The long-awaited arrival of Michigan online sports betting appears to be nearing an end.

After initially missing optimistic projections of a fall 2020 launch, January quickly emerged as the most likely target for the launch of the state’s official legal sports betting rollout. It would seem such a target remains very much in play based on the latest indications from Michigan Gaming Control Board executive director Richard Kalm:

Notably, an exact launch date should be identified in the coming days, giving prospective Michigan sports bettors hope that the rollout will come ahead of the biggest sports betting event of the year, Super Bowl 55.

Not only would be that be a fortuitous development for those hoping to reap the benefits of legal online sports wagering, it would be a welcomed development for the state as it cashes in on Super Bowl betting tax revenue.

 

Michigan Online Sports Betting on Target for January

The march to the formal launch of Michigan online sports betting appears ready to conclude just a bit more than a year after Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed off on legislation in Dec. 2019.

Since then, lawmakers and policymakers have been at work crafting the state’s official gaming rules and regulations. The finishing touches are now being applied as the state is reportedly on the brink of announcing a launch date.

Fortunately for Michigan residents, such rules will promote convenience and competition as bettors will have numerous online sports betting operators from which to choose.

In terms of overall convenience, once betting officially goes live in Michigan, residents will have the opportunity to download and register for leading online sportsbook apps from anywhere within the state’s limits. This is not the procedure in all legal markets as Illinois and Iowa previously enacted an in-person registration policy which required prospective bettors to travel to partnered retail locations to complete the sign up process.

Currently, Illinois has put a pause on such regulations because of COVID-19 concerns, while Iowa’s in-person registration requirement expired on Jan. 1.

What to Expect When Michigan Online Sports Betting Launches

With over 10 million residents, four major professional sports teams and numerous Division I college football and college basketball programs in-state, the expectations for the Michigan legal sports betting market are sky-high.

The state is expected to announce the first sportsbook operators to go live in the coming days, but what is currently known is that Michigan figures to be an extremely competitive market.

Top operators such as DraftKings Michigan Sportsbook, FanDuel Michigan Sportsbook , and BetMGM Michigan are expected to be among the first to launch. These apps have typically been among the first to go live in other legal markets and each currently offers a pre-registration bonus that puts bonus dollars in accounts just for signing up early.

Bonuses Available

For instance, DraftKings Sportsbook is running a $200 pre-registration bonus (get it here), while FanDuel is giving players who sign up early a $100 pre-registration bonus (get it here). Similarly, BetMGM offers a $200-pre registration bonus (get it here).

Such offers are an early indication that rival sportsbooks will be in fierce competition to acquire new players and earn their betting action right from the start of Michigan online sports betting. With Super Bowl 55 scheduled for Feb. 7, Michigan bettors can expect a slew of aggressive bonuses, boosts and free bets right from the anticipated January launch date.