Michigan to Launch Online Gambling and Sports Betting on Friday

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has given the green light for online gambling and online sports betting to start at noon Friday.

Nine casinos and their operators, including the three commercial casinos in Detroit, have got approval to start taking bets from Friday.

The board says some casinos and platforms still need to run more testing and should be cleared in the coming days. It said it will be in close contact with organizations to make any changes as needed.

“We want the public to have confidence when they place wagers, and our agency has required the providers to prove they meet Michigan’s standards, which are designed to protect the participants,” Richard Kalm, executive director of MGCB, said.

Experts forecast online gambling will generate more than $90 million in revenue in its first year. An 8.4% tax will be levied against casinos running it.

“Michigan residents love sports and, judging by inquiries we’ve received, eagerly anticipate using mobile devices to place bets through the commercial and tribal casinos. Online gaming and sports betting will provide the casinos with new ways to engage with customers while the state and local communities will benefit from taxes and payments on wagering revenue,” Kalm said in a release.