Michigan Sports Betting 2024: Comprehensive Guide to Legal Online Sportsbooks

Michigan sports betting – At a glance

• Online and retail sports wagering is legal in Michigan
• The age limit is 21+
• There are 13 live online sportsbooks in MI
• Check out the best welcome offers below

History and updates for sports betting in Michigan

The Lawful Gaming Act in Michigan was signed off and given the green light by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in December 2019. From this point on, things moved pretty quickly as in-person retail sports betting launched in March 2020, followed by mobile sportsbooks in January 2021.

Want to keep up-to-date? In the timeline below, I have highlighted all of the main events in the MI sports betting journey to date. If any other landmark or notable events happen, I will add them to the list below at the earliest opportunity – so make sure to bookmark this page.

• 20 January 2024: Three betting companies are ordered to stop illegally trading in MI after they are deemed by regulators to have violated the Lawful Gaming Act.
• 14 November 2023: ESPN Bet launches in MI, becoming the 13th mobile sportsbook in the state.
• 4 September 2023: Sports betting-esque fantasy sports contests are banned after the Michigan Legislative Committee accepts rule changes.
• 31 August 2023: Fox Bet stops operating in Michigan, and players’ funds and logins are transferred to PokerStars.
• 16 August 2022: SI Sportsbook launches its online platform in the Great Lakes State.
• 23 May 2022: Michigan joins a multi-state poker compact with Delaware, New Jersey and Nevada, allowing MI residents to play online with players in these states.
• 13 January 2022: Caesars Sportsbook becomes the official betting partner of Michigan State Athletics.
• January 2021: Online and mobile sports betting officially goes live in Michigan.
• March 2020: The first MI retail sportsbooks open their doors at the Greektown Casino-Hotel and MGM Grand Detroit.
• December 2019: Governor Gretchen Whitmer officially signs the Michigan Lawful Gaming Act into law.

Is sports betting legal in Michigan?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Michigan and has been since the Governor signed HB 4916, also known as the Lawful Gaming Act, in December 2019. The act permits online and land-based sports betting.

Retail sports betting first launched in March 2020, and there are now 20 locations throughout the state. Online betting went live in January 2021, and currently, there are 13 sportsbooks available to you.

Top MI sportsbooks

1.

4.6/5

Bet365 Review

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2.

4.6/5

BetMGM Review

Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win

Players from Virginia accepted

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3.

4.5/5

FanDuel Review

Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets if you win + Boost or Bonus every day in the Summer

Players from Virginia accepted

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4.

4.5/5

Caesars Review

First bet back as a bonus bet up to $1000

Players from Virginia accepted

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5.

4.5/5

BetRivers.com Review

Second chance bet: Get up to $500 in Bonus Bets

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The best Michigan online sports betting offers and bonuses

Let’s be fair, we all love a bonus, don’t we? So you’ll be pleased to hear that there are plenty of betting offers available in The Great Lakes State. I have tested them all for you, and here are what I consider to be the best sportsbook promotions currently available in MI:

BetMGM – Bet $5 Get $158: If you deposit and bet just $5 when you register at this sportsbook, you will get 2 x $50 bonus bets and one $58 bonus bet.

DraftKings – Bet $5 Get $200: At DraftKings, you can get 4 x $25 bonus bets with an initial $5 deposit and qualifying wager, regardless of your first bet’s result.

FanDuel – Bet $5 Get $200: As a new customer at FanDuel, you need to deposit at least $10 and bet at least $5 on any sport to get $200 in bonus bets.

Caesars Sportsbook – “No Sweat” bet up to $1,000: If your first wager at Caesars Sportsbook MI loses, you can get your stake back in bonus bets up to $1,000.

The top Michigan betting sites

Right now, you have the choice between 13 Michigan sportsbooks when it comes to betting on basketball and other sports. However, in my expert experience, there are a handful that stand out head and shoulders above the rest.

Here you can check out my four top-rated legal sports betting sites in The Great Lakes State:

BetMGM Sportsbook Michigan

BetMGM Pros & Cons

• Unique welcome offer
• Official betting partner of the Detroit Lions & Tigers
• Great selection of markets and bet types
• First-class mobile betting app

• Seven-day bonus time limit

For me, the best thing about BetMGM is the app, is its super-slick and its gold-and-black interface has a touch of gentlemanly class. Additionally, it has a good selection of markets and betting lines, especially for the NBA.

For us Michigan sports fans, BetMGM is the official betting partner of two Detroit-based franchises; the Lions (NFL) and the Tigers (MLB). If you’re looking for the best all-around sportsbook, this is the best choice in my opinion.

• App Store Rating:4.8
• Google Play Rating: 4.1
• Welcome Offer: Bet $5 Get $158
• Withdrawal Time: 3 – 5 business days

Sports Bonus

4.6/5

Sports Bonus

4.6/5

Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win

Welcome Bonus

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T&Cs apply, 21+

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DraftKings Sportsbook MI

DraftKings Pros & Cons

• Generous bonuses with fair conditions
• Heavyweight US brand
• Best for same-game parlays
• Professional and collegiate betting options

• No MI betting partnerships

Are you a serious basketball and sports fan like me? For you, betting apps don’t come more elite than DraftKings. Having made its name as a heavyweight in the fantasy sports world DraftKings has moved into sports betting with expected ease.

The app and web platform are both excellent and packed with professional and college sports betting markets. For me, the same-game parlays provide the most fun if you are a bettor with at least some experience.

• App Store Rating:4.7
• Google Play Rating: 4.6
• Welcome Offer: Bet $5 Get $200
• Withdrawal Time: 1 – 7 business days

Sports Bonus

4.5/5

Sports Bonus

4.5/5

Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets and 1 month of NFL+ Premium on us!

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FanDuel Sportsbook Michigan

FanDuel Pros and Cons

• Decent new customer bonus
• Official Detroit Pistons betting partner
• Top sportsbook for the NFL
• Live betting and streaming options

• No loyalty program for sports betting

Alongside two other Michigan sportsbooks, FanDuel is an official betting partner of the Detroit Pistons and has been since 2020. As a result, it is the best option for us basketball fans, especially if you want to find odds boosts and specials for your home team.

FanDuel doesn’t only excel when it comes to betting on the hoops though. All of you football fans out there will be pleased to hear that it is the official NFL betting partner. If you have an active bet on the Lions or any other team, you can stream the live game for free.

• App Store Rating:4.8
• Google Play Rating: 4.7
• Welcome Offer: Bet $5 Get $200
• Withdrawal Time: 0 – 5 business days

DFS Bonus

4.5/5

DFS Bonus

4.5/5

$65 value with just a $10+ deposit

Welcome Bonus

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T&Cs apply, 18+

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Caesars Sportsbook Michigan

Caesars Pros and Cons

• Large welcome offer if your first bet loses
• Excellent customer service
• Fast withdrawals
• Official Michigan State Athletics betting partner

• Live streaming lacks compared to other Michigan sportsbooks

As I will explain later on, Michigan is one of the best states for college sports betting. And as it is the official betting partner of Michigan State Athletics, there is no better collegiate sportsbook app than Caesars Sportsbook.

On top of that, it is also the best Michigan sports betting customer service  experience that I have had. It might be a name that’s more synonymous with casinos than sports, but this is definitely not an app that you’ll want to overlook.

• App Store Rating:4.6
• Google Play Rating: 4.2
• Welcome Offer: No Sweat bet up to $1,000
• Withdrawal Time: 2 – 3 business days

Sports Bonus

4.6/5

Sports Bonus

4.6/5

Bet $5 Get $200 or $1000 First Bet Safety Net

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What sportsbooks are legal for online betting in Michigan?

Now that you’ve seen my top-rated Michigan sportsbooks, here is a quick look at all13 online platforms available:

• BetMGM – The top MI sportsbook overall
• DraftKings – The most trusted brand
• FanDuel – Official Pistons betting partner
• Caesars – Best for collegiate sports betting
• PointsBet – A different approach to online betting
• BetRivers – Most beginner-friendly betting site
• ESPN BET – Largest market selection of US sports
• SI Sportsbook – Competitive odds
• Play Gun Lake – A Michigan-exclusive sportsbook
• Golden Nugget – Deposit match bonus
• Eagle Casino & Sports – The online sportsbook from a top MI casino
• FireKeepers – Casino and sportsbook in the same app
• Four Winds – Safe and secure Michigan sports betting app

Legal Michigan sportsbooks

In this part of your betting guide, I have put together two tables to show the essential information about 13 online sportsbooks and 20 retail sports betting units in MI:

Mobile and online sports betting Michigan

Land-based Michigan sportsbooks

Who is sports betting in Michigan legal for?

As in most states, you need to be 21 or older to place an online or in-person wager in Michigan.

Here are a few things I believe you need to know before you get started:

• Age limit – The legal age for all forms of mobile and retail sports wagering is 21+.

• Mobile betting – You can legally place a mobile bet at any of the 13 apps licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB).

• Remote registration – You can register remotely at all online Michigan sportsbooks without having to physically go to a retail unit or kiosk first.

• Within state borders –  If you are a non-MI resident, you can legally place a remote wager while you are in the state.

• Retail betting – You can find retail sportsbooks for in-person sports betting inside most Michigan land-based casinos.

• Taxable winnings – Sports betting winnings in MI are subject to a 25% federal tax and a 4.25% state tax. However, you can claim sports betting and casino gambling losses on your tax return.

Pros and cons of Michigan sports betting

Here I have given you a quick lowdown on the main pros and cons of sports wagering in the Great Lakes State:

Pros

• Legal online and in-person sports betting
• Online and retail casinos
• Remote registration
• College and pro sports betting
• 13 online sportsbooks
• 20+ retail betting units

Cons

• No esports or politics betting

How to start betting in Michigan

We’ve done the theory, now let’s do the practice, shall we? Follow my step-by-step guide below to register, deposit, and place your first sports bet:

1. Pick a sportsbook – Choose one of my top recommended Michigan sportsbooks from this article.
2. Sign up online – Download the app or load the website and sign up with your SSN.
3. Verify your account – You may have to upload your photo ID to verify your account on some platforms.
4. Claim your bonus – You may need a promo code to claim one of the Michigan sportsbook promos mentioned above.
5. Deposit funds – You can now make your first deposit using your bank card, e-wallet, or payment solution of your choice.
6. Start betting – That’s it, you’re now ready to place your first sports bet in Michigan.
7. Withdraw funds – Once you have some winnings in the bank, you can withdraw them. Payout speeds vary from 14 hours to five business days depending on your payment method and sportsbook of choice.

Betting odds explained

While some give you the ability to change the format, the default odds setting is American on all 13 Michigan sports betting sites. Are you new to sports betting? Here’s how to read the odds:

• Minus (-) odds represent the favorite and show you how much you would need to be to win a $100 profit. – E.g. Pistons to win art -150. 

• Plus (+) odds represent the underdog and show you how much profit you would win with a $100 stake. – E.g. Lions to win at +175.

What you can’t wager on in MI

As we have established, sports betting is legal in Michigan, and the laws are fairly liberal. College sports, online casinos, and poker are all fair game. However, there are still a couple of things that you can’t bet on in the Great Lakes State:

• Politics – All forms of politics betting, including elections, are prohibited by the MGCB.

• Esports – In-person and retail esports betting are currently not permitted by the MGCB. However, Little River Casino Resort offers some in-person esports bets as it is a tribal casino and doesn’t fall under the MGCB’s jurisdiction.

What about college sports?

Michigan probably has the most liberal laws in the US regarding college sports betting. You can wager on all college sports games, including MI-based sports teams.

And the NFL Draft?

Don’t you just hate the seemingly endless NFL off-season? Well, there’s good news, as Michigan offers legal NFL Draft betting online to keep us football fans entertained.

Michigan sports betting handle

For those of you interested in the financial side of things, I’ve put together this table to show you the yearly sports betting handle totals in Michigan:

Home advantage – Betting on MI sports teams

Michigan sportsbooks have not been shy when it comes to creating partnerships with home-state teams. However, whether you’re betting on the Pistons, Tigers, or the Lions, my advice is to make sure that you take your fan hat off and think about things pragmatically.

Here’s a summary of all MI pro and collegiate sports teams you can bet on:

• Michigan State University (MSU): When it comes to collegiate sports, MSU is a big name, especially in football, ice hockey, and basketball. Currently, Caesars Sportsbook is the official betting partner of MSU Athletics.

• Detroit Pistons (NBA): We’re all basketball fans first and foremost here, right? If you want to bet on the Pistons, FanDuel is the best of the franchise’s three Michigan sports betting partners.

• Detroit Red Wings (NHL): In addition to being the official Pistons partner, FanDuel MI also has a deal with the Red Wings.

• Detroit Lions (NFL): BetMGM is the official betting partner of Michigan’s only NFL franchise, and has been since 2020.

• Detroit Tigers (MLB): While the Tigers have three deals in total, I firmly believe that BetMGM is the best of its online betting partners.

Michigan sports betting law

Without boring you with legal jargon and detail, here are the main things that you need to know about the sports betting laws in MI:

• Legal age is 21+
• There are 13 legal online Michigan sportsbooks as of October 2024
• Land-based and online sports betting companies are taxed 8.4%
• Betting on amateur athletes under the age of 18, politics and esports is illegal in MI
• College sports betting on athletes aged 18+, including in-state teams, is legal

Other types of gambling in Michigan

Are you interested in more than just sports betting? Michigan has fairly relaxed laws towards most forms of gambling, as you can see below:

• Casinos – There are 11 legal online casinos in Michigan as well as 26 land-based venues. Most online sportsbooks also offer online casino gaming with your account.

• Poker: Online and in-person poker is legal in Michigan, with BetMGM being the best mobile platform. Thanks to the multi-state agreement, as an MI resident you can play online against players in Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada.

• Horse Racing: TwinSpires and TVG are the two dedicated sites for horse racing betting and there is one single racing track in Northville Downs.

• Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS): Fantasy sports are legal in the Great Lakes State, as long as the contests on offer are not deemed too “similar to sports betting”. As is the case everywhere else in the US, FanDuel and DraftKings are your two best options.

Michigan betting: Quick facts

How do you like the sound of a handy guide where you can remind yourself of all the info in this article at a glance? Below, I have summarized all of the main need-to-know facts about Michigan sports betting for you:

Responsible gaming in Michigan

If you are experiencing any gambling issues as an MI resident, there are two ways that you can voluntarily ban yourself:

• Put yourself on the Responsible Gambling Database if you want to be banned from sports betting sites.

• The Disassociated Persons List bans you from all 26 land-based casinos in The Great Lakes State.

Additionally, there are other in-app responsible gaming tools at most Michigan sports betting sites as well as other measures from the MGCB.

Michigan sportsbooks to avoid

If you are going to bet online in the Great Lakes State, make sure that you only register with one of the 13 Michigan sportsbook sites covered in this article. Using overseas or offshore betting sites is not only illegal but dangerous.

Such operators are unregulated, meaning that you risk losing your funds and having your account hacked and data stolen. By the same token, you cannot use licensed sportsbooks in any state besides Michigan, and geo-blockers will prevent you from doing so.

Online Betting Michigan – Conclusion

In summary Michigan is one of the most liberal US gambling states outside of Nevada and New Jersey. Pretty much all forms of online and in-person college and pro sports betting are fair game here.

Additionally, you can play real money slots and casino games online and at 26 land-based retail casino venues. Just make sure that you register with one of the 13 MGCB-licensed websites to stay safe and legal while betting online.

If you really want to start things off with a slam dunk, make sure to claim one of the sportsbook offers that I’ve covered in this article. As a final reminder, the top betting sites in MI are BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and Caesars.

Top MI bonus offers

1.

4.6/5

Bet365 Promo Code

Bet $5 Get $200 or $1000 First Bet Safety Net

Players from Virginia accepted

Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10

Go to Bet365

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Whatever the sport. Whatever the moment. It’s Never Ordinary at bet365. That’s why if you sign up now you’ll get the choice of two great New Customer Offers, the First Bet Safety Net up to $1000 or Bet $5 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+

2.

4.6/5

BetMGM Promo Code

Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win

Players from Virginia accepted

Min. Deposit: $10

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T&Cs apply, 21+

3.

4.5/5

FanDuel Promo Code

Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets if you win + Boost or Bonus every day in the Summer

Players from Virginia accepted

Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $10

Go to FanDuel

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T&Cs apply, 21+

4.

4.5/5

Caesars Promo Code

First bet back as a bonus bet up to $1000

Players from Virginia accepted

Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit

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T&Cs apply, 21+

5.

4.5/5

BetRivers.com Promo Code

Second chance bet: Get up to $500 in Bonus Bets

Players from Virginia accepted

Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10

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T&Cs apply, 21+

Michigan Sports Betting FAQ