Michigan Online Casinos: The Best Real Money Apps Are Now Live
Online casinos are about to go live in the great state of Michigan, opening a world of possibilities to bettors interested in MI online sports betting. Just over a year ago, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, signed legislation brought to her by a Republican-led legislature into law, making Michigan the 21st US jurisdiction to legalize sports betting and with it, online casino gaming.
Our top recommended online casinos in MI include DraftKings Casino Michigan, FanDuel, BetMGM Michigan Casino, BetRivers Michigan Casino, and PointsBet. While there are other online casinos with offerings for bettors in The Great Lakes State, the five aforementioned online casinos have shown proof of concept in a number of states and have received rave reviews from bettors.
Of our recommended online casinos, BetMGM, FanDuel, and BetRivers have announced their tech partners in addition to the brick and mortar casinos they’ve partnered with on the MI license.
Michigan Online Casinos Launching Friday, Jan. 22
The rumor mill had pointed to a delayed online casino launch in Michigan, but that is not the case. The Michigan Control Board has given the green light to 8 online casino operators for a Friday, Jan. 22 launch:
- BetMGM (online casino & sportsbook app)
- BetRivers (online casino & sportsbook app)
- DraftKings (online casino & sportsbook app)
- FanDuel (online casino & sportsbook app)
- Golden Nugget (online casino & sportsbook app)
- TwinSpires (online casino & sportsbook app)
- William Hill (online casino & sportsbook app)
- WynnBET (online casino & sportsbook app)
With 8 major casino brands launching at one time in Michigan, we may get a great read on who the market leader is for online gaming in the United States.
Online Casinos coming soon to Michigan:
- PointsBet Casino
- PokerStars Casino
- Parx Casino
1. DraftKings Online Casino Michigan
DraftKings is expected to launch its Michigan online casino in early 2021. What will set DraftKings Online Casino apart from its peers is its focus on table and live dealer games. In fact, in New Jersey, they’ve built out their own studio which facilitated the launch of live dealer games in PA. Unlike other live dealer options, DraftKings will set its Blackjack game in a modern studio with dealers in sports jerseys and potentially games on the TV behind them. It’s a subtle change, but a more modern one that will appeal to a younger demographic.
Types of Games Offered
Blackjack
- Blackjack
- Classic Blackjack
- Pride Blackjack
- Retro Blackjack
- Baseball Blackjack
- Basketball Blackjack
- Football Blackjack
- Hockey Blackjack
- Soccer Blackjack
- Touchdown Blackjack
- Single Hand Blackjack
- Players Suite Blackjack
Roulette
- Roulette American
- Basketball Roulette
- Roulette European
- Touchdown Roulette
- Lightning Roulette: First Person
- Roulette: First Person
Table Games
- Baccarat
- Four Card Poker
- Jacks or Better: Double Up
- Game King Video Poker
- Let It Ride
- Three Card Poker
Live Table Games
- Blackjack Live
- Infinite Blackjack Live
- Roulette Live
Slots
DraftKings Casino is expected to roll out upwards of 130 different slot games, including fan-favorites such as:
- The 100,000 Pyramid
- Baywatch
- Bruce Lee
- Cats
- Cleopatra
- Conan
- DaVinci Diamonds
- Guns N Roses
- Jimi Hendrix
- Jumanji
- Monopoly: Mega Movers
- Motörhead
- Ozzy Osbourne Video Slots
- Spartacus: Gladiator of Rome
- Wheel of Fortune: Hawaiian Getaway
- Zeus
Expected deposit methods:
- online banking (ACH)
- credit or debit card
- Pay with Cash at 7-11
- cash at cage
- wire transfer
DraftKings Online Casino app and platform availability:
- Desktop-laptop
- Android
- iOS
Promos
$200 Risk-Free
DraftKings Online Casino offers new users a free $200 pre-launch bonus, allowing for new users a risk-free look at the online casino. The $200 of bonus money is split in half: $100 is for use in the related sportsbook, while the other $100 is dedicated specifically to be used on blackjack tables.
100% Deposit Match Up to $1,500
New users can take advantage of an absolutely bonkers deposit match deal of up to $1,500. To qualify, users must deposit at least $5 to get a deposit match up to $1,500. The bonus funds credited to the account can be used in the online casino and sportsbook. The one caveat in this promo is the 25x playthrough requirement, which is valid through the first 90 days from the date of the first deposit.
2. FanDuel Casino Michigan App
FanDuel is easily one of the most recognizable names in daily fantasy sports and built upon that national profile as they took the sports betting market by storm. Led by an industry-leading app with a user-friendly UI, FanDuel has become a go-to for those interested in MI online sports betting.
FanDuel isn’t just a sports betting company, as users in PA and NJ have already learned. Working out of the same app as their online sportsbook, FanDuel Online Casino has a health list of user-friendly games to take part in.
Types of Games Offered
Table Games
- Blackjack
- American Rouleette
- Blackjack Classic
- First Person Lightning Roulette
- First Person Blackjack
- First Person Roulette
- European Roulette
- Baccarat
- French Roulette
Slots
- Divine Fortune
- Wheel of Fortune Triple Extreme Spin
- Pyramid: Quest for Immortality
- Red Hot Tamales
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- Starburst
- Wild Bazaar
- Gonzo’s Quest
- Blood Suckers
- Dead or Alivee
- Butterfly Staxx
- Cleopatra
- Triple Diamond
- DaVinci Diamonds
- Double Diamond
- Victorious
- Crown of Egypt
- Jumanji
- Butterfly Staxx 2
- Guns N’ Roses
- Flowers
- Mercy of the Gods
- Treasures of Troy
- Elements: The Awakening
- Triple Red Hot 7s
- Electric Tiger
- Jingle Spin
- 100,000 Pyramid
- Fairytale Legeends: Hansel and Gretel
- Baywatch
- Golden Goddess
- Golden Grimoire Touch
- King of Atlantis
- Spiñata Grande
- Hotline
- Wolf Run
- Grand Spinn
- Pixies of the Forest
- Fruit Shop
- She’s a Rich Girl
- Motörhead Video Slot
- Conan
- Jimi Hendrix
- Wheel of Fortune Hawaiian Getaway
Video Poker
- Game King Video Poker
Live Table Games
- Live Dealer Infinite Blackjack
- Live Dealer Roulette
- Live Dealer Slingshot Roulette
- Live Dealer Blackjack
Promos
Michigan Pre-Launch bonus up to $200
Sure, this sign-up bonus isn’t as gaudy as those $1,000+ deposit matches you can find elsewhere, but you can consider this as more of an insurance play. Any new bettor who signs up and accrues up to $200 of net losses in their first 24 hours will be eligible to get a refund of 100% of those losses up to $200. Any credited money will be refunded via casino credits. Those casino credits require a 1x playthrough before they can be withdrawn, which is a fantastic value and a straightforward contingency.
3. BetMGM Michigan Casino App
BetMGM has shown a willingness to take user feedback and apply it to improve their online product. BetMGM’s partnership with GVC’s Roar Digital saw an incredible overhaul of their system, resulting in near-unanimous approval by the public.
Roar Digital -initially founded in 2018 with the goal of offering a world-class online gaming and sports betting platform to bettors in the US- is the online gaming arm of GVC Holdings and MGM Resorts International.
Since the partnership, bettors have been treated to industry-leading features including:
- Early cashout options, which allows players to settle their bets prior to the official end of a game.
- A unique one-wallet system, allowing for seamless movement of funds between the online casino portions of the BetMGM app with online poker and sportsbook branches.
- Live scoreboards, including live in-game bet tracking.
- Daily odds boosts
- Streamlined transactions, which feature a varied set of deposit options.
The MGM name has perhaps the widest appeal and built-in legitimacy, with their name synonymous with their Las Vegas casino.
Given that BetMGM has had the benefit of working out the kinks of their online casino in a number of states, it stands to reason they’ll acquit themselves well in The Great Lakes State.
Types of Games Offered
Table Games
- American Roulette
- European Roulette Pro
- Jacks or Better: Double Up
- Blackjack
- French Roulette
- Black Jack
- Roulette Advanced
- American Roulette
- Game King Video Poker
- European Roulette
- Black & Yellow Roulette
- Let It Ride
- Lightning Roulette: First Person
- Baccarat: Professional Series
Live Table Games
- Blackjack Live
- American Roulette
- American Auto Roulette
- Roulette: First Person
- Infinite Blackjack
- Lightning Roulette: First Person
Slots
BetMGM Online Casino continues to build upon an already impressive lineup of over 120 slots including:
- MGM Grand Millions
- Loot’en Khamun & The Dead Sea Scrolls
- Melon Madness Deluxe
- Starburst
- Turn Your Fortune
- Wheel of Fortune: Triple Extreme! Spin
- DaVinci Diamonds
- Mighty Black Knight
- Wheel of Fortune: Hawaiian Getaway
- Spartacus: Gladiator of Rome
- MadMad Monkey
- Fortune Coin
- Mercy of the Gods
- Divine Fortune
- Aztec Myths
- Cleopatra
- Red Hot Tamales!
- Monopoly Mega Movers
- 88 Fortunes
- Lightning Horseman
Promos
$25 No Deposit
That’s right. BetMGM is so confident you’ll love their user-friendly app that they’re willing to give new users $25 in bonus credits without needing to make a single deposit.
Deposit Match of Up to $1,000
New users to BetMGM can be eligible to receive a deposit match in the form of bonus money of up to $1,000. Note: the minimum deposit required to qualify for a deposit match is $10. The required playthrough of 20x is less than other online casinos. New users have to make their initial deposit within five days of creating their accounts.
4. BetRivers Michigan Casino
BetRivers Online Casino offers a wide variety of slots and a number of table games, including some of the live variety. All told, their online casino has 200+ offerings. BetRivers Online Casino features a shared wallet with BetRivers Sportsbook, which allows users to pull from the same pool of money between the different branches of the app.
Types of Games Offered
Table and Card Games
- European Roulette
- Blackjack
- American Roulette
- First Person Lightning Roulette
- Baccarat
- Blackjack: First Person
- Roulette: First Person
- Infinite Blackjack
- Roulette
- French Roulette
Live Table Games
- Blackjack Live
- Roulette Live
Video Poker
- Game King Video Poker
- Jacks or Better: Double Up
Slots
- Season’s 7s
- Fire Wolf II
- Bonanza Blast
- Let It Ride
- Hercules High & Mighty
- Baywatch
- Wild Wild Gems
- Halloween Jack
- Monopoly Mega Movers
- MadMad Monkey
- Conan
- Jack Hammer
- Jumanji
- Neon Staxx
- The 100,000 Pyramid
Deposit methods:
- online banking (ACH)
- credit or debit card
- Pay with Cash at 7-11
- cash at cage
- wire transfer
BetRivers Online Casino app and platform availability:
- Desktop-laptop
- Android
- iOS (mobile web only)
Promos
$250 Deposit Match
While BetRivers Online Casino doesn’t offer the gaudy, attention-grabbing deposit match in excess of $1,000, they do offer a straight-forward deposit match of up to $250. Simply deposit a minimum of $10 and BetRivers will match it up to $250.
5. PointsBet Casino
While the name recognition isn’t the same as some other national brands, PointsBet has made a name for themselves with an incredibly user-friendly app, some next-level features, and top-class customer service.
Some online casino apps bombard users with a plethora of large, bold promo ads. PointsBet is a different animal altogether. Navigating the PointsBet is like a synergetic experience with an app that simply gets you. The promo ads are easily accessible, but the user’s focus is clearly drawn to the extensive selection of games.
Types of Games Offered
At this point, PointsBet is still working out releasing the names of their slot and table games. We fully expect 50+ slots at launch, as well as a combination of live dealer games and virtual poker.
Promos
PointsBet hasn’t announced any guaranteed promos for the Michigan market yet. However, if we take a look at what they’ve done in the past, it’s possible to predict what could be offered.
$25 Free Cash
In the past, the eligibility contingency has been based on a bettor making a marginal deposit that needs to be used within a short time frame. At that point, the $25 free cash is eligible to be withdrawn.
Deposit Match up to $1,500
Based on PointsBet’s history, it stands to reason they’ll enter the market with a deposit match that’s at least in line with the other big name online casinos. The thing that could set PointsBet apart is a lower playthrough requirement, as opposed to the 20x or 25x playthrough requirement of their competitors.
Eligibility Requirements
In addition to being at least 21 years of age, online casinos will require the following information when an interested bettor seeks to sign up for an account:
- Full name
- Home address
- Driver’s License (optional)
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Phone number
The Path to Online Gambling
The Legalization History of Online Gambling in MI
It’s been just over a year since the Republican-controlled Michigan legislature brought the gambling expansion proposal via bills HB-4916 and HB-4311 -including online gambling and sports betting- to the desk of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, which was signed into law in what many viewed as a compromise between representatives of a divided two-party system.
In doing so, Michigan became the 21st US jurisdiction to legalize sports betting:
With @GovWhitmer’s signature today, Michigan is the 21st U.S. jurisdiction to legalize sports betting. “These new markets offer more Americans a safe, legal way to wager on sports while positively impacting communities.” @BillMillerAGA’s full statement: https://t.co/EvbfDGX6tD pic.twitter.com/9XFhCSq705
— American Gaming Association (@AmericanGaming) December 20, 2019
Online Casino Tax Rates in Michigan
Online casinos are taxed at the following rates in PA:
- Varied Tax Rate
- 20% for Adjusted Gross Receipts less than $4 million
- 22% for Adjusted Gross Receipts of $4m-$8m
- 24% for Adjusted Gross Receipts of $8m-$10m
- 26% for Adjusted Gross Receipts of $10m-$12m
- 28% for Adjusted Gross Receipts of $12m or more
- Sports betting: 8.4%