Michigan Online Casinos

Is Online Gambling Legal in Michigan?

Yes. Online gambling and online casinos in Michigan are perfectly legal thanks to the Lawful Internet Gaming act, which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law in December 2019.

The sweeping bill allowed for legal online casinos, internet poker and sports gambling. Online casinos and sportsbooks officially launched in the state on Jan. 22, 2021. The reason for the lag is that it takes time for regulators and governing bodies to sort out licensing, hammer out the specifics and approve various online gambling partnerships.

The first wave on online casinos to launch included:

• BetMGM
• BetRivers
• DraftKings
• FanDuel
• Golden Nugget
• TwinSpires
• William Hill
• WynnBET

RELATED: Get The Latest Details on Michigan Sports Betting & Mobile Betting

Land-Based Casinos in Michigan

RELATED: Get The Latest Details On Michigan Online Poker

Which Michigan Casinos Will Offer Online Gambling?

All of the existing land-based casinos will be able to apply for online gambling licenses in Michigan. These tribal and commercial casinos are the only entities eligible for legal online casino gambling in Michigan at this time.

Once the licenses are sorted out, those land-based casinos in Michigan will partner with new or existing operators to offer online casino table games and mobile apps. That means if you see any online casinos in Michigan that aren’t affiliated with an existing land-based commercial casino or tribal casino, chances are they’re illegal offshore casino sites.

Those offshore casino sites come with plenty of risk. There’s no telling if you’ll get your money back in a timely fashion or whether the table games you’re playing have the same, standard house odds as the brick-and-mortar version. With no vetting process and no regulatory board, the offshore casinos can operate however they wish and players have no real legal recourse to settle disputes.

Legal online gambling in Michigan is here. There’s no reason to mess around with risky offshore casino sites.

Here’s How to Sign Up for Michigan Online Casinos

Make sure to look around at several legal online casinos in Michigan. Bookmark this page, read the reviews and check back as new sites launch. Then poke around and see what you like.

While these online casinos are similar, some have more online slot machines while others have a robust offering of table games. See which ones best suit your playing preferences. Also make sure to look around at various bonus offers. Legal online casinos in Michigan will have sign-up incentives such as matched deposits, free spins, refer-a-friend bonuses and more. Pick the best one for you, but make sure to read the terms and conditions to make sure you understand what you are signing up for.

Once you’ve found a great legal online casino in Michigan from our list, it’s time to register. Players should have their driver’s license and Social Security number ready when they sign up. Social Security numbers are needed in order to prevent underaged gambling and fraud. This ultimately protects you as a player and the online casino. And because we’re only dealing with legal online casinos, which are heavily regulated, you can rest assured your personal information will be safe.

After you’ve provided personal information, including name, birthday, proof of residence and SSN, it’s time to make an initial deposit. Popular online casino banking options include Play+ cards, PayPal, PayNearMe, debit/credit cards, wire transfers and Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments.

Choose the payment method that works best for you. Once you’ve registered, made an initial deposit and cashed in on your sign-up bonus, it’s time to start playing.

Online Casino Games In Michigan

Poker

Michigan first legalized online poker in 2019. The state awarded its first partnership to PokerStars in 2020. That was a big get considering PokerStars, the biggest internet poker operator in the country, was only operational in New Jersey prior to the new deal. PokerStars became the first Michigan online poker operator to launch in January 2021, in partnership with the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians.

These legal online poker rooms feature the same rules as you’d find at a land-based poker room at a tribal or Detroit casino. The difference is you can’t see your opponents, so recognizing betting patterns is far more important with no ability to read faces or pick up tells.

Slots

Online slots in Michigan are available at legal online casino sites. Bally, IGT and other popular online slot providers feature games very similar to the ones you’d play at a land-based casino.

Online slots are increasingly popular and figure to make up a healthy chunk of Michigan online gambling in the future. They’re fun to play and, unlike land-based casinos, your favorite slot machine is always available and you don’t have to deal with other people lurking over your shoulder while you try to cash in.

Lottery

The Michigan Lottery is already available online and completely legal. Once you download and register with the Michigan iLottery app, all you have to do is make a deposit amount of your choosing.

Powerball, MegaMillions, Lotto 47, Fantasy 5 and many additional popular lottery games are available for purchase. You can buy these tickets through the app just like you would at a retail location. Then sit back and wait for the drawings, which are easily trackable through the app.

Roulette

Michigan internet gambling includes roulette. All the same strategies players use at land-based casinos work just the same for online roulette. You can used the James Bond Strategy or Reverse Martingale with the same betting patterns.

All of the familiar bets, such as high/low, red/black and even/odd, are available along with individual numbers wagering. Plus, it’s a little easier to place online roulette bets with a mobile app than at a crowded casino table on a Saturday night.

Blackjack

This is another popular online casino game readily available in Michigan. Online blackjack has the same odds as standard land-based casinos. So, if you know what you’re doing and how to play every hand, you can simply employ the same techniques with online blackjack.

Beginners might also find they prefer online blackjack to a land-based casino. There’s no pressure from others sitting at the table and you can pick up the game at your own pace. It’s also easier to play faster once you get the hang of it, so even online blackjack newcomers can grasp the basics in a short period of time.

Michigan Online Casino Apps

Mobile casino apps are very similar to online casino sites. The functionality is tweaked to work better on your cell phone, and Michigan gamblers will be able to download mobile casino apps via iOS and Android devices.

Once players have downloaded the mobile casino apps, the registration and deposit process works the same as it does for all legal online casinos in Michigan.

Payment Options for Michigan Online Casinos

While it used to be a pain trying to make deposits even in states with legal online gambling, options have greatly improved in recent years. Everyone should be able to find at least one deposit method that works for them as Michigan online gambling launches in full.

Play+/Prepaid Cards

These prepaid cards are increasingly popular as a deposit method, with Play+ among the most common. Legal online casinos in Michigan will widely accept this option, and it’s one of the easiest to use. Simply sign up for a Play+ card, which works like an online gift card of sorts. Rather than paying the casino directly, players deposit money onto the prepaid card with a credit card or bank transfer and use it to make a deposit with the online casino. You can also withdraw back on to the same card and access funds from participating ATMs.

E-wallets (PayPal, Skrill)

These are very similar to Play+ cards. E-wallets allow online gamblers in Michigan to load up money with an account at popular options such as PayPal or Skrill. Sign-ups are easy and not very time consuming for those who don’t already have an e-wallet account. Once that’s complete, players can transfer money directly from their e-wallets to the online casino and withdraw back into that same e-wallet.

Visa/Mastercard

This is the most familiar payment method for most online gamblers. Simply enter your debit/credit card information and deposit directly to the online casino in Michigan. The problem is that transactions are sometimes flagged by financial institutions and declined even in states with legal online gambling. While these issues are decreasing, make sure to speak directly with your bank if you have any issues using popular cards like Visa or Mastercard for deposit.

Bank Transfer/ACH

Bank transfers and Automated Clearing House payments are another solid option for Michigan online gambling deposits. The process might take a little longer than using an e-wallet or prepaid card, but the results are consistent. Many banks allow wire transfers for legal online casinos, which lets players who aren’t comfortable with other options use this deposit method.

How to Choose the Best Michigan Online Casinos

Make sure to consult our recommendations of the best legal online casinos. These sites will be fully regulated and vetted, so you don’t have to worry about security of your funds or signing up with personal information.

The rest is totally up to the player. It all depends on what type of games you like to play most, how easy you find site functionality on online casino sites and mobile apps, and which types of bonus offers make the most sense based on your wagering style.

Stick with legal online casino sites and mobile apps and shop around to see which works best for you when it comes to Michigan online gambling.

Michigan Online Gambling FAQ