Michigan Sports Betting: Best Legal Sportsbooks

Is sports betting legal in Michigan?

Yes. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Lawful Sports Betting Act in December 2019, and the first legal bets were placed in March 2020 at MGM Grand Detroit, only days before the pandemic shut down live sport. Online betting launched on 22 January 2021. The Michigan Gaming Control Board regulates commercial sportsbooks, and the minimum age is 21.

Online licences are tied to Detroit's three commercial casinos and to Michigan's tribal casinos, which is why the state has a broad mix of mobile operators.

Michigan sports betting sites we rank

Two of the three sportsbooks we review are licensed in Michigan: BetMGM and BetRivers. BetMGM has a natural home advantage through MGM Grand Detroit, while BetRivers is a long-standing operator in the state. bet365 is not currently licensed in Michigan.

You can register remotely and must pass a geolocation check before every bet. Bettors in the Upper Peninsula near Wisconsin and those around Toledo should watch for border-related location issues. Wisconsin does not offer statewide mobile wagering, so crossing that border ends your ability to bet, while Ohio and Indiana have their own licensed markets.

Rules and taxes for Michigan bettors

Michigan allows betting on college sports, including the Wolverines and Spartans, and has not banned college player props. The Michigan Gaming Control Board maintains a disassociated persons list that lets anyone exclude themselves from all licensed casinos and online sportsbooks.

Winnings are subject to Michigan's flat 4.25% income tax and federal tax, and sportsbooks will issue tax forms on qualifying payouts.

Retail sportsbooks are open at MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity and Hollywood Casino at Greektown, as well as at many tribal casinos across the Lower and Upper Peninsulas. Michigan also legalised online casino games and poker in the same package, so many sportsbook apps double as online casinos. Keep your sports and casino spending separate and set limits for each.

Detroit's teams and responsible gambling

The Lions' revival has made NFL Sundays the biggest betting days in the state, with the Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings providing year-round action. The rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State is one of college sport's great fixtures.

The Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline is available at 1-800-270-7117, free and confidential, 24 hours a day. Every licensed app also lets you set deposit, spending and time limits, and those limits can be lowered immediately but only raised after a waiting period.