In January 2021, the law that had been signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in December 2019 came into effect, thus making online gambling legal in the state of Michigan. Operators in the Great Lake State had spent a whole year preparing for that moment, and the result has been a whole new array of legal Michigan online gambling sites that provide Michiganders. These come with plenty of casino games that can be played for real money including video slots, table games, live dealer casino games, sports betting, and daily fantasy sports.
Below, we explore the various aspects of Michigan online gambling including how it works, which sites you should trust, and more. Nevertheless, do keep in mind that this article only relates to online casinos in Michigan, so for more information on legality and providers in your state, check out our US Online Casinos article.
Best Casino in Michigan
Michigan may be a newcomer to the world of legal online gambling, but it is quickly establishing itself as one of the leaders in the field. Indeed, Michigan online casinos are now among the best US online casinos out there, along with Pennsylvania casinos and New Jersey casinos.
This is true for numerous reasons. To start off with, Michigan online gambling sites are chock-a-block with a wide variety of games, all of which are legal thanks to the latest update of the law. In other words, Michiganders don’t have to settle for what there is, but can rather choose to play whatever it is they want, be it video slots by the world’s best casino game developers or live dealer poker.
Secondly, these casinos are regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, which ensures compliance with the laws of the state. This means that anyone playing at a legal Michigan online casino can expect to be safe while playing and that their rights will be respected. Moreover, should anything go wrong, the state will be able to protect you as brands regulated by the state are duty-bound to follow the laws of the said state.
Thirdly, many of the brands that citizens of Michigan can legally play at are well-established and well-known. This means that you won’t just get a site that is safe and that stocks all the games you may wish to play, but also a site that understands the needs of players and consumers and can provide you with better customer support, easy-to-use tools, and more.
Best Michigan Online Casinos
| 1 |  | 300% Up To $6000 + 100 Free Spins |  Drake Casino review | 18+ | Gamble Responsibly | T&C Apply | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 7 |  | 220% match on first deposit + 20% for Crypto, Neosurf, Flexepin deposits | Slots Empire Casino review | 18+ | Play resposnibly | T&C Apply | |
| 8 |  | 999% Up To $5.000 + 100 Free Spins | Yabby Casino review | 18+ | Gamble Responsibly | T&C Apply | |
| 9 |  | 280% Up To $14000 | Las Atlantis review | 18+ | Gamble Responsibly | T&C Apply |
CasinoTop10’s Best Online Casinos in Michigan need to:
- Provide secure payment options with fast payouts;
- Feature leading casino software providers;
- Offer MI gamblers attractive online casino bonuses;
- Give excellent customer care services;
- Have casino lobbies filled with a generous variety of casino games for MI punters.
The Legality of Land-Based Casinos & Online Casinos in Michigan
Whether we’re talking about online casinos or land-based casinos in Michigan, the law of the state is pretty clear and easy to understand. See, in the Great Lake State, citizens and visitors have access to pretty much all traditional forms of gambling including table games, sports betting, lotteries, and more. This can be done at the three land-based casinos regulated by the state, at one of the many tribal casinos that also operate legally within the state, or at any of the newly-opened online casinos in Michigan regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
At the time of writing, players from the state can only play at online casinos in Michigan, and can’t join any of those registered in or regulated by other states or other foreign jurisdictions. Nevertheless, Michigan and Pennsylvania may one day have an interstate gambling compact that would allow players from each of the states to play at casino brands registered in the other state. This is already happening with Delaware casinos and Nevada, where players can join each other’s online poker tables.
In terms of the gambling age, things can get a bit confusing in Michigan. The legal gambling age according to the law is 18, but this is for charitable gambling, the lottery, and horse racing. For everything else, the legal age is 21 – although land-based casinos that don’t sell alcohol may allow those who are at least 18 years of age to enter their premises.
Land-Based Gambling in Michigan Today
There are plenty of land-based casinos located in various counties across Michigan. There is a mix of commercial casinos, racinos (racetrack casinos), and tribal casinos. In 1996, the success of the 17 casinos fuelled the expansion of the sector. Voters also approved the Michigan Gaming Control and Regulation Act for the construction of another 3 casinos within Detroit.
| Casino | Location | Unique Features | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| MGM Grand Detroit | Detroit | Restaurants, Spa | 17 poker tables | 143 table games | 3500 slots |
| Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort | Mount Pleasant | Spa, Salon, Lounge, Waterpark | 18 poker tables | 60 table games | 3330 slots |
| Four Winds Casino Resort | New Buffalo | Restaurants, Spas, Shops | 49 table games | 2600 slots |
| MotorCity Casino & Hotel | Detroit | Restaurants, Spas, Shops | 17 poker tables | 9 table games | 2700 slots |
| FireKeepers Casino Hotel | Battle Creek | Restaurants, Spas, Shops | 14 poker tables | 70 table games | 2900 slots |
Gambling Laws in Michigan
When it comes to gambling, Michigan has always been more liberal than most other states, and this continues to be true even today as online casinos operate within legal and regulated parameters – but as the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
The first type of gambling to be legalized in Great Lake State was horse racing. This happened back in 1933 when pari-mutuel betting was authorized and regulated, and the Office of Racing Commission was first created. This, however, wasn’t followed by any major reforms in gambling until 1972, when voters in Michigan had their say on whether the state should have its own lottery. It got through and it has now become one of the best-faring state lotteries in the US.
It would take a further 12 years for the Bay Mills Indian Band to open the Kings Club Casino, which was the first of its kind anywhere in the US; and a further nine years for a tribe to sign a compact with the state of Michigan. Then, in 1996, Michigan voters had their say on whether three, licensed land-based casinos should be built in Detroit. It turned out to be a watershed moment that saw the first casino – the MGM Grand Detroit – open in July 1999, followed by the MotorCity Casino Hotel in December of the same year. Since then, Michigan has become home to a further 24 land-based commercial and tribal casinos (including some Michigan casinos 18+) and launched the sale of online lotteries in 2014.
The biggest change, however, came in December 2019, when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the law that made online casino gambling, sports betting, fantasy sports, and even online poker legal all at once. The first Michigan online casinos finally launched in January 2021, and the rest, as they say, is history.
What should I know about Online Casinos in Michigan?
- Gambling is regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board;
- The legal gambling age is 18 for casinos, bingo, lottery, and betting. The legal age is 21 if alcohol is served at land-based venues;
- Michigan is the fifth state to legally allow online casinos within the Wolverine State.
Online Casino Games for Michigan
Joining an online casino in Michigan means gaining access to hundreds upon hundreds of online casino games. These include video slots by some of the best game developers anywhere, including NetEnt and IGT. In other words, you can finally play iconic games like Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst, Cleopatra, and Divine Fortune Megaways easily and legally.
You’ll also be able to play plenty of table games like blackjack, dragon tiger, baccarat, and French, European, and American roulette. These games use an approved random number generator (RNG) to oversee gameplay, which ensures all games are fair for both you and the casino. But, if you’d rather play against other real-life players, or if you feel more comfortable having a dealer oversee the games, then live dealer casinos are also legal in Michigan. Here, you can play practically all the table games mentioned above, as well as poker, and these sorts of games usually allow for higher wages, too.
Last, but certainly not least, Michiganders can make sports bets on myriad national and international sports including golf, baseball, soccer, American football, and horse racing; while daily fantasy sports allow you to build your own teams and battle it out to see how far you’d have gone – and potentially win some money, too!
All in all, there aren’t many online casino games Michigan bans, and that means that you can try your luck at all of them!
Payment Options at Michigan Online Casinos
Whether it’s to play your favorite casino games or to withdraw your winnings, you will need to use one of the online casino payment options in Michigan. Thankfully, online sites in the Great Lake State have plenty of options for you to choose from.
The most obvious are credit cards, and they include the practically universally accepted Visa and MasterCard credit cards. These are extremely secure, and make deposits lightning fast, and withdrawal waiting time relatively short, too. Alternatively, however, you could also use online banking or ACH to safely and securely make both deposits and withdrawals – though it must be said that these transactions take longer to appear in your accounts.
e-Wallets like Skrill casinos and PayPal casinos also have a spot among online casino payment options in Michigan. These are safe, too, but they can add a level of privacy should you not wish your online gambling transactions to appear on your bank statements. Deposits and withdrawals this way are usually rather quick.
Finally, you could also go for more traditional payment options such as sending a check or making a money order. These are just as safe, but you’ll need to wait up to 10 business days for your money to go through.
Online Casinos Michigan FAQs
Is online gambling legal in Michigan?
Yes, online gambling in Michigan is legal as of December 2019. The Michigan gambling laws are being implemented and players will soon have a wide range of Michigan online casinos.
What is the legal gambling age in Michigan?
The legal gambling age in Michigan is 18 for casinos. However, it is 21 when the venue serves alcohol.
Can I play at an online casino in Michigan via mobile or tablet?
Yes, you can. The majority of Michigan online casinos can be accessed via mobile and tablet. In fact, some casinos even give players an additional bonus when signing up through their mobile.
What casino games can I play at Michigan online casinos?
Once the Michigan online casinos are set up, you can play any games that you wish. This depends on the online casino you sign up with.
Is it possible to play casino games with dollars?
Yes, it is. You will be able to deposit and withdraw USD into your account at online gambling Michigan sites.
Are the Michigan online casinos on this site regulated?
Yes, they are. Our online casinos are reviewed carefully by industry experts and our casinos are legal Michigan online gambling sites.
Am I eligible to receive a casino bonus at a Michigan Casino?
Yes, you are. The Michigan casino sites being developed will offer generous casino bonuses. You can find out all about the types of online casino bonuses on our dedicated page.
How do I start playing for real money at a Michigan online casino?
Firstly, read the reviews and select one of the Michigan online casinos from our toplist. Once you have registered with the online casino, you can deposit with your chosen payment options and you’re good to go. Don’t forget to pick up a bonus when you sign up!
Which online casino payment options are popular in Michigan?
There is a wide range of payment options you can use. You can find out about the selection on our payment options page.
Do I need to pay taxes on my gambling winnings in Michigan?
Yes, you would need to pay 25% of your gambling winnings if the value is over $5,000.
Can you keep your winnings at online casinos in Michigan?
The short answer is yes, but this depends on what you mean by ‘keep’. What you win at a casino is yours to play again or withdraw, but you may be required to meet wagering requirements if what you’ve won was through a bonus. Moreover, all winnings from gambling are taxable in Michigan, so you should declare them in your annual tax returns.
Play at a Real Money Michigan Casino Online & Walk Away with a Large Sum!
With these progressive changes in the Michigan gambling laws, we will see the growth of Michigan online casinos. This expansion will place Michigan on the map as a leading market for online gambling in the US. You are sure to find any of your favorite online casino games along with profitable casino bonuses. Your bankroll is bound to grow playing such entertaining casino games!
