Per the Associated Press, Michigan casinos are expected to launch sports betting in the state sometime in December. Many believe the launch could come before Christmas once state lawmakers finalize proposed licensing rules.
The new licensing rules are all but confirmed, pending a formal review expected this week. Once the state legislators approve the regulations Michigan residents can start sports betting online. Legal sports betting at brick-and-mortar casinos began in the spring of 2020 but mobile sportsbooks, online poker, and other online games cannot be made available to Michigan residents until operators receive their licenses according to MichiganSharp.com.
“Everybody wants to get this thing going,” Lucido, of Macomb County’s Shelby Township, told The Associated Press. “This is something that’s long overdue at this point. It’s being done in other states. We’re losing opportunity costs.”
Official licensing can commence once the regulations are officially filed with the secretary of state.
In addition to anxious sports bettors, the approvals will help land-based casinos in the Detroit area who are currently losing business due to the ongoing pandemic. Once mobile online sportsbooks are readily available in Michigan, casinos will have access to a new market and will more than likely recoup some of their losses via online business.
Three commercial casinos in Detroit, over two dozen tribal casinos, and big-name sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and Barstool are all expected to receive a license from the state. DraftKings will especially welcome the launch as they recently announced a partnership with the Detroit Pistons.
