Michigan's law legalizing online gambling was signed at the end of 2019 and it now allows only the state's licensed casinos to offer online gaming and sports betting. Platform providers can pair up with the casinos. The Michigan Gaming Control Board announced February 15, 2021 that it has authorized another online gaming and sports betting operator.
Gambling industry insiders and various operators and platform providers have signaled online gambling has begun with a strong start amid a packed schedule of major sporting events happening since the initial launch. Since the official launch of online gaming and sports betting the Michigan Gaming Control Board has approved a number of operators including The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, which is operating under the Four Winds brand in Dowagiac, Hartford and New Buffalo along with the Band’s platform provider Pala Interactive LLC now offering its products online. The Four Winds brand is the eleventh online gambling operator now ready to give online gambling and internet sports players a chance in Michigan. The Lac Vieux Desert Tribe and its platform PointsBet is number twelve of the applications accepted by the Michigan Gaming Control Board but it will only offer sports betting online for the time being.
Richard Kalm, executive director of the MGCB commented on the granting of the internet gambling license, “We welcome the addition of Four Winds Casinos and Pala Interactive to Michigan’s growing online gaming and sports wagering market. Their participation will generate revenue to support education, economic development and the Pokagon Band’s tribal community.”
The legislation took a long time to complete and is considered one of the measures in the state that are supposed to compensate for financial losses experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The PokerStars and FoxBet platforms are also authorized to provide online poker in Michigan. Consumers in Michigan are only allowed to play legally with fellow residents of the jurisdiction, although the MGCB announced that later this year it will approve interstate gambling.
