Online Casinos in Michigan

The 10th most populous U.S. state with a population of over 10 million, Michigan is now rebuilding its casino industry. The long-awaited changes were triggered on December 20, 2019, when the House Bill no. 4311 was adopted at the State of Michigan 100th Legislature Regular Session to establish a framework for online gambling. The Bill enables all imaginable online games of chances, so pretty soon – in 2021, hopefully – the locals will be able to indulge in slots, table games, and sports betting at the authorized Michigan online casinos. Meanwhile – until the dust settles, that is – punters from Michigan can play at offshore casinos without any risks.

Laws Affecting Online Gambling in Michigan

The game-changing Lawful Internet Gambling Act and Lawful Sports Betting Act adopted in 2019 complemented the Fantasy Contests Consumer Protection Act to become the three main legal documents in the new era of online gambling in Michigan. From now on, three commercial casinos and 23 tribal venues are entitled to apply for licensing to provide their services online. Even though the acts have certain limitations – for example, each casino is allowed to represent only a single betting operator – the very fact of adoption of Michigan online gambling laws looks extremely promising.

Answering the popular question ‘is online gambling legal in Michigan,’ we can say that online gambling is about to become legal within the state borders, but it will take time for local online casinos to move their services online. At the time of writing, the only streamlined forms of online gambling are daily fantasy sports and the Michigan lottery.

Sports Betting in Michigan

According to the Lawful Sports Betting Act 2019, local sports betting venues are granted the right to offer any type of sports betting. However, they can only represent a single sports betting operator (which shouldn’t be a problem for bettors since there are 26 casinos in the state) and are obliged to pay an 8.4% tax plus an additional 1.25% city tax for Detroit-based commercial casinos.

As for online sports betting, if the respective rules and regulations to be established in October – as the Michigan Gaming Control Board predicts it to happen – then pretty soon Michigan sports betting fans will be able to place their first wagers on their favorite teams and athletes through iPhone and Android mobile apps. That said, as of the beginning of July 2020, there are no full-fledged online sports betting venues in Michigan, so you can either wait for the firstcomers to pop up or sign up for a reputable offshore sportsbook (the list of top-notch casinos and sportsbooks is available on this webpage).

Interesting Facts about Online Gambling in Michigan

The history of gambling in Michigan dates back to 1933 when the state passed the Racing Act to regulate pari-mutuel horse racing, but the milestones of the past seem insignificant in the face of the House Bill no. 4311, the first Michigan online gambling law to legalize Internet gambling and sports betting in the Great Lake State. The core provisions of the Bill include:

• The license is granted for five years and encompasses slots, blackjack, poker, and other casino games. The Internet gambling license application fee – $50,000. The initial license fee – $100,000. The annual fee – $50,000.
• Suppliers of online casinos offering Internet gambling will be subject to an application fee of $5,000, an initial license fee of $5,000, and an annual fee of $2,500.
• The taxes on winnings would vary from 20% to 28%.

You might call the fees inflated, but even if so, there’s no doubt that such giants as MGM will jump on the bandwagon of online gambling to provide their services to the state of 10 million people.

Getting Help for Problem Gambling in Michigan

Serving as the state affiliate to the National Council on Problem Gambling, the Michigan Association on Problem Gambling offers education, research, prevention, advocacy, treatment, and support to problem gamblers and their families. You can contact the organization by calling 1-800-270-7117 or through their website.

Also, there’s the Compulsive Gaming Prevention Fund directing the revenues from the Michigan State Lottery, Michigan Racing Commission, and Michigan Gaming Control Board to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which in turn deals with gambling problems.

In addition, there is a fact sheet on problem gambling in Michigan as well as a number of nationwide resources that you can reach for help:

• National Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-522-4700, chat: ncpgambling.org/chat.
• Gamblers Anonymous, an experience-sharing fellowship fighting gambling addiction and gambling-related problems.
• Gam-Anon, a self-help organization for compulsive gamblers.
• GamTalk, an online support forum.

The best help is, though, your consciousness in the USA gambling market and awareness of the possible unfavorable consequences of excessive gambling.

While online gambling in Michigan is still in its infancy, its elder land-based brother is already a full-fledged industry with acknowledged leaders. All in all, there are 26 state casinos to choose from (three commercial and 23 tribal), but you don’t need to visit all of them to find the best: depending on the location, we would recommend you to attend either Firekeepers Casino or Four Winds Casinos or Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, all venues at the top of the game.

Firekeepers Casino

The 236,000-square-foot gambling paradise in Emmett Charter Township, Firekeepers Casino has it all, from the most exquisite list of amenities to a staggering range of casino games including slots, table games, all-embracing sportsbook, poker, keno, and bingo. With all the bells and whistles available at this luxurious casino and hotel complex, it’s so easy to turn off the world and get your game on.

• Slots. Whether it’s a progressive or penny slot that you crave, you’ll easily find on the gambling floor. The flexible range of denominators suits every budget and style.
• Table games. Over 70 live table games imbued with anticipation & thrill generate astonishing wins every now and then. At the time of writing, the Progressive Jackpot at Super Five Star exceeds $275,000. Blackjack or roulette, craps or poker, all games are exciting and fun.
• Sports betting. Bets are taken on football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, boxing, MMA, NASCAR, golf, tennis, and a few more games. You can place your wager in one of three wagering windows or self-serving kiosks.

To start off on the right foot with the venue, grab one of its ongoing promos.

Four Winds Casinos

Owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Four Winds Casinos are scattered around Michigan (three casinos) and Indiana (one casino) to address the needs of local punters. Whether you are somewhere close to New Buffalo Township, Hartford, or Dowagiac, you are close to a top-notch gambling place.

Thousands of slots and hundreds of table games along with high-limit rooms and dozens of amenities contribute to the charming ensemble of gambling and relaxation at the casino network. Moreover, there’s a common loyalty program (W Players Club) covering all four casinos to provide punters with better perks and faster rewards (dining credits, gift shop merchandise, exclusive offers, etc.).

And if we were to choose between the three Michigan venues, we would stick with Four Winds New Buffalo in the first place since this is the oldest and the biggest of all Four Winds casinos. The 130,000 square-foot gambling floor features over 3,000 slots and 60 table games including poker, blackjack, craps, and roulette. Besides, there are several dining establishments, a few entertainment venues for kids, and 415 hotel rooms to every taste.

Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort

One of the oldest casinos in the state, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort opened on April 22, 1998, and was renovated in 2018 to introduce extra amenities. In addition to slots and table games (roulette, blackjack, craps, Let It Ride, three-card poker), the casino features a spacious 18-table poker room, two entertainment areas (Entertainment Hall and Soaring Eagle Outdoor Arena) and three meeting rooms (Ojibway, Three Fires Room, Saginaw Chippewa Ballroom).

• Slots. The all-embracing range of slots includes penny and progressive machines, 3-line and advanced slots, simple and non-linear games. In other words, you can find here every imaginable slot, including such new titles as Wild Pirates, Magic of the Nile, Golden Jungle Grand, Star Goddess, and more.
• Table games. Blackjack, craps, roulette, and poker are available in progressive and penny modes, so it’s never a struggle to find your game.
• Bingo. Traditional paper or electronic bingo units – pick what you love, and may it bring you money! Bingo games are run Wednesday through Sunday.

Grab the best promo offer to get the most out of it at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort.

While online gambling in Michigan is gaining momentum (there are no authorized in-stated casinos at the time of writing), there are dozens, if not hundreds, of offshore casinos accepting players from the Great Lake State. The best of them – that is, the ones we like the most – are reviewed just below (the full list is available up the page).

• Cool Cat. With over 220 slots and table games at its range, Cool Cat Casino invites you on a thrilling voyage to the universe of cats playing the coolest slots…and much more! In addition to tailor-made games, the venue runs a) a 330% welcome bonus with an infinitesimal playthrough requirement of 5x; b) a 250% match bonus with a 15x playthrough requirement. And if you become lucky to obtain more bonus codes (hint: use TAKEAGAMBLE1 to TAKEAGAMBLE5 codes), you’ll become eligible for even more luscious perks.
• Royal Ace. Whether that is the combination of Aces that you pray for or a lucky strike of sevens at your favorite slot machine, the gaming at Royal Ace casinos is always fun and generous. The casino offers a 200% welcome bonus up to $4,000 and a few other smaller yet never-ending perks. Also, there’s a 5-level VIP program for dedicated players and of course the demo mode for new players. Combine all that with comfortable banking options – bitcoin and Neteller supported – and you’ll get the casino of your dreams!
• Rich Palms. Whether your palms are to be rich with banknotes after the end of your gambling session you can’t know, but what you can guarantee right now is a head start with gaming at Rich Palms. How can you do that? Well, just navigate to the promo section of the casino and grab the best available offer. That may be anything, from a 250% welcome bonus to any of the special bonuses (Treasures Tour, Bubble Chill, Storm Ride bonuses, and so on). And if you really want to top the game, there’s a Rich Palms Club for faster withdrawals, personal account manager, and other amenities.