Learn how to bet on sports online in Michigan, and compare the best legal MI online sportsbooks for 2023 below.
Online sports betting arrived in Michigan at the start of 2021, and The Great Lakes State hasn’t looked back since. Following the introduction of internet sports wagering, multiple top bookies have set up shop.
It’s no secret that sports betting has grown in popularity since the fall of PASPA. Particularly in states like Michigan, where there’s no shortage of big teams, we’ve seen an impressive upturn in fortunes for the sports gambling industry.
Despite such popularity, it’s often hard to decide which sportsbook best suits your needs. That’s where we come in to provide some help.
Here, we’ve ranked each of the best sportsbooks in Michigan along with all the necessary information regarding signing up, unique features, laws, and more.
After penning a deal with Bay Mills Indian Community, DraftKings made its way to Michigan not just as a DFS provider but as a full-fledged online sportsbook. Formerly known for its massive contributions in the world of Daily Fantasy Sports, DraftKings has gone on to prove itself to no end since switching to more of a sports betting brand.
Now, the DraftKings sportsbook boasts a downloadable app for iOS and Android devices with ample odds and markets waiting to be wagered on. The app works like a charm and delivers on all fronts, with each of the best characteristics of the desktop site found here.
Moreover, DraftKings’ app makes it easier than ever before to discover all the biggest promotions. Included in these bonuses are welcome offers, promos targeted at existing users, and boosts for both rookies and veterans of the scene.
No matter the sport you love most, DraftKings likely has a market for it. Some notable big hitters when it comes to sports on DraftKings are:
Launched on January 22nd, 2021, BetMGM’s online sportsbook began life in MI as virtually everybody expected - partnered with the MGM Grand. The sportsbook has just one goal: to become the most-used sports betting site in the US.
If its opening months in Michigan are anything to go by, BetMGM shouldn’t have much trouble competing with the finest sportsbooks in the market. Swathes of betting options are available to bettors of all interests, including the likes of MLB, tennis, NBA, NHL, NFL, and others.
That, accompanied with the pristine MGM Lounge from which customers can place bets in person or via their mobile devices, has rocketed BetMGM to the forefront of many people’s minds when they think about sports wagering.
To top it all off, BetMGM supplies consumers with two of the most sought-after features in the form of a cash-out and live betting. The first of these gives bettors the opportunity to protect against potential losses or take home winnings earlier than anticipated.
Live betting goes hand-in-hand with cash out, as users can keep updated with regard to the latest occurrences in any sports event they’re viewing and place wagers as it unfolds. If the player feels their bet won’t come good, there’s always the cash out button.
Having made its way to the US a few years ago, PointsBet has since enjoyed quite a bit of success in its new home. Now with the platform in Michigan, PointsBet has become a stalwart in the industry as a whole - and with good reason.
PointsBet changes the way that regular bettors can wager on their best-loved sports by offering customers the opportunity to create their own bets. Added to that, players are free to indulge in all things in-play betting. As you can see, there are endless opportunities to win with features like these.
Also, PointsBet serves up the highly rewarding PointsBetting as well as the aforementioned options. With this, bettors can either win more than their original wager would have allowed or similarly, lose more than would have been expected with a standard wager. It’s highly recommendable for thrill-seekers and high rollers.
Everyone’s favorite types of bets can be found at PointsBet. This includes futures, moneylines, totals, point spreads, prop bets, and some others. Sports available are as follows:
Playing at FanDuel - which is partnered with Motor City Casino - provides customers with tonnes of offers, markets, boosts, and odds in one neat site. Much like its counterparts, FanDuel’s online sportsbook jumped at the earliest opportunity to grab a spot in Michigan’s market by joining in January 2021.
Mobile users can take advantage of being able to bet on the go with FanDuel’s enthralling, sleek downloadable app. Found on both the App Store and Google Play Store, FanDuel MI has put together an application that makes what should be a complex platform, accessible to anyone.
An example of this is that users can seamlessly swap between iOS and Android devices without noticing a hiccup. This is all part of FanDuel’s determination to make its services as easy to use as possible for all customers.
Of course, prior to wagering, users will need to make a deposit. FanDuel supports the following payment methods:
Remember, the minimum deposit amount sits at $10. For most players, this is the perfect entry point to get off to a fantastic start on any betting platform. With odds on soccer, MLB, NBA, annual events, and more, there’s plenty of opportunities to improve your sports gambling knowledge with FanDuel.
Another sportsbook that came to fruition in MI in January 2021, BetRivers was already a household name in the industry before it hit the Great Lakes State. Thanks in no small part to the sheer scale of BetRivers’ features and the types of bets it supports, the site and app have grown into one of the most popular available right now.
At BetRivers Sportsbook, bettors can create parlays, place futures, check out in-play betting, or just stick with moneyline wagering. Whether you’re looking for something complex or simple, BetRivers supports all kinds of bettors’ needs.
The jackpot parlay is arguably BetRivers’ most unique feature. Here, customers set up a parlay in the same way they would purchase a “quick pick” lottery ticket. This way, you don’t need to get bogged down in the intricacies of selecting who will and won’t win.
BetRivers also has something called “Buyout.” Basically, this is cashout, just with a different name slapped on it. This feature can be utilized when wagering on soccer, baseball, basketball, hockey, racing, tennis, MMA, golf, amongst others.
If you haven’t heard of Wynn, you’re probably new to gambling. The betting giant - and we say that with confidence - opened its doors to bettors in MI in 2021 and hasn’t looked back since then. By merging the online casino and online sportsbook, WynnBet has made it easier than ever before to try out all your favorite ways to bet.
A partnership with Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians allowed the sportsbook to enter Michigan, and what an excellent piece of business it turned out to be.
The app from WynnBet keeps things simple so that even the most novice of bettors can understand where to go, while veterans of the game can appreciate the effort put into making the platform easy to use. Playing on the app or site is simple, with the likes of over/unders, moneylines, parlays, and more all found at WynnBet.
More than that, the betting site is jam-packed with top offers, ranging from small deposit bonuses to welcome offers beyond users’ wildest dreams. Using funds earned from the offers at WynnBet is well worth users’ time, especially if you’re an avid viewer of soccer, PGA, UFC, NASCAR, Indycar, among others.
Having developed a platform catered specifically to bettors in Michigan, Caesars supports various bets on a vast scale.
Its partner is Turtle Creek Casino, with whom it released a downloadable app on January 22nd, 2021. From that date onwards, bettors have been able to take advantage of all the great things Caesars can offer its customers. This includes in-play betting, where users wager on consistently refreshed odds throughout a live event.
As well as in-play sports wagering, Caesars garnered attention for its wide range of stellar sports action. It not only supports soccer, NFL, tennis, and NBA, but also racing, MMA, and even hockey.
To deposit or withdraw funds at Caesars, users are provided with some options. They’re as follows:
Unlike some other states where bettors are forced to visit a retail venue to begin their journey at sportsbooks, MI players have no such concerns. Rather, you can simply deposit immediately and play once the payment has been processed.
FoxBet is arguably the most intriguing sportsbook available today. The app and website are not just great places to wager, but they also supply some level of entertainment too. By including personalities from live TV - notably Fox Sports, as expected - customers at FoxBet usually feel tuned in to the goings-on at the site.
More than that, the personalities aren’t just for show. They actually add something. FoxBet isn’t gimmicky, so to speak, but instead, it’s something of a media service and a gambling platform. Following the announcement that FoxBet had struck a deal with Odawa Casino, few could have expected the popularity of the site.
When getting started with FoxBet, it’s common for newbies to immediately be attracted to the wealth of bonuses on display. In order to join in on the action, bettors can deposit using any of the following methods:
There are around 15 selections to choose from in terms of betting markets at FoxBet Sportsbook MI. Some of these include the likes of soccer, MLB, PGA, boxing, NBA, tennis, and others. Sports are constantly being added to the fray, so expect further additions sooner rather than later.
Perhaps best known for its endeavors in the online casino and retail casino market, Golden Nugget now has a firm place in the US sports betting scene. Again, this platform joined in on the action along with its compatriots on the opening week of sports betting in MI.
It goes without saying that Golden Nugget is backed by plenty of funding, and with that, they hope to take over the sports gambling industry in Michigan. This is obviously no mean feat - but with such experience working behind the scenes to construct the app and site, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Golden Nugget become the new cream of the crop over the next decade or so.
The app is supported by every mobile device you can think of; iPad, iPhone, Android, all of it. Along with the desktop version of Golden Nugget Sports, the team has developed a number of sound betting services.
All of the usual suspects are found at Golden Nugget, by the way. You’ll stumble into standard moneyline bets, over/unders, parlays, prop bets, point spreads, futures, and some others. In all honesty, there’s little you won’t find here.
For fans of teams based in Detroit, you’ll be glad to hear that the Lions’ games, Tigers’ matchups, and Pistons’ outings will all be available to be wagered on when they play. College sports viewers can also get in on the fun with some events at that level also present on Golden Nugget.
To wager, deposit using any of these payment methods:
Withdrawals are available by using any of those methods, with the option to receive winnings via check.
Now that we’ve discussed the best sportsbooks in MI, it’s time to talk about the process we go through to discover these apps and sites. While it’s sometimes tough to find the right sportsbook for you, there’s a few pieces of information to keep in mind that’ll better help you on your journey toward the most suitable betting site.
Below, we’ve listed the criteria we follow to ensure that only the best platforms appear in our reviews. This entails making sure that the sports betting site is legal, secure, supports various methods of payment, and offers loads of markets for its customers.
Without further adieu, it’s time to dive into the details.
Look out for wording that relates to licenses granted by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. All of the legal, licensed sportsbooks available in Michigan are required to have a gambling license handed out by the MGCB, so this is a great indicator as to how safe the site might be.
By sticking with sites that are licensed, bettors are doing the following:
It’s also worth doing some research on the security of the sports betting apps. Each of the best services should use SSL encryption to protect customers’ information from being leaked or stolen. It works by scrambling every password and sensitive information input by users into unreadable code.
Is there anything more frustrating than finding a fantastic welcome offer at a legal sportsbook, only to realize that your preferred payment method isn’t supported? That’s why sifting through the available payment methods is next on our list of criteria.
The most popular sports betting sites in Michigan are successful because they’re incredibly accessible to customers that like paying in all kinds of ways. This includes, but is not limited to:
Depending on the method of payment you’ve chosen, the amount of time it takes for a deposit or withdrawal to process may vary. Typically, bettors see deposits processed instantly. Withdrawals often take a few days to go through.
As a final note on payment methods, we recommend examining the site’s FAQ on payment methods to find out what the fees are like for deposits and withdrawals.
It’s no use signing up at a bookmaker’s site if they don’t have anything for bettors to wager on. For this reason, we take a close look at each sports market available on the service to ensure that they supply a solid number of odds and ways to win.
Simply, if an online sports betting site doesn’t have a wide range of sports betting markets, it won’t get reviewed. You’ll only ever see sportsbooks that can serve up a vast array of appealing markets across various sports events.
Some of these sports are:
Equally as important as having a wide range of markets is offering high betting odds to customers. Sportsbooks can offer all the biggest sports events in the world, but, if they can’t compete with other bookies when it comes to odds, then there’s no point wagering there.
For instance, let’s say you’ve created an account with Sportsbook A and want to place a bet on a game between the Hornets and Lakers. Sure, they offer odds on the event, but compared to some other bookmakers you’ve looked at, their odds aren’t rewarding.
Sportsbook B, on the other hand, has odds on the game and they’re all high. While Sportsbook A has the Lakers to win at 1.5, Sportsbook B shows the Lakers to run out victors at 3.0. Clearly, there’s only one place to bet.
This is because Sportsbook B will pay out double the amount offered by Sportsbook A on the same bet.
It’s been widely accepted by sportsbooks that mobile betting is the way forward. In recent years, sports betting sites operating in MI have upped their game by developing and publishing top-of-the-range downloadable betting apps for iOS and Android devices.
Nowadays, bettors prefer wagering on the go. Unlike betting on a desktop where you’re planted in one area, mobile betting has taken sports gambling to a whole new level of immersion. Today, customers can access all their favorite sports during their commute to and from work, or from the comfort of their home.
The best part about mobile betting is that it lets users bet the way they want to. Do you like to wager on the next day’s events before bed? Mobile betting has you covered.
Would you like to look over the latest sports odds during your lunch break? With mobile betting from an app, that’s not a problem.
When seeking out one of these downloadable apps, always take a look at the site, too. Depending on the sportsbook, some may exclude certain features and functionalities from their app despite them being available freely on desktop. Therefore, bettors may think they’re getting something that doesn’t actually apply to their potential experience whatsoever.
The very best sportsbooks in Michigan will offer customer support in many different ways. Most of these should be available 24/7, with numerous languages, in some cases.
The agent speaking to customers is the voice of the sportsbook, in a way. Hence, it’s crucial for sportsbooks - especially in this day and age - to offer kind, informative customer support at all times of the day.
Some ways to get in touch with customer services at Michigan sportsbooks are found below:
The competition among sportsbooks in Michigan is great for users. The top sports betting sites in the state are constantly battling it out to attract the highest possible number of new accounts, meaning they are always trying to find intuitive ways to entice consumers.
Many of the ideas that end up being published are simple, but rewarding, welcome offers. Below, you’ll find some key offers to keep an eye out for when searching for a new sportsbook.
It’s not all about new customers, though. Existing users deserve some love too. While most of the attention is placed on gathering new players, there’s plenty of incentive to maintain the player base that’s already present on the site.
Sportsbooks create loyalty programs for this very reason, and the best part about these programs is that they’re usually easy to enter. A couple of other bonuses for existing customers are:
Arguably the most in-demand feature at sportsbooks today, the rise of live streaming at sports betting sites has been phenomenal. With the implementation of live streaming, users can watch their best-loved sports from a desktop or mobile app, and oftentimes, bet on the action as it unfolds with in-play betting.
It’s a never-before-seen level of immersion. In truth, it’s likely the future of sports betting as an industry. Because of these facts, we’ll always poke around sites for live streaming sports options.
Once you’ve ticked every box in terms of ensuring the site meets all the criteria above, it’s time to set up a new account with one of Michigan’s sportsbooks.
The sign-up process is genuinely easy and you could be playing in minutes, especially if you follow these step-by-step instructions.
The first thing to do is click on the Sign-Up icon on the site. This is usually found at the top of the home screen. Then, follow these simple steps:
After completing the form, the betting site will likely ask that you click a link sent to your email address. If not, it’s probable that they’ll send a code that you must enter. This is necessary to activate your account and verify the email address.
Next up, it’s time to verify your identity. As is often the case, MI sportsbooks will want users to verify their identity before allowing any payments to be processed on the site.
Although this may seem tedious, it’s a great sign that the sportsbook is looking out for its customers. We know this because sportsbooks in Michigan will only ask for customers’ identity to ensure that the player is who they claim to be.
To prove your identity, keep some important pieces of information close at hand:
Easily the quickest part of getting started at MI sportsbooks, paying has never been easier than it is today.
Just click on the Cashier/Banking section, and click either Deposit or Withdraw. Then, select the amount you want to put into your account wallet or return to your bank account.
The following payment methods are accepted by the best sports betting sites in Michigan:
It’s common for sportsbooks to allow users to withdraw funds using the same method that was utilized when depositing, although this isn’t always the case. In some instances, it’s the only option available.
Withdrawals will take longer than deposits. This is due to security measures taken by MI sportsbooks, further protecting your account from fraud. It’s worth mentioning that fees may apply, and vary, depending on the payment method used to process a withdrawal.
Betting on sports has been legal in Michigan for a little while now, with the fall of PASPA paving the way for new, more exciting online gambling opportunities across the US.
In 2019, Governor Gretchen Whitmer put pen to paper on a bill that officially made sports wagering in the state legal. This is known as the Lawful Sports Betting Act. As a direct result of this bill being signed, online sportsbooks are entirely legal in MI and will be for the foreseeable future.
Specifically, the Act allows for “operating, conducting and offering to play sports betting on the internet, including through mobile application, involves gaming that already occurs in this state legally."
The MGCB - also known as the Michigan Gaming Control Board - meets regularly to discuss the latest information and occurrences relating to sports betting in the state. As the sole overseer of gambling activities in MI, they are tasked with making the gambling industry in the state fairer, more accessible, and safer for all.
The board dictates which businesses are granted licenses for gambling, as well as choosing which entities are no longer fit for purpose. To do this, the MGCB must test all equipment published by sportsbooks, and put their software through rigorous safety examinations. Thus, any platforms that are deemed harmful to customers may have their request for a sports betting license denied or revoked.
In the boards’ own words, their duties are in relation to “the implementation, administration, and enforcement of the provisions of the Michigan Gaming Control & Revenue Act.”
Offshore sportsbooks garnered a lot of attention during the days of PASPA. The reason for their popularity was simple, and in truth, made sense.
Back then, bettors had no choice but to visit offshore online sportsbooks to wager on their favorite sporting events across the world. The US government threw a blanket ban over sports betting domestically, and bettors felt mistreated.
Now, though, things are different. There’s no reason for users to bet at offshore, illegal sites as sports betting has been allowed in the nation for quite some time. Offshore sites are no longer worth risking creating an account with.
The MGCB is able to regulate everything that goes on at sports betting sites in MI, but it can’t oversee offshore sites. That means that illegal, unlicensed platforms can do anything they please with customers’ information. For example, they hold no responsibility for users’ credit card information, address, passwords, or other personal data entered on the website.
Quite contrarily, domestic, licensed sportsbooks are required to protect customers. Otherwise, they simply won’t be permitted to do business in Michigan.
By betting at legal, licensed, and domestic sites, users will:
Robert is responsible for all content on BettingGuide US. Robert previously worked as a poker dealer during his college years at MIT where he studied Computational Science and Engineering. With a great interest in gambling, Robert likes to go in-depth when writing so that you can make a wiser choice when choosing an operator.