Michigan Gambling Sites

Gambling life in Michigan is centered around the Detroit area, as this where most of the land-based gambling establishments are located. The state offers both commercial and Indian-operated casinos as well as pari-mutuel horse race wagering, charitable gambling and lotto games. Unfortunately, despite the size of its casino industry, Michigan has not passed any iGaming regulations up to this point. Consequently, local online gambling enthusiasts are forced to stick to offshore real money gaming platforms that continue to accept United States-based players.

Online Gambling in Michigan

Michigan Statutes make it illegal for the local businesses to host real money games without obtaining a state-issued license. Furthermore, participating in unlawful gambling activities as a player is also against the current state-level gambling regulations. The penalties involved depend on the amount of money received by the gambler after the game. If your winnings don’t exceed $50, you’re likely to be charged with a misdemeanor.

However, if your winnings exceed $50, the punishment is going to be much more severe and might even involve some jail time. While this might sound unreasonably harsh and scary, it’s worth pointing out that none of those regulations apply specifically to online play, so the local authorities are reluctant about going after people who frequent internet gambling sites. Since there are no cases of online players being put on trial due to illegal gambling activities, it’s pretty much impossible to determine how this issue would be tackled by a Michigan court.

Casinos & Sportsbooks Accepting Players From Michigan

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Casino Games

There are 26 brick and mortar casinos in Michigan, but if you want to see what the local gaming industry is capable of, you can stick to visiting the Motor City Casino and MGM Grand in Detroit, Soaring Eagle in Mt. Pleasant and perhaps FireKeepers in Battle Creek. Obviously, touring the local casinos requires a lot of money. Fortunately online play provides you with a cheap alternative without forcing you to stop playing your favorite games. You’ll find the list of the best Michigan-facing casinos right below this text.

Michigan Sports Betting

Pari-mutuel betting offered by licensed Michigan facilities isn’t enough to satisfy the needs of the local punters, so it should come as no surprise that many Michigan-based sports betting enthusiasts have been joining offshore sportsbooks over the past few years. Those sites give you access to a wide range of sports and offer unrivaled event coverage – and if that wasn’t enough, the bonuses and prices tend to be surprisingly good too. If you’re interested in checking some of those sites out, make sure to follow our recommendations!

Poker

Live poker games are still very popular within the borders of Michigan, but there’s no denying the fact that virtually every poker enthusiast plays most of his hands over the internet these days. Online poker allows for faster learning and more strategy-oriented play. If you haven’t tried it up to this point, now is a good time to give it a chance by signing up with one of our recommended sites.

Online Gambling FAQ

Where can I find regulations that pertain to gambling in Michigan?

The gambling-specific information is available in the Michigan Code, but Section 432 is the most important part.

What forms of gambling are legal and regulated within the borders of Michigan?

Michigan is a fairly liberal state, which means that all the popular forms of gambling are regulated. This include pari-mutuel betting, state-owned lotto, poker, casino games and charity gambling.

What is the legal status of online gambling in Michigan?

The legal status of online gambling is ambiguous, but the state hasn’t tried prosecuting people who gamble online.

Do offshore gambling sites accept Michigan residents?

Yes. Offshore sites never refuse to accept new Michigan-based players.

How can I deposit to an offshore gambling site from Michigan?

In most cases the only way to go through with the deposit is to use a Visa or MasterCard credit card.

How can I withdraw my money from an offshore iGaming site if I live in Michigan?

The most popular methods are bank wire transfer and check by courier.

Is Michigan planning to regulate online gambling in the future?

Michigan lawmakers simply can’t agree on this issue, so it’s impossible to say what the future will bring. However, we wouldn’t expect anything significant to happen this year.

Gambling History – Interesting Facts

1. Regulated horse racing was introduced to Michigan in 1933.

2. Michigan lottery began selling tickets in 1972. Charitable gambling was allowed later that year.

3. Despite the fact that both decisions proved to be right, it took 20 years for the local authorities to allow for further expansion of the local gambling industry.

Michigan Gambling Resources

Michigan Compiled Laws:

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(p5dzfnrfldf2ht4521od1few))/mileg.aspx?page=chapterindex

List of Casinos in Michigan:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_casinos_in_Michigan