Michigan Sports Betting

How We Pick the Best Michigan Sports Betting Sites

The staff at Bookies.com has years of experience independently reviewing sports betting sites. We know what bettors want. Among the most important factors we consider in each sportsbook review:

Safe and legal: Michigan bettors want a safe and secure site that is properly licensed and regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Those are the only sites we review. We do not recommend offshore sports betting sites, which lack effective regulation and put your funds and personal information at risk.

Mobile app: Mobile wagering is where the action is. In states that allow both in-person and online wagering, up to 90% of all wagers are placed online. Bettors want a mobile betting app that is easy to navigate and allows them to do everything they need on their smartphone.

Odds and prices: Betting lines tend to be similar at online sportsbooks, but not identical. Some consistently offer slightly more favorable prices on moneyline wagers, props and futures bets.

Bonus and promotions: With nearly a dozen online operators in Michigan, the competition to sign up new players is intense. That means bettors can expect plenty of incentives, usually in the form of bonuses and promotions. Some are more lucrative, others more restrictive. We break it down for you.

RELATED: Complete Details About Online Michigan Casinos

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Michigan?

Yes, Michigan has legal sports betting. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation legalizing online and retail sports betting in December 2019. In-person sports betting began on March 11, 2020. Online sports betting in Michigan launched on January 22, 2021.

After the initial launch, Michigan bettors had access to 10 sports betting apps, with more on the way. Nearly all of the leading national sports betting operators have entered the Michigan marketplace.

Michigan Sports Betting Apps

A sportsbook app allows players to make wagers on their smartphone or mobile device 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere inside the state. Each of Michigan’s 10 online sportsbooks is partnered with either a commercial casino or a Native American casino. A brief look at each operator offering a Michigan app:

BetMGM: The online platform of MGM Grand Detroit and sports betting partner of the Detroit Lions continues to expand and is now available in nearly a dozen states. This sportsbook app offers an early cash-out feature that allows players to settle bets before game is finished. Provides large number of daily promotions and in-game betting opportunities.

BetRivers: Partner of Little River Casino Resort and a betting partner of the Detroit Pistons. BetRivers operates in more than a half-dozen states and is the leading online sportsbook in home state of Illinois. Attractive welcome bonus offer includes one of the least-restrictive playthrough requirements.

DraftKings: Sports betting and daily fantasy sports powerhouse entered Michigan as partner of Bay Mills Resort & Casino in Brimley. DraftKings Sportsbook is the leading online sports betting operator in several states and offers one of the most player-friendly apps and a wide selection of betting options and props. Reportedly was the most downloaded sports betting app during Michigan’s opening weekend.

FanDuel: Rival to DraftKings in battle to become nation’s leading online sports betting and daily fantasy sports operator. A major player in every state where it operates and will be formidable in Michigan through partnership with Detroit’s Motor City Casino. Popular app offers wagering on just about every sport.

Golden Nugget: Partner of Keweenaw Bay Indian Community properties, including Ojibwa Casino in Marquette. Gradually expanding online sports betting operation outside New Jersey with an app that offers competitive odds and variety of payment options.

PointsBet: Enters Michigan market after signing partnership deal with the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers, the first MLB team to become affiliated with sports betting. Global sportsbook operator offers fast and intuitive app powered by proprietary technology. Partner of Northern Waters Casino offers unique PointsBetting system, in which players can win or lose more than original wager based on how right or wrong the wager is.

William Hill: Leading global operator agreed to be acquired by Caesars Entertainment in 2020, merging two sports gambling powerhouses. William Hill is the leading online sportsbook operator in several states, including Nevada. Partnered in Michigan with Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel near Traverse City. App provides betting on all major sports and many less popular ones.

TwinSpires: Formerly BetAmerica, the sportsbook in January 2021 rebranded to TwinSpires, allowing Churchill Downs Inc. to integrate its sports betting, pari-mutuel racing and iGaming business into a single brand. Mix of online and retail sportsbooks available in six states, including Michigan through partnership with Island Resort & Casino in Upper Peninsula.

WynnBET: Enters market through partnership with Sault Ste. Marie Tribe casino properties in northern Michigan. Also operates in New Jersey and Colorado and has secured access to several additional markets. Responsive app features large number of parlay boosts.

Barstool: One of the fastest-growing online sports betting operators launched in September 2020 and enters Michigan market through partnership with Greektown Casino (both owned by Penn National Gaming). Barstool is supported by several personalities who make predictions and promote the brand. Offers wide range of bonuses and promotions.

How to Download a Michigan Sports Betting App

Michigan mobile sports betting apps are available for both Android or iOS devices. The apps are free to download and install, and make online betting a breeze.

While on the website of your operator of choice, follow the prompts to download the mobile betting app. Apple device users can also download from the App Store. When downloading, make sure your location settings are turned on, which will allow your sportsbook operator to detect your location. Bettors must be inside Michigan state lines to place a legal wager.

Sign-up Process for Online Sportsbooks in Michigan

Online sportsbooks have made the sign-up process quick and easy.

After reading our reviews and selecting your online Michigan sportsbook, click through to the operator’s website and click on create an account. You will be asked for basic information, such as name, email address, date of birth, phone number, home address and last four digits of Social Security number (needed to verify your identity and prevent underage gambling and potential fraud).

You will also be asked to create a password. After the information is accepted, your account is created. Be prepared to submit a copy of your driver’s license or passport to further establish your identity.

The next step is to deposit funds into your account. Michigan sportsbooks offer a variety of deposit methods. When funds are received and appear in your account balance, you are set to wager. Make sure to claim any bonuses that are offered!

What Deposit and Withdrawal Methods are Available in Michigan?

Michigan online sportsbooks offer several payment options. Among the most popular:

E-wallets (PayPal): The most commonly used e-wallet is an excellent option because it allows for deposits and withdrawals and seamless transfer of funds between PayPal account and online sports account for low fees. Neteller and Skrill are other e-wallet options accepted by some Michigan sportsbooks.

Credit/debit cards: The most convenient deposit option, with funds often transferred instantaneously. But not every financial institution processes gambling transactions and credit/debit cards generally cannot be used for withdrawals.

ACH/bank transfer: The equivalent of an electronic check with the funds transferred from your bank account to sports betting account through an automated clearinghouse. Works equally well for deposits and withdrawals, but transactions take longer to process than other methods.

Play+/Prepaid cards: The Play+ card allows you to transfer funds from a credit card or bank account on to the card and then into your sportsbook account. You can even withdraw winnings back on to the Play+ card and access the cash at participating ATMs. You can also usually apply for a branded prepaid card on the website of your online operator. Others prepaid cards are available at retail stores.

Cash at casino cage: Each online sportsbook is affiliated with a Michigan brick-and-mortar casino. Simply visit the casino cage of your retail sportsbook.

What Types of Sports Bets Can I Make in Michigan?

All of the most popular bets are betting odds are offered, including:

Point spread: A team is favored by a specific number of points. Bettors select the favorite or underdog and “give” or “get” points. NHL odds operate a little differently. There you can bet the puckline (giving 1.5 goals) or the reverse puckline (getting 1.5 goals). Giving goals will get you better odds while getting goals will reduce your payout significantly over moneyline betting.

Moneyline: A wager on a team to win a game based on moneyline odds set by the sportsbook. No point spread is involved. An NFL betting example: If the Detroit Lions are -130 against the Cincinnati Bengals (+110), a bettor wagers $130 to win $100 on the favored Lions, or $100 to win $110 on the underdog Bengals.

Totals: A bet that the combined points of both teams in a game will be over or under the number set by the sports betting operator.

Parlay: A single wager on two games or more, all of which must win for the parlay to cash.

Teaser: Parlay wager that allows bettors to favorably adjust the point spread in exchange for reduced payoffs. In NBA betting, if the Detroit Pistons are 6-point favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers, a bettor can play a 5-point teaser and take the Pistons -1 or the Cavaliers +11. The same 5-point adjustment is applied to all other games in the parlay.

Futures: A wager to be determined at a later date. An example of an NFL futures bet would be which team will win next season’s Super Bowl.

Proposition bet: A bet on a player or team that may or may not impact the final outcome of a game. For example, betting on how many yards or touchdowns QB Matthew Stafford will throw for in a game or a half.

Does Michigan Offer Live Sports Betting?

Yes. Live or in-game betting allows wagers to be placed after a game has started. Betting odds adjust in real time as the game progresses. Wagering options include adjusted point spreads, totals and prop bets. Online sportsbooks use computer algorithms to determine in-game odds.

What Sports Can I Bet on in Michigan?

You can bet on all major professional and college sports with no restrictions at every Michigan sportsbook and online betting site. Bettors can wager on football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, motorsports, golf, tennis, mixed martial arts, several international sports and more. Wagering also is permitted on games involving the state’s Division I college-based teams, such as the University of Michigan and Michigan State.

What Sports Can’t I Bet on in Michigan?

In Michigan, you can’t bet on prep sports or any event played by individuals at the high school level or below.

Bonuses to Claim in Michigan

Michigan online sportsbooks offer a wide range of bonus offers. Some require the bonus money to be wagered a specific number of times before it’s fully redeemable, so be sure to read terms and conditions. Among the most common bonus offers:

Deposit match: Make your first deposit and the sports betting operator will match a percentage of that amount up to 100%.

Risk-free bet: Make a wager and the winnings are yours if the wager wins. If the bet loses, you do not lose any of your own funds.

Free weekly bet: While most operators offer a risk-free sports bet to new sign-ups, some offer modest free weekly bets for existing customers.

Casino credit: With online casino gambling now live in Michigan, some sites offer sports betting credit for playing various casino games and vice versa.

History of Sports Betting in Michigan

1984: Kings Club Casino, owned and operated by Bay Mills Indian Community, opens on tribal land in Brimley, the first tribal casino in the U.S.

1996: Michigan voters approve up to three licensed commercial casinos in Detroit.

1999: MGM Grand Detroit opens, followed by MotorCity Casino Hotel. Greektown Casino opens the following year.

May 2018: U.S. Supreme Court overturns the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), allowing all states the option to legalize sports betting.

December 2018: State lawmakers pass retail and online sports betting legislation, but package of bills is vetoed by Gov. Rick Snyder during his final days in office.

2019: Lawmakers pass comprehensive package of gambling bills, which are signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. State’s commercial and tribal casinos are all eligible to apply for a sports betting license.

2020: Retail sportsbooks open inside Detroit casinos in March. First tribal sportsbook in state opens in June.

January 2021: Online and mobile sports betting launches in Michigan with 10 operators.

Michigan Sports Betting FAQ

How old do I need to be to bet on sports in Michigan?

The minimum legal age to place a sports bet online in Michigan is 21. Same for retail sports gambling at the state’s three Detroit casino sportsbooks. However, every Michigan tribal casino can set its own age limits for in-person sports wagering, with some allowing players as young as 18 or 19.

Who qualifies for a Michigan sports betting license?

Commercial and Native American casinos with operations in Michigan qualify. Each can partner with one online sports betting brand. The fee for a sports betting license is $100,000. Michigan tribal casinos pay an 8.4% tax on adjusted gross sports betting revenue. The state’s three commercial casinos are taxed at an effective rate of 11.65%, which includes 3.25% to city of Detroit.

Do I need to live in Michigan to place a bet?

No, you can live in any state. But you must be physically located inside Michigan state lines to place a legal wager.

What Michigan teams can I bet on?

All of them. There are no restrictions on wagering on games involving Michigan-based teams in pro or college sports.

Is horse racing betting allowed in Michigan?

Yes. The state is home to one live harness racing track, Northville Downs, which also offers simulcast wagering from other tracks across the country.

How will my winnings be taxed in Michigan?

All gambling winnings are subject to federal and Michigan tax. The state income tax rate is 4.25%.

Should I avoid offshore sportsbooks?

Yes, avoid them. Offshore-based sportsbooks are not properly licensed or regulated and may abruptly shut down, potentially resulting in loss of a player’s account funds with no recourse.

How big can sports betting be in Michigan?

Michigan is viewed as a dynamic sports betting market. The state is 10th in the U.S. in population, but only two more populous states (Pennsylvania, Illinois) currently allow online sports wagering (though New York appears close). A gambling-friendly state that allows most forms of online gambling, Michigan will quickly be a top-10 market in sports betting handle and is likely to climb higher.

What other forms of gambling are legal in Michigan?

In addition to legal sports betting, Michigan also allows casino gambling at commercial and tribal casinos; online casino gambling; poker and online poker; pari-mutuel wagering; daily fantasy sports; lottery.

What help is there for sports betting addiction in Michigan?

Several problem gambling support groups are available, including the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-270-7117), the Michigan Association on Problem Gambling (michapg.com) and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (www.nfcc.org). Players can also register with the Michigan Gaming Control Board (www.michigan.gov/mgcb) to exclude themselves from sports betting with the three Detroit commercial casinos.