Best Michigan Online Casinos

The state of Michigan legalized online casinos and online sports betting on January 22, 2021, when nine operators first opened their virtual doors. 

Poker Stars, an online poker room, launched a week later, giving the Wolverine State a full house of online gambling options.

Online Gambling Laws in Michigan

According to the laws that govern online gambling in Michigan:

• All players must be at least 21 years old

• The states gambling industry will be governed and regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB)

• Michigan’s laws regarding online gambling permitted and applied to daily fantasy sports, online casinos, online horse race wagering, and sports betting

• The laws also legalized the purchase of online lottery tickets to those who were at least 18 years old

Michigan’s Online Casino Laws

Online casinos became officially authorized in December 2019 after Gov. Gretchen Winter signed Michigan’s Lawful Internet Gaming Act. According to the act:

• Michigan would only offer online casino licenses to 23 existing tribal casinos and Detroit’s three commercial casinos

• These casinos would need to team up with an online operator and form a partnership before they would be considered for an online casino license

• MI online casinos could offer casino games like blackjack, online slots, poker, roulette, baccarat, card games, and other games offered by traditional brick-and-mortar casinos

• Players can only place a wager at an MI online casino if they are within Michigan state borders

• Only players who are at least 21 years old could place a wager on an online casino in Michigan

• Michigan’s commercial and tribal casinos tax rates are between 20% to 28% and are based on an MI online casino’s adjusted gross receipts

Online Casino Revenue in Michigan

The revenue generated by online casinos in Michigan has rocketed since their launch in January 2021. Sports betting in Michigan has managed to generate a staggering $1 billion in just four months. If the industry continues to grow, or even stabilize at the current rate, online gambling in Michigan is destined to be one of the most successful online gambling markets in the United States.

Let’s take a look at the monthly revenues generated by Michigan’s online casinos since launch:

• January brought in $29.3 million

• February brought in $79.7 million

• March brought in $95.1 million

• April brought in $94.8 million 

From these amounts, the state of Michigan has received a first-quarter tax payment from internet gambling of $53.4 million.

Let’s take a look at where Michigan fits in among the other states that have also legalized online gambling and online casinos:

1. New Jersey generated $114 million

2. Pennsylvania generated $97.7 million

3. Michigan generated $95.1 million

Michigan’s Most Popular Online Casinos

BetMGM MI Online Casino

Launched in January 2021, BetMGM MI Online Casino has since become the dominant online casino. The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) only issued online casino licenses to the state’s 23 tribal casinos and Detroit’s three commercial casinos if they partnered with an online operator. To meet this requirement, MGM Resorts International teamed up with the UK-based Entain. BetMGM MI Online Casino has a wide selection of online casino games, including video slots and traditional table games like roulette, blackjack, poker, and baccarat. 

FanDuel MI Online Casino

The FanDuel brand has enjoyed significant success in the Michigan market, having established itself as the Wolverine State’s number one sportsbook, taking second place in the online category. 

Based on recent figures, it might not be too long before they dominate both markets. The benefit of an operator running both an online casino and an online sportsbook makes the life of players who enjoy both forms of online gaming far easier since they can switch from casino to sportsbook in a matter of seconds while using the same wallet. 

DraftKings MI Online Casino

DraftKings is a brand that is instantly associated with sports betting and daily fantasy sports (DFS). However, their MI online casino has been steadily growing in popularity thanks to its selection of games that includes over 12 different variations of blackjack, several exclusive slot titles, and a live dealer game lounge. 

BetRivers MI Online Casino

BetRivers partnered with Michigan’s Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. The BetRivers MI Online Casino has a selection of almost 200 slots and an impressive selection of table games. Slots fans will appreciate the comprehensive search filter that finds the exact title they are looking for in seconds. 

PokerStars MI Online Casino

When PokerStars MI Online Casino was launched at the end of January 2021, their mobile app was widely regarded as an industry benchmark that every other operator should measure their app against. PokerStars MI has a solid, if not outstanding, platform for gaming. Their library of games boasts numerous exclusive slots and, as one would expect, a great selection of poker games. 

Barstool MI Online Casino

The result of a partnership between Greektown Casino and Penn National Gaming, BarStool MI Online Casino is a refreshingly different flavor in the vanilla-dominated world of online casinos and sportsbooks. Their game library, which is made up of slots and half a dozen poker variations, is relatively sparse compared to other online casinos in Michigan. 

Golden Nugget MI Online Casino

Golden Nugget MI has become famous for their generous Welcome Bonus, and they are always running a promotion of some sort. Players have a wide range of slot titles to choose from, along with a unique search filter that allows players to search for games based on their theme.  

Golden Nugget MI Online Casino offers all the classic games and more than three roulette variations when it comes to table games.

William Hill Online Casino

William Hill is best known for its sportsbooks, so when they broke into the Michigan casino market, we were all a bit surprised. However, when a deal with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians came up, William Hill knew they couldn't pass it up!

William Hill offers players tons of slots, video poker, table games, and other types of games available for play onsite. They also have an amazing loyalty program for their guests. Playing on-site earns you both complimentary points and William Hill points. Complimentary points are exchangeable for cash rewards and site credits. 

Michigan Online Casino New Player Bonus

Every online casino in Michigan offers its new players a Welcome Bonus as an incentive to join. Almost all of these offers require the player to meet a wagering requirement before cashing out their bonus money.

Bonuses Offered by MI Online Casinos

• No-Deposit Bonus – the online casino awards the new player with bonus money just for signing up (the amount varies between Michigan’s online casinos).

• First Deposit Bonus – after the player makes their first, the online casino will 100% match the amount. This bonus usually has a limit, which can sometimes be as high as $1,000.

• Risk-Free Betting – after the player signs up, the casinos will cover any losses they accumulate in the first 24 hours. This bonus usually has a limit.

• Free Slot Spins – Players are rewarded with several free spins on a particular title.

• Deposit Method Bonus – Players are rewarded for using a particular deposit method.

Online Casino Apps in Michigan

Every online casino in the Wolverine State offers its users access to their platform via a desktop site and a mobile app. Using these apps, users can play their favorite game at their favorite MI online casino at any time of the day, no matter where they are (provided they remain within state lines of Michigan while playing.

Online casino apps have come a long way since they first gained popularity. At first, these apps only provided players access to a limited selection of games compared to the desktop site. At the time, even high-end smartphones didn’t have the performance and processing power of the average desktop or laptop. 

Anyone trying to play one of the larger and more advanced games on their phone was in for a frustrating time, with the app constantly freezing or just closing. To avoid this, developers would try to keep the app as small as possible and remove any too complex titles for the average phone.

Thankfully smartphones have come a long way. Today many of us have smartphones in our pockets that often outperform the laptops and desktops we have sitting on our work desks, meaning that most mobile casino apps are carbon copies of their desktop site and allow users to access all online casino features. 

Players don’t just have access to the casino’s complete library of games but can also make deposits, request a withdrawal, chat to their support team, claim a bonus, opt-in on promos, and more. If you can play on the desktop site, you can play on the app. 

Most MI online casinos offer apps to both Android and iOS users at no cost. Just as every online casino differs from the next, no two online casino apps are the same. We suggest trying a few different ones to see which best suits your needs.

One more thing – did you know that a mobile app is not the only way to experience your favorite MI online casino whenever you want, wherever you are? The desktop sites of all MI online casinos have been optimized for mobile use.

Types of Games at Michigan Online Casinos

Michigan’s online casinos have every type of casino game you could think of – from traditional mainstays like blackjack to the latest live dealer games. 

Let’s now take a closer look at the most popular casino games the Wolverine State has to offer: 

Online Slots

Online slots and online casinos go hand-in-hand. For many players, they are the main draw. Their popularity can be seen in the sheer amount of slot titles that are available today. They usually account for most of the games offered by an online casino, with many offering hundreds of different titles. 

Online slots are digital versions of the one-arm bandits found in traditional brick-and-mortar casinos. Many of the most iconic titles have found a new lease on life in today’s online casinos! 

You may be asking yourself, “why are slots so popular in the world of online gambling?”

For a start, the basic concept of these games is simple. You pull a lever (or, in this case, push a button), and either you win, or you don’t win. Yes, we know there’s more to modern-day slots, with wilds, multipliers, free spin games, etc. But the fact of the matter is that success at slots has more to do with luck than skill.

The minimum wager on a slot can be as low as one cent, which is excellent for players only wanting to have a bit of fun and not lose their hard-earned money. 

Finally, players love winning big, and nowhere is it easier to do so at an online casino than while playing slots, especially if it is a progressive jackpot slot! The RTP of online slots is a bit higher when compared to the slots found at a brick-and-mortar casino.

Video Poker

Video poker is nowhere near as popular as slots. However, most online casinos do offer a handful of variations. The most popular includes:

• Deuces Wild

• Jacks or Better

• Bonus Poker 

Blackjack

Online blackjack is one of the more popular types of games offered by Michigan’s online casinos. The pace of online blackjack is quite intense compared to the speed it is played in a traditional casino, with some claiming to play eight hands of online blackjack in the time it takes to play a single hand of traditional blackjack. 

Roulette

Roulette is a classic casino game found at just about every land-based casino in the United States. The rules of online roulette are the same as the classic version of the game. Unlike the classic version, the pace is much quicker since there is no need to wait on others to place their bets. Most MI online casinos offer variations of roulette that have a lower house edge, such as French and European roulette.

Craps

Despite craps being one of the most popular dice-based games, it is not found at all MI online casinos. This might be because it’s impossible to capture the vocal and emotional swings found at the craps tables of brick-and-mortar casinos. However, online casinos in Michigan have found that newbies tend to flock to the online craps table eager to understand the ins and outs of this classic table game.  

Baccarat

Players have three choices when placing a wager during a baccarat game – on the hand being held by the banker, the player’s Michigan hand, or on a draw. Common baccarat variations include:

• Mini Baccarat

• EZ Baccarat

• Dragon Bonus Baccarat 

Online Poker

Even though the state of Michigan legalized online poker in 2019, it was only in January 2021 when PokerStars was launched as the first online poker room. PokerStars is the number one name in online poker. PokerStars Michigan results from a partnership between the brand and the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians.

The rules and strategies used in online poker are identical to those used in traditional poker games. The main difference for a player is to ‘read’ their opponents. On the plus side, their opponents will find it just as hard to read the player. Online poker tends to involve more of a focus on card and number strategy compared to traditional games. 

Live Dealer Games

The newest innovation in online gambling, liver dealer games offered by MI online casinos, includes:

• Baccarat

• Blackjack

• Roulette

A professional dealer will deal with the game as the players watch, chat, and interact with the dealer's other players via HD streaming on their smartphone or computer. Live gaming is far more interactive and social than traditional online gaming. 

Other Casino Games Offered by MI Online Casinos

Some MI online casinos have started to offer newer online casino games. The most popular of these new game types include:

• Online Bingo

• Scratchers

• Keno

• Poker variations (including 3 Card Poker and Caribbean Stud)

Brick-and-Mortar Casinos in Michigan

The Wolverine State is home to 26 physical casinos. Three Detroit-based commercial casinos and 23 tribal casinos, all located throughout the state. The state of Michigan does not have general regulatory authority over land-based Indian casinos. The tribal casinos are regulated by the National Indian Gaming Commission and the government of the specific tribal community. 

Michigan’s Land-Based Casinos

Retail Casinos

Greektown Casino & Hotel

• Over 3,000 slots

• Over 60 table games, including poker

MGM Grand Detroit

• Almost 3,500 slots

• Over 150 table games, including poker

MotorCity Casino Hotel

• Over 2,700 slots

• Over 60 table games, including poker

Tribal Casinos

Rather than go through all 23 tribal casinos based in Michigan, here are the top five. 

Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort

• Located in Mount Pleasant

• Operated by Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe

• Over 4,000 slots

• 60 table games, including poker

Four Winds Casino Resort New Buffalo

• Located 60 miles east of Chicago

• Operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi

• Over 3,000 slots

• 60 table games, including poker

Firekeepers Casino Hotel

• Located in Battle Creek

• Operated by Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi

• Over 2,500 slots

• Over 75 table games, including poker

Gun Lake Casino

• Located between Kalamazoo and the Grand Rapids

• Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi

• Over 2,000 slots

• Over 45 table games, including poker 

Bay Mills Resort & Casino

• Located in Upper Michigan

• Bay Mills Indian Community

• Almost 1,000 slots, poker, and table game

Forms of Legal Online Gambling in Michigan

When it comes to gambling, especially online gambling, Michigan is one of the most liberal states. Online/mobile casinos, sportsbooks, poker, daily fantasy sports, and advanced deposit wagering on horse racing are all legal in the Wolverine State. 

Michigan Gaming Control Board

All MI online casinos are overseen and regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. This board is also responsible for the gambling industry, commercial casinos, horse racing, sports betting, and casino-style charitable gaming.

As we mentioned earlier, tribal casinos do not fall under the jurisdiction of the MGCB. However, it is the tribe’s responsibility to ensure they are adhering to state-tribal compacts.

The MGCB consists of six individuals – an Executive Director, appointed by the governor, and the Senate’s approval.