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Best Sports Betting Sites in Michigan

Top 3 MI Sportsbooks
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Tim E
As with several other US states, Michigan’s journey to being a key betting destination started with the repeal of the PASPA Act in 2018. However, unlike others, the state took considerable time to get comprehensive legislation regulating betting activities. It was not until 2020 that sportsbooks started applying for and receiving licenses to serve the state’s wagerers.

Nonetheless, the state differs from most US states in the structure and nature of its betting laws. Many US states appoint a single sportsbook to oversee its wagering and offer betting services to the population. Instead, Michigan made its licenses for betting widely available to several players. It allows the state’s bettors to access some of the best sportsbooks.

Before you start Michigan sports betting, you must get all the information about wagering there. All of these we provide in this review.

Full List of the Best MI Betting Sites

Several sportsbooks provide online betting in Michigan, but these are the most recognised:

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Best Bonus Betting Deals & Offers

Michigan sports betting sites issue various bonuses and promotional offers with different terms and conditions to cater to multiple customer types. We have divided these promos into categories based on their key features. Note that a particular bonus offering can fall into various categories. For instance, a deposit bonus can also be a welcome bonus:

Welcome Bonus

Michigan sportsbooks issue this bonus to target customers as new bettors, aiming to help make their initial wagering experience more palatable. Also called the sign-up bonus, the welcome offer comes in different forms. Some don’t require customers fulfilling any strict conditions like depositing funds.

Nonetheless, the deposit bonus is the most popular welcome bonus, where Michigan online sports betting companies provide wagerers with extra funds to make bets. The added funds are often a percentage of the new bettor deposits. The rates are generally juicy, as bettors can get as high as 100% of their initial deposits.

Caesars has one of the most attractive welcome bonus offerings of sportsbooks, with bettors having access to up to $1,250 in betting funds. Another perk from Caesars’ offer is the 1,000 Caesars Rewards Tier Credits that players can use in hotels, restaurants, cinemas, retail stores, and for wagering at Caesars casino and online sportsbook.

100% up to $600
New customers only! Please bet responsibly, begambleaware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.
Cash Rebate Bonus: Enjoy up to 25% Cash
-
100% up to $500
New customers only! Please bet responsibly, begambleaware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.

Deposit Bonus

Online sports betting Michigan companies provide a deposit bonus to boost the balance bettors can place wagers. The deposit bonus comes as a percentage of the funds that the wagerer commits to their betting accounts. Usually, the ratio can range from around 5% to as high as 200%.

The deposit bonus can be a welcome bonus, which is meant only for new sign-ups. However, there are also reload bonuses for regular customers.

Free Bets

Another set of MI sportsbook promos is the free bet that doesn’t require the bettor to take any risks. Unlike the deposit bonus, where wagerers have to commit funds to the account before they can enjoy an offer, bookmakers issue the free bet without demanding users take any risks.

Note that different forms of free bets exist. For instance, there is the offer to refund users whatever losses they incur. BetMGM is a leader as it provides new customers with up to $1,000 in refunds when their initial bets end up as losses.

Other Bonus Types

Michigan sportsbook bonuses also exist in several other categories asides from the conventional promo types. One popular type is the daily promotion, where users can compete against others and win cash and other prizes. There is also the odds boost in which bettors get more significant boosts than usual on their bets. Other offers include raffles and shopping credits.

Choose Your Bet of the Day in Michigan

Michigan is a decently large state, giving it some advantages in sports. The state has a unique space in US sporting history and has proven to be a vibrant sporting location with top teams and equally spirited sports lovers. Some of these fans exploit their enthusiasm by taking advantage of ample betting opportunities in the state.

WHAT IS THE BEST BET FOR TODAY?

Bet on Sport

As with several states in the US, football is the most popular sporting type in Michigan. Nonetheless, other sporting types that have sizable popularity in the state include basketball, baseball, ice hockey and soccer. The state’s passion for golf is also worth noting, as it ranks among the top 3 destinations for golf events across the US.

Bet on Competitions

In all these sporting types, Michigan-based wagerers have several competitions presenting top-notch betting opportunities, including those played within and outside the state. These include major league franchises across the most popular sporting types. Michigan teams also feature in some minor and local league events.

Unlike several other states, Michigan permits wagering on college sporting events, including those played by teams based in the state. Another type of event that remains banned in many US states is the Drafts, especially the NFL Draft. Fortunately, the state’s laws permit companies providing sports gambling in Michigan to offer access to wagering on the drafts.

Bet on Tournaments

Michigan is a top sporting state, which is evident in the quality and profile of the teams from the state. For instance, the state has a full team in all the major league franchises across the popular sporting types, including Major League Baseball (MLB), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), and the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Moreover, there are several other teams in the minor leagues of these top sports, including the American Basketball Association (ABA) and American Football League (AFL). Similarly, the state is well-represented in the most prominent collegiate sporting tournaments, including the 3 divisions of the NCAA.

Companies offering access to legal sports betting in Michigan enable punters to follow and wager on these events’ betting opportunities.

Bet on Teams

Michigan boasts a decent cross-section of America’s sports teams across major and minor leagues and collegiate sporting competitions. These include the Detroit Tigers (MLB), Detroit Lions (NFL), Detroit Red Wings (NHL), and Detroit Pistons (NBA) in major league franchises. The leading Michigan teams in the minor leagues include the Detroit Fury, Grand Rapids Rampage, Detroit Dogs, etc.

Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Northern Michigan Wildcats, Ferris State Bulldogs and others feature across the NCAA Divisions.

Before 2018, wagering was unlawful in Michigan due to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). It was enacted in 1992, which banned gambling-related activities across the US, except in 4 States. Nonetheless, the US Supreme Court nullified the law in 2018. State authorities can legalize betting in their state, develop legislation overseeing wagering practices and issue licenses to gambling service providers.

Like several other states that saw the need to permit wagering, the Michigan legislature enacted laws overseeing everything betting-related in the state.

MI Sports Betting Bill

Michigan enacted the Lawful Sports Betting Act in 2019, which took effect in 2020. Efforts towards enacting a law governing sports betting activities in Michigan started between 2015 and 2016 when a series of bills were proposed in the state legislature to cover casino and sportsbook activities. It was even though the PASPA Act was still in force. Unfortunately, none of these efforts yielded results.

Some lawmakers made renewed efforts in 2017, but there was little progress, although it led to the acceptance of a possible draft bill. It wasn’t until 2019, after the Supreme Court repealed the PASPA Act, that the legislature passed bills to regulate online sports betting, online casino wagering and fantasy sports. The law also empowered a regulator to issue interesting sportsbooks and casino operators’ licenses.

In 2020, the first sets of casinos launched in different locations across the state, with some offering retail sportsbook services. The first online sportsbooks in the state started offering services in 2021. Since then, 15 operators have bagged such licenses to provide online and mobile sports wagering services.

Sports Gambling Taxes in MI

Michigan wagering laws regard winnings from sports betting as income, following the same position as the federal government. Thus, players will pay 4.25% of the value of their winnings to the state government. However, this only applies to winnings above $5,000.

It is in addition to the 25% tax levy the federal government already places on betting profits.

Nonetheless, Michigan residents who record losses while gambling can apply for income tax deductions on their federal tax returns.

What Is the Sports Gambling Age in Michigan?

The legal age to qualify to place bets in Michigan is 21 years, which applies to persons who wager online and those who bet at retail casinos. However, a few tribal casinos have provisions allowing persons as young as 18 to place bets.

How to Choose the Best Bookmakers in Michigan

Selecting the best bookmakers in Michigan is not difficult once you know the key qualities common to the top sportsbooks. The best online sportsbook in Michigan features great odds, well-built platforms and services that offer value to users.

Those factors include:

  • Regulation and Licensing 

A quality that supersedes other indicators of the best sportsbooks in Michigan is whether or not a bookmaker is regulated under the state’s regulations. The state’s authorities must recognise your sportsbook of choice. Each top sportsbook in Michigan has applied to the right state agencies and acquired the appropriate licenses to operate sportsbook services. These are the bookmakers you need to register with.

More than 16 betting companies have become properly regulated by acquiring these licenses, including Barstool, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, BetMGM, PointsBet, etc. If you read through the offers from these sportsbooks, there is a high chance you will find your bookmaker of choice among them.

Betting with a regulated sportsbook has varying benefits, including protection against scams and the assurance that your information and funds are safe.

  • High-quality Odds Policy 

The odds a sportsbook provides are a key factor determining the quality of a wagerer’s betting experience. When the sportsbook offers high odds, the chances that you will get larger sums when your bets end up as wins is high.

Yet, the most important thing is not how high the odds are but the sportsbook odd-setting policy. If the sportsbook has demonstrated consistency in giving high odds, then it is likely a top online sportsbook in MI.

  • Quality of Bonuses and Promos 

Sportsbooks utilize bonuses to boost the betting balance of their wagerers so that they can make more bets and potentially bag more winnings. Thus, you should look for a bookmaker that provides attractive bonuses and promotional offers.

These offers need to be large enough. Similarly, the terms and conditions have to be quite achievable for you. If the requirements attached to the bonus offer appear impossible, then you should avoid signing up with the sportsbook.

  • How Good the Betting Platform Is

There are high chances that you will be carrying out your betting online. Thus, you want your platforms to be properly designed and built.

The best companies offering legal sports betting in Michigan invest a great deal in building their websites and apps. Generally, these apps are intuitively designed and easy to navigate with proper icon placement.

Beyond the design, Michigan’s top bookmakers ensure that the platforms function correctly on the backend, with little downtime and sufficient security to prevent breaches from compromising customers’ information.

  • Services to Improve Your Betting

The best Michigan mobile sports betting providers understand that customers’ wagering needs have advanced beyond having a platform to place bets merely. Today, they are investing in providing additional services and offers that add value to bettors and help boost their chances of recording winnings.

One such offering is the live betting feature, where bettors can make wagers even after games have started, rather than being limited to placing bets only hours before a game. Thus, wagerers become free from time constraints and can now take advantage of more betting opportunities.

Other offerings include top-notch customer service, the cash out feature and fast payouts.

Which Michigan Bookmaker Has the Best Odds?

You already know that having access to competitive and rewarding odds should rank among the most important factors to look out for in any sportsbook. Providing wagerers with high odds allows them to get sufficient rewards whenever they record a winning bet. However, knowing which sportsbooks have the best odds can be difficult because of the betting policies of online sportsbooks in MI.

For instance, some sportsbooks set their odds in-house, giving them much control over the odds they assign to games. Yet, most other sportsbooks leave their odd setting to third parties, meaning they will mostly feature identical odds. Nonetheless, the most important thing to look out for is how consistent the sportsbook has been in its odd policy. Have they been offering high odds for a decently long period?

Deposit Methods at Michigan Sportsbooks

Michigan sports betting sites have adopted multiple payment systems to enable wagerers to conduct banking transactions seamlessly, offering bettors sufficient options.

The options include:

  • Conventional Banking 

Michigan bookmakers have made it possible for you to make deposits into your betting account directly from your bank. The critical methods under the conventional banking category include:

  1. Electronic and paper cheques
  2. Bank transfer
  3. Wire transfer
  4. Online banking
  • Cards

Debit/credit cards that run any of Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, American Express, or Discover can facilitate the transfer of funds from your bank to the betting platform.

Again, it is a viable option if your sportsbook supports the Play+ card.

  • Electronic Wallets

Platforms like PayPal, Skrill and Neteller are great options for making your deposits as they are cheaper and faster than other options.

Withdrawal Methods at Michigan Sportsbooks

The withdrawal methods available are also the same as the ones for deposits. They include:

  • Conventional Banking 

These include cheques, bank and wire transfers and online banking. They are great for direct and secure transfers but attract higher charges than other options.

  • Cards

Debit/credit cards generally enable receiving money from the attached bank, but the Play+ card can operate without a linked bank.

  • Electronic Wallets 

These are the fastest and cheapest. You can withdraw the funds to your bank account or spend directly from your wallet.

Best MI Sports Betting Apps

It is not possible to state which is the MI sports betting app because several features distinguish the top apps. Nonetheless, the most important qualities include their design and build quality.

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Yes
Up to 180% bonus on 1st deposit
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Bet £10 get £30 in free bets
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Michigan Live Betting & Streaming

Historically, betting involved placing wagers long hours before games commenced. However, this has changed as bettors can now make stakes even when games have started, thanks to the live betting feature.

To complement this live betting service, Michigan sports betting online companies have also added the live streaming feature, enabling players to watch games as they happen. Several Michigan sportsbooks, like DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, etc., make it possible to see several events from their betting app.

Local MI Bookmakers vs Online Betting Sites

Michigan state betting legislations differentiate local sportsbooks from online betting sites. The local sportsbooks provide wagering services from physical retail outlets, while the online betting sites offer their services entirely over the internet.

Customers can choose which they prefer, but online betting service is much better than wagering at retail stores because it is more convenient, cheaper, and fast. You can access top-notch customer service and user experience.

How to Win at Betting in Michigan

There are no fixed approaches to winning at betting in Michigan, but some tips may help. They include:

  • Gather a Lot of Knowledge about the Tournament/Event

Having sufficient knowledge about the game and event you want to bet on is essential. Don’t bet on the NHL if you’ve not closely followed it in past seasons.

  • Learn from Previous Mistakes

There are assurances that you will make significant mistakes when betting by making the wrong calls or picking inappropriate games. Review these losses and ensure you learn from them.

  • Take Advantage of Betting Offers

The best sports betting sites in Michigan offer bonuses to help boost your balances. Take advantage of these rewards so you can place more bets and potentially record more winnings.

  • Do Away with Emotions When Betting 

A foundational requirement for successful wagering is completely ridding yourself of emotional attachments to your bets. Analyze games as objectively as possible and place bets according to this analysis.

If, by your calculations, a team has a higher chance of winning against an opponent, then you have to make bets appropriately, regardless of your preferences.

The Most Active Betting Cities in Michigan

Even though betting started some 2 years after it became legal nationally, it has quickly gained a lot of prominence in the state. Yet, in the state, some particular cities are notable leaders in wagering.

The most vibrant betting location is Detroit, and for a good reason. It is the state’s cultural and commercial core and, by far, its most populous city. Due to its popularity, it is also Michigan’s sporting epicenter, playing host to virtually all major league teams in the state. It also has many minor leagues and collegiate sporting sides, partly because many casinos are based in the city.

Grand Rapids also ranks favorably as it is the second most populated city and a sporting center. Minor league teams like the Grand Rapids Griffins and Grand Rapids Gold call the city home. Consequently, lots of sporting and wagering enthusiasts come from the city.

Other notable betting cities in the state include Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Dearborn. These states lead betting in the state due to their population size and their contribution to sporting activities through playing host to prominent league sides and collegiate sports teams.

MI Casinos With Sportsbooks

Michigan betting laws enable betting companies to offer casino and sportsbook services to wagerers in the state. Thus, several casinos also have sportsbook offerings online and within their retail outlets.

MGM Grand Detroit is one of them, and it is among the first set of retail casinos to acquire a license to offer various forms of wagering services. BetMGM provides top-notch online and retail sportsbook services, with an excellent collection of bonus deals and a clean platform.

Turtle Creek Casino has partnered with Caesars Sportsbook to offer sports betting to users, promising wide-ranging events coverage, which means users have access to sufficient sporting options.

Four Winds Casino, with at least 3 locations and counting locations, has a sportsbook service that is notable for being user-friendly, especially to newbie wagerers, and tailoring its services and bonuses to focus on this customer category.

BetRivers sportsbook is attached to Little River Casino and provides value-adding services, including a special loyalty programme to reward active bettors.

MI Overview

Michigan sports betting is attractive for various reasons. First, it offers lots of options. You can either bet in retail locations or carry out your wagering online. Then, whichever way, you can select from some of the best bookmakers in America.

Some things to know about Michigan include:

  • Michigan is based in the US and ranks 10th among other states in population.
  • Its prominent cities include Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Dearborn.
  • English is the most spoken language, but a tiny fraction of the population also speaks Spanish and Arabic.
  • The most popular sportsbooks that have received licenses to operate in the state include DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, ESPN Sportsbook, BetMGM, BetWay, etc.
  • Casinos that also have sportsbook outlets include MGM Grand Resorts, Turtle Creek Casino, Four Winds Casino, and Little River Casino.
  • The top types of channels used to process payments for sportsbooks include conventional banking (online banking, wire transfers, cheques), debit/credit cards, and electronic Wallets.
  • The state’s most loved sport is football, but basketball, baseball, golf and hockey have huge followings statewide.
  • The state has proven to be a force in US sports, featuring teams in the major leagues MLB, NHL, NBA and NFL. There are also teams in several minor leagues and the NCAA Divisions I, II and III for college sports.
  • In these tournaments are respected teams like Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Detroit Pistons, and Detroit Red Wings.
  • The state has produced top players with noteworthy performances, including Ty Cobb (baseball), Jason Hanson (football), Gordie Howe (hockey), and Isiah Thomas (basketball).
  • Michigan is one of the few states that has run a double wagering system between retail and online sports betting without showing a preference for any. For instance, the laws don’t require online bettors to enter a retail location to register as you get in other states.

Bottom Line

Michigan has proven to be a key betting location even though sports wagering is relatively recent in the state. It is due to varying factors, including the fact that it is a major sporting location, hosting some of the US’s top teams. We have provided all the information you need to navigate wagering in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is online sports betting legal in Michigan?
    Yes, it is. You can register with any licensed sportsbooks and start making wagers for your desired events.
  • Are there sports betting apps in Michigan?
    Yes. Several MI online sports betting companies provide mobile apps to make wagering seamless for users.
  • Is FanDuel legal in Michigan?
    Yes. FanDuel acquired a license in 2021 to provide sports betting services to Michigan bettors.
  • Is DraftKings legal in MI?
    Yes. DraftKings has been operational in Michigan since 2021 and offers both online and retail sports betting services.
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    Tim E
    Author
    Betting Guru

    Tim is our betting guru. Every gaming site needs one, and Tim’s our guy. He has plenty of experience in betting online and is quite successful at it. Tim’s favorite sports are hockey, baseball, and Esports. Tim believes the latter to be the future of betting.