Best Michigan Online Poker
Detroit is the newest hot spot for the online poker market for commercial casinos! Bet real money, play cards, and play poker variants with online poker operators in Michigan.
Find out how to play real money poker, increase your winning by working your way up to elite levels with rewards programs, and even play live poker at online poker Michigan.
Michigan Online Poker
Now that Michigan has legalized internet gambling, online poker platforms seem like they’re practically everywhere. Yet, not every online poker operator is created equal. If you’re worried about accidentally playing at illegal sites, you may simply want to stick to commercial casinos.
The Michigan online poker scene has never been so hot!
Best Michigan Online Poker Sites
If you want to play poker with some of the biggest names in gambling, you won’t go wrong at these online poker giants:
BetMGM Poker (MGM Grand Detroit)
BetRivers
DraftKings
FanDuel
Golden Nugget
Stars Casino (PokerStars Michigan)
WynnBET
These poker platforms are all associated with casinos in Michigan (mostly in the Detroit area). While MGM Grand Detroit runs at BetMGM online, you can still hang out at the BetMGM lounge in the MGM Grand in Detroit (all while placing online bets!).
PokerStars Michigan operates as Stars Casino.
Are Michigan Poker Rooms Legal?
Yes! Most Michigan poker rooms are totally legal and legit. The online gaming industry, including online gambling, casinos, and poker, was legalized between the years 2019 and 2021 in Michigan.
Now, you can play hundreds of poker and video poker games at legal casinos. All online casinos must have a brick-and-mortar affiliate that sponsors the online platform. Many of the online poker rooms are sponsored by a land-based partner (often tribal nations casinos) in Michigan.
You must be geographically located within the state of Michigan (usually within Detroit) to play poker at one of these sites. Online casinos use geo-tracking poker software to ensure you’re physically located within state borders. Even if you’re a resident of a state where online poker is legal, you cannot play if you’re located outside of state lines.
All players also must be of age to gamble legally within the state (21 or older).
Legal Vs Illegal Poker Sites
Of course, just because there are legal online poker sites doesn’t mean that illegal sites don’t still exist.
Since the rules surrounding online gambling in Michigan are very specific (you must be affiliated with a land-based casino to register your online gambling site), any casino that operates outside of these rules is doing so illegally.
Casinos must be affiliated and sponsored by a local Michigan casino, and it’s easy to see which casinos these are. All you need to do is check to make sure the online casino has a partner casino within the state.
You can also ensure you’re playing at a legal site by sticking to the casinos in our list of Michigan online poker sites!
Michigan Legal Online Poker Site Regulation
Michigan legal online poker (and all online gambling within the state of Michigan) is regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). The Lawful Internet Gaming Act was signed into law by Governor Whitmore in Detroit in 2019, and the control board both handles licensing and regulation for internet casinos in the state (as well as online sports betting).
If you have any questions regarding the legality of online gaming, betting, and gambling within the state of Michigan, you can always refer to this organization.
How Michigan Online Poker Works
Michigan online poker works similarly to in-person poker. While you won’t be located in a physical casino, your experience will be as close as possible to the ‘real thing’ when playing at an online casino.
The rules are generally the same (for both the game of poker itself and gambling laws in general). You need to be physically located within the state to play, and you can even play live poker games at some casinos online.
Who Can Play?
Anyone located within the physical boundaries of Michigan can play online poker at one of the state’s many online casinos. You don’t need to be a Michigan resident to play legally online, but you do need to be of legal gambling age (21 or over) to play at one of these online casinos.
For the most part, casino rules apply to online gambling. If you can’t do it in a casino, you probably can’t do it in an online casino either.
Online Poker Geo Tracking
One of the main questions online poker players ask before their first match is, How will the casino know my physical location when I’m playing poker?
This is a great question since you won’t need to physically go to the casino to place bets (though you will need to be located in the geographical boundaries of the state).
When you create your account at an online casino, you’ll need to download geo-tracking software (or turn on your location in your device’s settings). Without this software active, you won’t be able to place bets, deposit money, or withdraw funds.
Since it’s illegal to play at an online casino in a state where online gambling isn’t legalized, these platforms take your location very seriously.
Online Poker Vs Live Poker
There are generally two ways to play poker online in Michigan: via an online game or live poker.
The majority of online poker games available (including video poker) are available as stand-alone games. Like at a video poker machine in a casino, you’ll simply log on to the software and choose your desired game. Start playing against the computer; win or lose and repeat.
With online live poker, you’ll get as close to the real in-person casino experience as you possibly can — just from the comfort of your own home! Live games run on certain schedules, so you’ll need to log on a little before the game starts to deposit money.
You’ll watch a live dealer in a casino and place bets and make plays just as you would if you were there in real-time. Of course, these games aren’t available 24/7 — though that doesn’t mean they’re not worth the wait!
The experience is very similar to the in-person commercial casino experience; you’ll still see the player pools, interact with the dealer, and see who’s in the lead. The only difference is the number of seats available!
Deposits and Withdrawals
Online casinos make it easy to deposit and withdraw funds. You can use one of the many online payment methods (usually ACH deposit, credit card, debit card, or online payment service) or you can head straight to the casino cage (at some casinos) to deposit funds into your account.
Usually, funds are deposited in real-time. As soon as you deposit money, you’ll be able to start playing (as long as you’ve signed up for an account, verified your age, and are located within Michigan state borders).
Unfortunately, withdrawals usually take a little longer than deposits. You may need to wait up to a few business days for your funds to transfer from your casino account to your bank account. You may be able to withdraw your winnings faster by heading to the cage at the casino’s brick-and-mortar location (where available).
Poker Apps Vs Browser Games
Some online poker industry platforms offer poker apps and browser games — while others offer one or the other.
The biggest difference between the two has to do with player experience. Some players simply like playing on an app, while others prefer to play poker tournaments within their phone or computer browser.
If your preferred casino offers an app for online poker tournaments, check it out. If you love the app, keep using it; if not, no worries. Most companies allow you to choose how you use individual platforms.
Some users prefer to play on a browser simply because they don’t want to use their cellphone data or phone storage to use the apps.
Michigan Online Poker Rooms FAQ
Below are some of the most common questions regarding daily tournaments in the Detroit area — and beyond! Hopefully, most of your questions will be answered in one of the below areas.
Do I Play for Real Money Online?
Yes! Online casinos allow you to play with (and for!) real money. You will need to deposit funds into your casino account to get started and withdraw winnings as you go.
Unlike online sweeps casinos (casinos that are legal in every state except Washington), these online casinos allow you to play with actual funds — not sweeps or gold coins.
This experience is as close as you’ll get to an in-person experience in an actual casino (without leaving the comfort of your own couch!).
Are Michigan Online Poker Rooms Legal?
Yes! Michigan legalized online gambling between 2019 and 2021. So far, there are several different casinos that run casinos within the state. Yet, illegal online gambling sites may still exist (though authorities work tirelessly to shut such illegal sites down).
If you’re concerned about the legality of a specific site, you may simply want to stick with the sites on our list — or stick to sites that have brand recognition, such as MGM or Stars Casino (PokerStars MI).
If all else fails, you can simply find an online poker room that’s affiliated with local Michigan tribal casinos.
How Do I Get My Money?
Online poker sites make it relatively easy to get your poker winnings (though it’s almost always easier to deposit funds than withdraw them on most casino mobile apps!).
If you want to cash out your winnings, all you need to do is navigate to your virtual ‘wallet’ (some casinos call it a wallet, others call your available funds another term). Just clock on the cash out button, enter your bank account (or how you’d like to accept your winnings), and wait for your funds.
Usually, you’ll get your money in just a few business days (though some transfers may take longer). Some casinos will allow you to withdraw winnings right at a casino cage. If you live in the Detroit area, you may simply want to head to a casino cage to get your money.
Who Do I Contact If I Need Help?
Luckily, nearly all online casinos offer some sort of technical help for poker players. If you need help getting funds, depositing funds, or playing games, help is on the way!
Most online casinos offer email support (which is the most basic level of support). Many online casinos also offer 24/7 online chat features, and some casinos even offer phone support! You may need to wait longer to connect with a specialist if you opt for phone service, but you also won’t need to deal with wait times for responses, either.
Michigan Online Casino Welcome Bonuses
Online casinos usually offer deposit bonuses, deposit match bonuses, and other bonus money. If you want to make the most of your odds and deposit funds, you’ll want to take advantage of no-deposit bonuses, first deposit bonuses, and reload bonuses.
No Deposit Bonuses
No deposit bonuses are exactly what they sound like: you don’t need to make a deposit to get your bonus money! Some casinos require you to have a bonus code, while other casinos ask you to follow an affiliate link to claim your bonus.
First Deposit Bonuses
The first time you deposit money into your casino account, you may be eligible for a deposit match bonus at many casinos! This means that the casino will match the amount of your first deposit.
Reload Bonuses
Reload bonus money is somewhat rarer than deposit bonuses — but not impossible to find! These bonuses are offered to players that reload money into their accounts.
Other Types of Gambling Online in Michigan
Not in love with the online poker industry? We won’t hold it against you! You can still bet real money on everything from slots to casino games to daily fantasy sports. Online sportsbooks are legal in several states (more than where casino games are legal).
If you love sports betting, daily fantasy sports, slots, casino games, roulette, and more, you’ll find many of these games available at most casinos that offer online poker in Michigan.
