Michigan online casinos are coming in the near future, and this means that you’ll soon have the opportunity to play your favorite casino games online.
There could be as many as 26 online poker and casino sites in Michigan. Now, it’s next to impossible that the state could support so many sites at once, but there’s no doubt that Michiganders will have a wealth of opportunities to play their favorite slots or a hand of blackjack at an online casino.
We have the latest updates about when the launch of online gambling in Michigan will occur, which brands will be available and, best of all, what bonuses you will receive.
We have the latest updates about when the launch will occur, which brands will be launching and, best of all, what bonuses they will offer you.
So, if you’re interested in how soon Michigan will join the fraternity of online casino states, keep reading.
Yes. After some haggling over the language of the bill, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 4311, the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, into law.
The bill opens the door for almost every type of online gambling, regardless of whether you live in the Upper Peninsula or Lower Peninsula. Michigan’s casino properties, which include 23 tribal casinos and three commercial locations, are now eligible to apply for licensing to offer online casino sites.
The tax proceeds from the new industry will primarily go to support Michigan education, a common target for gambling in many states. Furthermore, legal online casinos will also provide for medical assistance to first responders in the Great Lakes State.
In January 2021. It seems likely that we will see the first Michigan online casino apps launch in the next week or two.
The state gaming board recently approved 15 licenses for online sports betting and internet gaming. There are still a few more hurdles to overcome but we should see BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel live soon.
Needless to say, there is quite a bit of interest in Michigan for online casino operators. In fact, the names on our list include some of the biggest players in the market, like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM.
Although our launch estimates are still in pencil, we are confident that all of these companies will launch their online gambling sites in Michigan sooner or later. So, in order to get you acquainted, here are some brief summaries about the online casino apps soon to debut in Michigan.
Bonus: $45 free + up to $1,500
Bonus Code: None - Use Links
DraftKings first set sail in the sports betting industry, and soon after expanded into the world of online casino gaming. Based in Boston, DraftKings offers online casino games in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and soon-to-be Michigan. DraftKings is partnered with the Bay Mills Indian Community, operator of the Bay Mills Resort & Casino in Brimley, to operate the Michigan online casino and sportsbook.
So, what’s great about DraftKings Casino? To start, the casino is powered by the leading software producers in the business, such as IGT, Amaya, Evolution Gaming.
You will find more than 100 slots, table, and eventually, live dealer games. The catalog includes the all-time classics such as Cleopatra, 88 Fortunes, and Bonanza, as well as the proprietary DraftKings table casino games based on sports, such as Football Blackjack.
Bonus: $200
Bonus Code: None - Use Links
FanDuel is a nation-wide leader in sports betting, but its casino gaming offer is not far behind either. In 2018, the company was acquired by Flutter Entertainment (previously known as Paddy Power Betfair), and its first US online sportsbook in New Jersey that same year. Fast forward to 2020, and FanDuel signed a deal with the MotorCity Casino in Detroit to launch its online casino site in Michigan.
This Michigan online casino is equipped with more than 100 different games from the best software developers, such as Bally, NetEnt, Konami, WMS, and others.
Most of the games on offer are video slots, with even some progressive jackpots, but the choice of table games shouldn’t be overlooked either. You can enjoy spinning the roulette wheel in the in-house built Roulette Royale or playing a couple of blackjack hands in Blackjack Pro — there are plenty of options to choose from.
Bonus: $25 free + $1,000 welcome offer
Use bonus code: PLAYNJFREE
MGM is a well-known brand in Michigan, thanks to its MGM Grand Detroit Casino owned and operated by Roar Digital. BetMGM is envisaged to be its online counterpart, and that vision has come to life through a diverse assortment of games in the casino lobby.
This MI online casino features over 100 different slot games, online blackjack, roulette, baccarat and casino poker. Video poker is also on the list, along with live dealer games, which are expected in 2021.
The casino games are provided courtesy of Barcrest, Big Time Gaming, IGT, and other leading software developers, meaning you can encounter slot titles such as DaVinci Diamonds, Bonanza, as well as popular table games such as Premium Blackjack Pro, American Roulette, and many others.
Bonus: $250
Bonus code: PLAY250
The BetRivers online casino in Michigan comes as a result of a partnership deal signed in June 2020 between the casino’s owner company Rush Street Gaming and the Little River Casino Resort located near Lake Michigan and owned by Little River Band of the Ottawa Indians.
BetRivers Casino success stems from a vast choice of diverse games. In the drop-down menu, you will find online slots, baccarat, blackjack, online roulette, and other titles from WMS, Konami, Everi, AGS Interactive, and other providers. The games vary considerably in type and feature, and you can browse through all of them with the help of multiple filters available on the site.
There are over 60 slot games to choose from, such as IGT’s Treasure of the Pyramids and AGS’ Olympus Strikes, as well as dozens of table and video poker games such as Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. You can always find a new game to try and turn into your favorite since the portfolio is regularly replenished with new releases.
Bonus: $10 free + $1,500
Bonus code: PLAYBONUS
Golden Nugget Casino is a gambling juggernaut not just in its primary state of New Jersey but throughout the US. Following a deal in 2020 with the Ojibwa Casino, owned by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Michigan became the focal point of the casino’s business development.
If you enjoy gambling in Michigan, you’ll enjoy hundreds of slot games, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and online video poker games from the likes of Konami, IGT, NetEnt, Bally. The games are classified according to not only their type and provider but according to themes as well. That said, you can browse the games based on movies and TV shows, Christmas, Egypt, and other exciting themes.
The game catalog is frequently updated with new releases, and you can find all of them under the “New Games” tab right on the homepage. There are even exclusive Golden Nugget slot games developed just for the provider and which you won’t find anywhere else.
Michigan is notable among the states that are expanding their gambling profiles in that, with regard to online gambling, it is essentially going from standing still to sprinting without any warmup. Over the course of 2021, Michigan casinos, sportsbooks and poker sites will all make their online debuts.
It’s important for you to grasp exactly how things are going to work in Michigan when it comes to online casinos.
One thing you’ll notice about casino apps in Michigan is how similar they are. Though there are significant differences in terms of the execution and features, the basic procedures are nearly identical across the board.
This similarity is not an accident. It is in sites’ best interests to make the transition from a competing site to theirs as smooth as possible, and reducing the learning curve is one way to do so. Because there is something of an orthodoxy in place, we can walk you through the different steps of getting started and answer a few common questions.
The first thing to understand is that you will have to bite the bullet and download the mobile casino app in order to play on it. Although there are several online casinos that offer browser-based play, we cannot reliably tell you that every single operator will have that function.
The good news is that downloading a Michigan online casino app to your mobile device is largely the same procedure as it is for any other type of app. There are just a couple of extra things to do.
After you’ve completed the download and installation, your next step will be to register for an account.
You’ll need to submit various pieces of personal information to establish your account. Expect to input the following personal details:
In most cases, the software that you will find on Michigan online casinos will be custom platforms designed for each operator. They commonly enter into partnerships with software developers like Kambi, GAN, and Scientific Games both to build their sites and to provide continuing support to them.
These software platforms are incredibly diverse and sophisticated. They have to be able to handle the hundreds of games on site, securely process transactions, register new accounts, and direct customer support efforts. They are usually repositories of FAQs, help searches, and other relevant information, too.
Most online casinos will maintain dedicated app versions of their site for both Apple and Android users. Many of them will also have a browser version to appeal to laptop users or mobile device users who prefer to access the site through their browsers.
You will also notice that these sites are quite slick and fast in their navigation. Their graphics will be crisp and immersive. In many ways, the experience online will exceed that of an actual casino.
You also never have to wait your turn. No matter what your game is, an online casino can offer you a seat at the table.
Regardless of which MI online casino you choose, you will have the opportunity to claim a casino bonus on each site. The simple truth of any online business is that the competition is always seconds away.
With Michigan sure to be a hotbed of wrestling for market share, there will always be a bonus available at your fingertips. In fact, it might not be necessary to do anything more than sign up for an account to get started.
MI Casino | Bonus Code | No Deposit | Deposit Bonus |
---|---|---|---|
DraftKings Casino | None - Use Links | $45 | $1,500 |
FanDuel Casino | None - Use Links | N/A | $200 |
BetMGM Casino | PLAYNJFREE | $25 | $1,000 |
BetRivers Casino | PLAY250 | N/A | $250 |
Golden Nugget Casino | PLAYBONUS | $10 | $1,500 |
However, before we talk about the different kinds of offers, we need to discuss a feature of these bonuses known as the playthrough, or wagering, requirement. Many bonus offers will come with one of these attached, and they can mean the difference between a good offer and a poor one.
In many cases, a casino bonus will be released to the player as site credits or some sort of bet voucher. In order to convert the bonus into withdrawable cash, you must first satisfy the playthrough requirement.
A playthrough requirement is a certain multiple of the bonus amount that you must gamble, or play through, before your bonus dollars become available for withdrawal.
So, you’re ready to start playing for real money now. You’ve got the Michigan casino app downloaded and installed, and you want to start winning (hopefully). You’ll need to deposit some funds to get started, but that’s not hard to do. You can use a credit card, electronic check, PayPal or a cash option like PayNearMe. It usually only takes a few seconds to complete the deal.
Here are some of the games you can expect find.
Wherever there are casinos in Michigan, there are slots. The slot machine is unquestionably the bread and butter of almost every casino in the world, live and online.
The good news is that there is virtually no difference between playing in a retail casino and playing online. Most of the big-name slot machines that you’d find on casino floors across the Wolverine State are also available through the online sites.
In general, all slot titles come in three varieties, and their classification usually boils down to the number of reels (or “reels”) on the machine. A slot will either have three reels, five reels or some other wonky combination that falls into the category of “ways to win.” There’s also no difference between the amounts of money that you can win online vs. live.
There are, however, several distinct advantages to playing a slot online that you need to know.
Blackjack is the main staple of table games in both retail and online casinos. If a casino has table games at all, it almost certainly has real money blackjack.
In addition to plain blackjack, which will always be present, here are some common variations on blackjack that you may encounter online:
You will be happy to learn that the minimum play amounts are usually quite smaller online than live. To play a table game for 10 cents would be laughable at Turtle Creek or Greektown. However, when you’re online, it’s fairly standard. So you can play your favorite blackjack games, and it doesn’t have to cost you as much when you double down.
Most online casinos that choose to offer table games will have at least two different games you can play. One of them is blackjack. The other one, perhaps surprisingly, is roulette.
In fact, it is not uncommon for an online casino to offer more variants of roulette than any other game. Unlike blackjack, the game itself can change radically depending upon where you are playing. Other roulette variants you will find will contain mostly cosmetic changes. There may be side bets or different arrangements of wagers, but the game mechanics will be unchanged. So, if you are a roulette fan, you should have plenty of opportunities online.
If a Michigan online casino has chosen to use Game King as its video poker provider, then the Game King version provides nine variations of blackjack in one. You’ll also find that Game King’s Jacks or Better is a full pay game.
Outside of this option, it’s slim pickings for video poker. It’s unfortunate, but many online casinos simply don’t make it a priority. If video poker is your thing, then your casino of choice might be determined by the few that do choose to give the game its due respect.
Online casinos have attempted to bridge that gap in the past few years through live dealer games. Live dealer games involve patching you into a live feed of an actual flesh-and-blood dealer conducting a physical table game. The online casino records the feed in a special studio that is, in most cases, on-site at the actual land-based partner’s property.
Here are some of the similarities and differences between live dealer games and actually playing live — you know, aside from the fact that you’re playing on your phone and not physically inside a casino:
At least two online casinos have indicated they have plans to offer live dealer games in Michigan at some point. Both BetMGM and PointsBet have signed deals with Evolution Gaming to provide live games in the Great Lake State. So it is a question of when, rather than if, live dealer games will be coming to the Upper or Lower Peninsula.
Look for a large button that says “Deposit” or something similar. This will take you to the cashier.
It’s important to understand that deposits are the lifeblood of Michigan online gambling sites, so they are going to be as flexible and pain-free as they can when it comes to facilitating these transactions. As a result, you’re likely to have several options that would work to deposit and cash out.
Typical deposit methods for an online casino include:
If you do happen to score a big win playing on a casino app in Michigan, congratulations!
The good news is that you should have several ways to withdraw money from your account. Simply go to the cashier, choose the option for withdrawing, and select the method that best suits your needs. Each casino and each method bear different terms, conditions and timeframes, but that’s all you really need to do.
The better news is that you can rest assured that any legal casino in Michigan is guaranteed to pay out your money. You do not have to worry about a shady site owner holding onto your cash. If you get any sort of pushback, contact the MGCB or the National Indian Gaming Commission.
With that said, you need to make sure that you stay above board yourself. All gambling winnings in Michigan are taxable as income. Please don’t make the mistake of assuming that online gambling doesn’t count. It’s your responsibility to ensure that you report your online casino winnings accurately to the appropriate local, state and federal authorities at tax time.
The good news is that the people of Michigan should (hopefully) be the beneficiaries of programs funded by gambling taxes. Early state projections suggest that online gambling alone should add $25 million in revenue to the state budget annually.
Whether that prediction comes true or not, state law prescribes exactly how the money must be divided. Tax revenues from online gambling will be split in the following ways:
By law, the host cities for online casinos in the state are due no less than $183 million each year. If the taxes don’t pay enough, the state has to ensure that the cities are made whole. So, online gambling should provide some much-needed relief for some areas of Michigan, no matter how things go.
The primary type of game available is instant scratchers. These games play like their retail version, only without the need for a coin and the resulting mess.
There are also opportunities to purchase tickets for draw games. These games, which often carry jackpots that extend into the millions of dollars, include Mega Millions, Powerball and the state lottery, Lotto 47.
Michigan’s online lottery games are available both through web browsers and a dedicated mobile app.
There are 26 casinos in Michigan that offer gaming to visitors and residents. Most of these are tribal properties, although there are three commercial casinos in the Detroit metroplex:
Name | Address | Hours of operation |
---|---|---|
Bay Mills Resort & Casino | 11386 W Lakeshore Dr, Brimley | 24 hours |
Dancing Eagles Resort | N5384 US-45, Watersmeet | N/A |
FireKeepers Casino Hotel | 11177 East Michigan Ave, Battle Creek | 24 hours |
Four Winds Casino | 58700 M-51, Dowagiac | 24 hours |
Four Winds Casino | 68600 Red Arrow Hwy, Hartford | 24 hours |
Four Winds Casino | 11111 Wilson Rd, New Buffalo | 24 hours |
Greektown Casino Hotel | 555 E Lafayette St, Detroit | 24 hours |
Gun Lake Casino | 1123 129th Ave, Wayland | 24 hours |
Island Resort & Casino | W399 Hwy US 2- 41, Harris | 24 hours |
Kewadin Casino | N 3 Mile Rd, Hessel | 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
Kewadin Casino | N7761 Candy Cane Ln, Christmas | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. |
Kewadin Casino | 5630 W, US-2, Manistique | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. |
Kewadin Casino, Hotel and Convention Center | 2186 Shunk Road, Sault Sainte Marie | 24 hours |
Kewadin Shores Casino & Hotel | 3015 Mackinac Trail, Saint Ignace | 24 hours |
Kings Club Casino | 12140 W. Lakeshore Drive, Brimley | 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. |
Northern Waters Casino Resort | 5384 Highway US 45 North, Watersmeet | 24 hours |
Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge | 2521 N West Bayshore Drive, Suttons Bay | 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. |
Little River Casino Resort | 2700 Orchard Hwy, U.S. 31 and M-22, Manistee, MI 49660 | 24 hours |
MGM Grand | 1777 Third Street, Detroit | 24 hours |
MotorCity Casino Hotel | 2901 Grand River Avenue, Detroit | 24 hours |
Odawa Casino | 1760 Lears Road, Petoskey | 24 hours |
Ojibwa Casino | 105 Acre Trail, Marquette | 24 hours |
Ojibwa Casino | 16449 Michigan Avenue, M-38, Baraga | 24 hours |
Saganing Eagles Landing Casino | 2690 Worth Road, Standish | 24 hours |
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort | 6800 Soaring Eagle Boulevard, Mt. Pleasant | 24 hours |
Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel | 7741 M-72 E., Williamsburg | 24 hours |
The first thing you should always do is attempt to resolve the problem with the site directly. Many casinos offer a live chat method that puts you in contact with a staff member within minutes. However, there are usually ways to call or email customer support, too, if you prefer.
If you cannot get satisfaction that way, then the next step is to file a patron dispute with the appropriate regulator. Because of Michigan’s unique casino situation, where the majority of its casino properties are tribal, you may have to appeal to different agencies than you may expect.
If you have decided that you need to escalate a complaint about an online casino, the first thing that you need to do is determine which Michigan land-based casino is its partner. If you don’t know this information already, you can usually find it in the legal disclosures at the bottom of the lobby or in the FAQ.
If your dispute is with an online casino that is partnered with one of the three commercial casinos in Detroit — MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino or Greektown Casino — then you will need to file a patron dispute form with the Michigan Gaming Control Board. It is possible to submit complaints electronically or via USPS mail.
If you have an issue with a tribal casino, the first place to go for remedy is to the tribal government agency that oversees gambling on its tribe’s license. Each tribe is a sovereign nation and manages its own affairs, and its government can largely act autonomously to resolve your issue.
If you cannot get your problem answered at the tribal government level, you do have the option of further escalating the concern to the National Indian Gaming Commission. The NIGC is the US government agency that oversees all tribal gambling in the US and has the ultimate authority to mandate a resolution for your issue.
Hopefully, you never have to go through the process with any of these organizations. However, it’s important to bear in mind that you have options if you feel as if you’re being treated improperly or unfairly by a Michigan online casino.
Gambling is supposed to be fun and, as often as possible, profitable. However, the unfortunate reality for some players is that gambling is a life-destroying problem.
There are numerous quizzes and questionnaires that you can find to determine whether you are suffering from problem gambling or gambling addiction. For the most part, though, you just have to answer the following question:
If your answer is no, then you should consider getting help. Fortunately, Michigan is one of the best states in the country when it comes to responsible gambling resources. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Resources has an entire section dedicated to assisting Michiganders afflicted by gambling addiction.
The first thing to do if you need help is to call the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-270-7117. This toll-free and confidential hotline is staffed around the clock by trained counselors who can assess your condition and recommend treatment resources for you.
If you’d prefer to work in a group setting, there are also meetings of both Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon on a weekly basis throughout the state. Go to either group’s website and find a meeting that is convenient for you.
Finally, both the MGCB and each individual tribal government will allow you to place yourself on a self-exclusion list. Your placement on the list means that you can be prosecuted if you set foot in the casino, and the length of the exclusion can potentially be permanent. It’s a drastic step, but it may be the only way to keep you from continuing to hurt yourself and your family.
The most important thing is that you do not wait to get help. With so many resources and counselors standing by, there’s no reason to suffer a minute longer.
At this point, only the state lottery has online games available for Michigan residents and visitors. However, Michigan online casinos, sports betting and poker sites are all expected to launch in Jan. 2021.
No. It is not necessary to live in Michigan if you want to play online. However, you must be physically inside the state to play.
As a function of state law and regulations, Michigan’s online sites must maintain geolocation software to verify the locations of every player on-site. These software programs are quite adept at using GPS and other data to pinpoint where a person’s device is.
The technology will usually err on the side of caution in their task, too. In other words, it’s far more likely that they would falsely exclude you from inside the border than to allow you to play from the other side of the line.
You will be required to verify your location before any games will be available. So, there should be no way to cheat the system.
If you win, the casinos are guaranteed to pay out 100% of the money that you win. They have strong government regulation and oversight from the MGCB and would suffer from fines, sanctions or license suspension if they attempted to fool with your payout.
For slots, online casinos typically have a 95-98% payout rate.
Yes. Winnings are taxable as income even if they are received in cash. Make sure not to skip out on paying — particularly online, since the “paper” trail is extremely easy to follow.