Operator News
US – Michigan will see nine sports betting sites and apps launch on Friday
By Phil - 20 January 2021
Fans in the Great Lakes State will be able to place bets on their Favorited leagues and teams through America’s top-rated sportsbook app as well as play a variety of iGaming options such as blackjack, roulette and slots as early as Friday with the Michigan Gaming Control Board authorising nine operators to begin online sports betting or both online gaming and sports betting at noon on January 22.
“The Michigan Gaming Control Board and the state’s commercial and tribal casinos will begin a new era Jan. 22 with the launch of regulated online gaming and sports betting,” said Richard S. Kalm, MGCB executive director. “Michigan residents love sports and, judging by inquiries we’ve received, eagerly anticipate using mobile devices to place bets through the commercial and tribal casinos. Online gaming and sports betting will provide the casinos with new ways to engage with customers while the state and local communities will benefit from taxes and payments on wagering revenue.”
The operators authorised to begin online offerings 22 January are: Bay Mills Indian Community/DraftKings/Internet Casino Games and Internet Sports Betting, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians/William Hill/Internet Casino Games and Internet Sports Betting, Greektown Casino Hotel/Penn Sports Interactive Barstool Sportsbook/Internet Sports Betting, Hannahville Indian Community/TwinSpires/Internet Casino Games and Internet Sports Betting, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community/Golden Nugget Online Gaming/Internet Casino Games and Internet Sports Betting, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians/Rush Street/Internet Casino Games and Internet Sports Betting, MGM Grand Detroit Casino/BetMGM Roar Digital/Internet Casino Games and Internet Sports Betting, MotorCity Casino/FanDuel/Internet Casino Games and Internet Sports Betting and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians/Wynn/Internet Casino Games and Internet Sports Betting.
The days between authorisation and launch will give the operators and platform providers additional time for testing and adjustments before the gaming goes live, Kalm said. The MGCB expects to authorize additional operators and platform providers in the coming days and weeks as agency staff review other submissions to ensure they meet the state’s regulatory requirements. Controls to ensure safety and fairness for bettors have been key concerns for the MGCB.
“We want the public to have confidence when they place wagers, and our agency has required the providers to prove they meet Michigan’s standards, which are designed to protect the participants,” Kalm said.
For most of the venues, the tax and payment rate for online sports betting is 8.4 per cent. The tax and payment rate for internet gaming ranges from about 20 per cent to 28 percent. For the Detroit casinos, online sports betting and internet gaming taxes have been set at 30 per cent to the city of Detroit, five per cent to the Michigan Agriculture Equine Industry Development Fund (up to $3 million per year from each tax source) and65 percent to the state Internet Sports Betting Fund or the state Internet Gaming Fund.
Payments by tribes are allocated to the Internet Sports Betting Fund (90 percent) and the Michigan Strategic Fund (10 percent)
Internet Gaming: Payments by tribes are allocated 20 per cent to local jurisdiction governing body for services, 70 percent to the state Internet Gaming Fund and 10 percent to the Michigan Strategic Fund.
