Michigan Sports Betting

Sports betting, online poker, online casinos, daily fantasy sports…Michigan saw these online gambling options and thought “Let’s do this.” The Great Lakes State legalized all those forms of online gambling in one fell swoop, bringing sports betting to the masses.

Since launching, Michigan’s online sports betting market has thrived. Though it was legalized and launched later than other big markets like New Jersey or Pennsylvania, it is now mentioned in the same breath as them. Michigan is one of the states that got it right, and the ongoing success of its sports betting (and wider online gambling) market is proof.

Michigan bettors 21 or older can enjoy the state’s myriad online sports betting options. Plus, Michigan is a state with a lot of tourism thanks to its scenic landscapes and beautiful lakeside communities. Visitors can get in on the action, too. So long as you’re within Michigan’s borders you can gamble online.

There are no restrictions on college betting in Michigan, so you can wager on NCAA games to your heart’s content. Professional sports are available in spades, too. Amateur or high school sports are off-limits, as is the case in most states.

On this page, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about MI sports betting, including how it started, how you can sign up, and more.

Michigan’s sports betting journey began in 2019. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a group of bills into law. With one signature (after a lengthy legislative process, of course), many forms of online gambling became legal. Daily Fantasy Sports and online horse race betting—both previously under a gray-market umbrella—came into the fold as fully legal options. Online poker, casinos, and sports betting all became legal as well.

In-person betting came to the state in March 2020, just in time for the Covid-19 pandemic to derail it. Casinos recovered over time, still offering in-person betting when they were allowed to reopen.

January 2021 saw the full-scale launch of Michigan online sports betting. The Michigan Gaming Control Board oversees gaming operations in the state.

Nowadays, Michigan sports betting fans can place bets at more than a dozen legal sportsbooks.

Whether you live in Michigan or you’re just visiting, the state has a lot to offer for online sports bettors. More than a dozen sportsbooks grace the state, and each has its own pros and cons. Here are some of our favorite Michigan sportsbooks.

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars brings a whole lot to the table with regard to its online gambling platforms. The company, best known for its massive presence in the retail casino world, purchased William Hill to expand its sports betting footprint. Now branded Caesars Sportsbook, its platform is available in Michigan and many other states. It’s one of the top names in the industry for very good reasons.

The Caesars app is seamless, and the sportsbook offers competitive odds. The welcome bonus is particularly enticing: a first bet insurance of up to $1000

DraftKings

DraftKings is one of the top sportsbooks…period. Enough said.

Well, not quite enough said. There’s a lot to be said for DraftKings. It has a streamlined app and plenty of great promos. Competitive odds, market depth, payment options…the whole shebang.

New users at DraftKings get a offer of Bet $5, Get $250

FanDuel

Chances are if you find Draftkings or FanDuel in a market, the other will also be there. That’s certainly true of Michigan, where both platforms are live.

FanDuel is among our favorite apps because it’s so easy. Everything works as it should in the FanDuel app, and it’s lightning-fast to load. It checks every box.

New FanDuel bettors get a sign up offer of: Bet $5, Get $200 In Bonus Bets and a NFL Sunday Ticket!

BetMGM

BetMGM has it all. Amazing lines, an aesthetically pleasing and functional app, solid odds, and great customer service.

Plus, BetMGM’s casino app is another great online gambling option.

New Michigan sports bettors at BetMGM get a risk-free bet up to $1,500.

Other Michigan sportsbooks include:

• WynnBET
• Barstool
• FOX Bet
• Four Winds
• FireKeepers
• Eagle Casino & Sports

Ready to place a bet? You’ll have to jump through a few hoops first. Here’s a guide to help you get going with Michigan online sportsbooks.

1. Choose a sportsbook (or multiple). Download the app in the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. You can also visit the desktop site. (If you choose desktop, be prepared to download a separate geolocation plugin. Mobile apps will use your phone’s GPS to confirm your location, so no extra download is necessary)
2. Create an account. The sportsbook app will give you plenty of prompting for this, but be ready to fill out some personal details, including: Email, Password (you will make one), First and last name, Address, Phone number, Date of birth, SSN, Photo ID
3. Make a deposit. Remember to factor in your deposit match bonus if you’re using a sportsbook that offers one.
4. Find the bet you’d like to place and add it to your betslip. You can sort by sport or search directly for the game you want to bet on.
5. Head to your betslip, type in the amount you wish to wager and select “place bet.”
6. Wait for the sportsbook to confirm your bet has been placed, then catch the game and hope for a win!

Overall, the process is pretty simple. If you hit a snag, you can always get in touch with customer support.

Michigan has a thriving sports landscape with numerous college and pro teams available at major sportsbooks. Here’s a look at some of the main options you have at your disposal.

NFL: Detroit Lions

You want to bet on the Lions? Are you sure? Well…who am I to talk as a Chicago Bears fan?

Betting on the Lions is entirely possible at any of Michigan’s online sportsbooks. You’ll find your typical offerings like moneyline, point spread, and totals. Plus a deep well of props to choose from. The NFL draws some of the biggest betting activity of any sports league in the US.

NBA: Detroit Pistons

You want to bet on the Pistons? Really? Here we go again, I suppose. I’ll quit the broken-record act and give you the good news. You can absolutely bet on the Pistons.

Prop bets might be your best move here, as the Pistons barely squeaked out of a last-place finish in the Eastern Conference during the 2021-22 season. Only the Orlando Magic had a worse record, and the difference-maker was a single loss. In other words, betting on the Pistons to win might not be advisable.

Still, plenty of betting fodder to be had if you’re a Pistons fan and don’t mind betting totals, the spread, or props. All Michigan sportsbooks offer lines on the Pistons.

MLB: Detroit Tigers

…here we go again. The Tigers are dead last in the AL Central, with a paltry record of 45-74. Thankfully, baseball relies heavily on stats, and stats mean lots of betting opportunities. Michigan sportsbooks offer plenty of bets on the Tigers, from strikeouts to home runs and everything in between.

NHL: Detroit Redwings

IF you’re a hockey fan, you can bet on the Red Wings as much as you please at Michigan sportsbooks. Oddsmakers set lines for hockey games, including the usual suspects, plus 60-minute lines (which include either side of a moneyline bet but also add the possibility of a tie into the mix).

NCAA: Wolverines, Spartans, And More

College betting is perfectly legal in Michigan. Whether you’re a U of M Wolverines fan or prefer the MSU Spartans, there’s plenty to bet on.

Other in-state schools are eligible for betting. But beware, the smaller the school, the less likely you’ll find betting lines on its games.

With more than a dozen online sportsbooks live and legal in Michigan, deciding where to play should be a no-brainer. At least it should be if you’re deciding between legal sites and offshore books. Here are just a few of the many reasons you should stick with legal books over offshore sites.

Casino Crossover And Loyalty Programs

Many of Michigan’s legal sportsbooks also have legal online casino platforms. You can play at both using the same account more often than not. Plus, if you enjoy both types of betting, you can earn loyalty points for a single platform no matter what you’re playing or betting on.

The advantage of having casino gaming and sports betting is hard to beat, and you won’t find it at an offshore casino.

More Competition = Better Odds

With more than a dozen sportsbooks live, they all have to compete in Michigan to earn your betting dollars. This means they will often compete with each other in a race to the bottom with regard to odds.

Shopping around for the best lines at different sportsbooks will usually yield profitable results if you can manage a win with the best lines on offer. A tiny difference in odds could mean a slightly bigger win for you.

Solid Customer Service

Offshore sites have shoddy customer service, limited options, and only a select number of channels you can use.

Michigan online sportsbooks authorized by the state tend to have much better customer service, including numerous channels—live chat, phone, email—and often 24/7 coverage (or close to it).

Better Payment And Withdrawal Options

Gray market sports betting sites might offer a few payment methods, but it’s sketchy to give your information to them. Legal online sportsbooks have numerous payment methods available, all of which are trustworthy and secure. PayPal is our top recommended payment method.

Want to bet on your mobile device? Michigan has you covered. You can download an app for almost every sportsbook in the state. In fact, all of the big names have apps for both iOS and Android. All you need to do is download them like you would any other app. They’re available in Google Play or the iOS App Store.

Mobile apps bring the added advantage of betting while you’re out and about. They’re also ideal for live betting, because you may not always be near a computer when a game or match is in progress, but you can use your phone to place in-play bets.

Many of Michigan’s sports betting apps are highly recommendable. A few of our favorites include PointsBet, FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars.

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