation with positives for both the sportsbook and the sports bettor.
The cash-out option usually takes the form of a button on the bottom of your bet slip. After you make a wager, you will have to keep an eye on the button during the game.
Should it appear that your bet is destined to win, the cash-out button may illuminate and display a dollar amount to you. In effect, the sportsbook is offering to settle the bet for that amount.
Of course, you don’t have to take the payout. It will be less than if you were to wait until the end of the game, so it’s obvious why the sportsbook would want to offer it.
However, the cash out option is a great way to guard against any kind of late collapses or roaring comebacks that might destroy your wager. Were something like that to happen, you could rest easy in the knowledge that you took a safer alternative.
Parlay bettors might be especially inclined to use the cash-out option. Given how precarious a parlay bet is, a bettor might be persuaded to forgo the final leg of the bet and accept a lower cash-out value.
Many have heard the expression that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The cash-out option is sports betting’s bird in the hand and at least puts the choice in your hand.
Advantages of using a sportsbook app
Between the commercial and tribal casinos in Michigan, there are 26 locations that could potentially host a sportsbook. So you might wonder if it’s even worth fooling with the online games at all. However, there are several reasons that a sportsbook app might be a better fit for your needs.
- Convenience: Naturally, an app on your phone is more convenient than having to drive to a physical location. Almost every corner of Michigan could play host to a sports bet through online sports betting apps. In a state with such frigid winters and inclement weather, the ability to place sports bets on your phone could be the only avenue you have available — at least, some of the time. Even without weather woes, there’s no question that it’s easier to sit in a favorite chair at home and play. It’s even possible to place a bet in pajamas!
- Bonuses: Online sportsbooks are not run by simpletons. They know that you have a range of choices when it comes to looking for the best sportsbook in Michigan. So they understand the need to entice you to play. Their struggle is to your benefit. Unlike retail sportsbooks, which may not have as much direct competition because of geography, a mobile sportsbook is much more likely to offer bonuses to attract your business.
- Flexibility: There’s no question that there are more ways to wager online than in retail sportsbooks. The mere presence of live betting exponentially increases the options beyond the capabilities of a land-based sportsbook. However, some sportsbook apps offer a live ticket system as a means of equipping bettors with greater flexibility. A live ticket system, or cash-out option, allows players to cash out their open tickets under certain conditions in a game.
The option allows players to guard against any kind of late charge if their bet appears to be winning. The sportsbook can settle likely losses for less money and allow both parties to move on with their lives.
Some online sportsbooks even allow players to propose their own wagers. Such a concept would be a rare event to see in a retail sportsbook, however.
Disadvantages of using online sportsbook apps
Of course, nothing is perfect. There are some downsides to sportsbook app play that simply do not exist in retail settings.
Social
The most obvious ding against sportsbook apps is that they negate the social aspect of sports betting. Even if a bettor visits a retail book alone, there is a natural camaraderie between bettors who have taken the same bet on a game.
Retail sportsbooks are designed to be the most comfortable areas in the entire casino, too. It’s possible to relax and have some food and drinks with friends in most land-based sportsbooks, and there are always plenty of televisions to watch multiple matchups.
Sportsbook apps don’t offer anything similar. Although you may comfortable at home, there might not be anybody there to root for your chosen bets along with you (unless you throw the best block party around).
Trust
Sportsbook apps require a certain degree of trust from their players. After all, you’re sending your personal information and banking data out into the ether, to a faceless company.
In most cases, this isn’t a problem. Sportsbooks are heavily regulated and monitored, and it’s unlikely that any kind of funny business might occur.
Nevertheless, an online sportsbook transaction is far more nebulous and could be more stressful than a bet in a retail sportsbook. In retail books, you make your bet to the staff member, hand over your cash and that’s it.
So there might be some who feel an understandable amount of reservation about online betting versus the simplicity of retail. But all legal and regulated online sportsbook apps are approved and monitored by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, which is there to hear complaints and other grievances in case something with the processing of your bet goes awry.
Complexity
Actually, the entire notion of retail sports betting is simpler than online betting. A retail sports bet is an easy transaction — it’s usually made with cash, and there’s no need for names. Structurally, it’s not much different from buying a doughnut.
Sportsbook apps, however, require much more work to move forward. You will have to provide a variety of personal and banking information, and may the fates help you if you misprint a number or letter.
With so many different bets available, a sportsbook app might also seem overwhelming to the uninitiated sports bettor. So, understand that there may be a learning curve associated with using a sportsbook app.