The legality of gambling in the US can be tricky, with each state enforcing its laws regarding what is and isn’t allowed. So, where does Michigan stand?
The short answer is that Michigan has a favorable climate when it comes to gambling. Ever since January 29, 2021, players can play poker at the best online casinos Michigan such as Stars Casino, BetMGM, and many more. At the date specified, Michigan became the fifth state to legalize online poker.
Looking deeper into the state’s laws, the Michigan Gaming Control Board is the governing body that oversees and regulates the industry. The law clearly states that outside vendors and platforms are allowed to establish a partnership with the state’s casinos and other gambling establishments.
To obtain a valid internet gambling platform provider license in Michigan, the state charges a $100,000 fee. On top of that, there’s a $50,000 application fee and a $50,000 yearly renewal fee. New Jersey and Pennsylvania also have a similar system in place.
Michigan’s population of 10 million people is estimated to be the country’s second-largest online poker market, right behind Pennsylvania. Many poker heavyweight champions come from Michigan, such as Joe Cada, Ryan Riess, and Jeff Gross, some of whom managed to take home millions in winnings.
Aside from online poker, the state also allows other forms of gambling, such as casinos and sports betting, if you are of legal age to participate. In Michigan, this is 21+. Although third-party providers are welcome around these parts, the player pools remain isolated from one another, so Michigan online poker players can only play against other players from the same region. Note that this could change when the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement comes into full effect in 2022 (depending on the operator).
To entice new player sign-ups, online poker sites in Michigan offer lucrative bonuses and player rewards that often come in deposit bonuses and tournament tickets. In some cases, they will give you a no deposit bonus, meaning there will be the house’s money waiting in your account’s balance you can use to test out the poker room’s in-game offerings.
A deposit bonus (sometimes called a welcome bonus) means that your initial deposit will be doubled (to a specific size). However, to prevent you from pocketing the difference and running away, the bonus is released in gradual increments as you play.
Finally, online poker rooms in Michigan will reward your loyalty with fantastic prizes, cashback, tournament tickets, and other goodies. Typically, there’s a point system to track your progress, with perks associated with different tiers.
The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to reside in Michigan to take advantage of these perks. As long as you’re physically located in the state and try to connect to one of its poker rooms, you will automatically be treated as a Michigan player based on your IP address.
You will, however, still be asked to provide specific personal details, along with your name, date of birth, and social security number. After that, the poker website will ask you to choose a username, set a password, and you’re off to the races!
Rest assured that all legal poker rooms in Michigan have taken the necessary steps to protect their players. Be on the lookout for the MGCB logo – this lets you know the operator in question is authorized, licensed, and regulated by the state’s governing body. This means fair betting practices, compliance with modern cyber security standards, and other measures designed to protect you, the player.
Once you get good enough, you’ll be pleased to know that Michigan poker players can participate in satellites to secure a spot in WSOP tournaments. Do you feel you have what it takes to take home the legendary WSOP bracelet?