Gambling in Michigan

In response to legalized Canadian gambling literally right across the bridge from downtown Detroit, Michigan developed a successful Tribal Casino Network in the late 1980’s. Following a successful referendum in 1996, commercial casinos followed. Michigan is now home to a successful gaming industry with a range of tribal and commercial casinos. Michigan’s thriving casino industry is regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, who also administer the equally impressive horse racing industry in the state.

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), online lottery games and horse and greyhound racing are all available online, and of course, online casinos and sports betting.

Great Tribal Casinos established during the late 1980s & three land-based casinos in downtown Detroit that followed the 1996 State legalization referendum dominate the Michigan Gambling Industry. Canada’s Windsor Casino is literally only across the river from downtown Detroit and is a very popular gaming location.

Michigan now has 32 casinos (29 tribal and 3 land-based commercial casinos) at which you’ll find more than 36000 slots and gaming machines. As at February 2021, there are a total of 788 table games.

Legal online casino gambling was officially introduced to Michigan in January 2021 and a range of excellent operations just like online casinos in NJ are now officially open for business within the state lines of Michigan.

Poker in Michigan (available at casinos, card clubs and tribal casinos), and unlicensed ‘Home’ Poker games and other forms of unlicensed games are played widely due to the state of Michigan having a more open-minded approach to Poker than most states of the Union.

Poker Rooms

Michigan has a total of 42 poker rooms (29 in the Detroit/Toledo region, 7 in Lower Peninsula Michigan and 6 in Upper Peninsula Michigan) at which to bet legally on poker in addition to the state’s 29 Native American tribal casinos. It is perfectly legal to play different types of poker without fear of breaking any laws (including Casino Hold’em, Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud Poker, No Limit Hold’em etc.).

In fact, in Michigan (unlike most other states, including those more lenient states on other forms of gambling), social poker ‘home’ games played for small stakes are considered to be fine if no-one makes a profit.

Online Poker Laws

Along with online casinos in Michigan, online poker is now legal and live in Michigan following the launch of the live sites in January 2021.

Michigan has an interesting history of adopting innovative change in the gambling sector, whilst simultaneously cracking down on infringements to State Law.

Check out the timeline for other landmark dates in the history of gambling in Michigan;

1933 – Betting on Horse Racing was legalized in Michigan. These days it’s possible to enjoy simulcast betting on other states and worldwide.

1972 – Michigan State Lottery begins.

1972 – “bingo Act’ makes charitable gambling legal under license.

1980’s – Indian Tribes begin to offer high-stakes Bingo Games on Tribal Land. The Tribal Casinos won a U.S. Supreme case for Tribal Gaming in 1987, and in 1988 the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, passed Congress, permitting casinos on Indian territory.

1993 – First Indian Casinos open in Michigan for electronic games only and not table games.

1994 – The Windsor Casino opened across the river in Canada and opened the eyes of Michigan residents to the potential revenue raising potential of legalized casino gambling.

1996 – Michigan residents narrowly vote to legalize casino gambling.

1998 – 4 More Michigan Tribes sign contracts to establish Tribal Casinos.

1999 – First land-based Casino in Detroit opens. Tribal Casinos win case to be granted Table Games Licenses as a result.

2021 – Online casinos, online poker and online and land-based sports betting are now available to its residents.

Visit Our Page on Sports Betting in Michigan for information on the state’s top legal Online Sportsbooks