Gamblers in Michigan who were hoping for the early Christmas present of online gaming in their state may now have to wait until after the turn of the year, according to the latest reports. It was expected that online casino gaming and sports betting would begin in Michigan sometime this month, but those hopes have faded with the most recent news.
Legislators Waive Waiting Period, But Hurdles Remain
In a meeting last Tuesday, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules waived the 15-day waiting period to give online gaming rules final approval. That decision is helpful, but launch is still potentially six weeks away due to the remaining steps in the process, according to Michigan Gaming Control Board executive director Richard Kalm.
In an interview with MLive.com, Kalm stated “We’re going to give them provisional licenses as soon as we get all the paperwork and then finish our background investigations, and also the platforms that are required to submit their software and testing labs to make sure they comply with all of our requirements. So that’s gonna take a little bit of time to get that done.”
Kalm did add that he does expect the eventual launch to go smoothly. “I’m amazed at the team that we’ve got here at gaming and how much we’ve accomplished given the remote circumstances we’re dealing with. The tribes have been very cooperative. I can’t tell you how happy I am with how good this has gone to this point, so I anticipate a seamless launch.”
That is good news for prospective players. If launch does occur within the next six weeks, that would enable bettors to make legal online bets on the upcoming NFL playoffs. With the Detroit Lions remaining on the fringes of the NFC playoff picture after winning at Chicago on Sunday, there is still hope that Lions fans could have the chance to bet on their own team from the comfort of their home come January.
The start of online casino gaming and sports betting will also be a big boost for Michigan’s land-based gaming operators, who, like land-based operators in other states that provide legal gambling, have taken a hit to their revenue due to the ongoing pandemic. Currently, a number of the state’s casinos are closed to the most recent shutdown order that was issued in mid-November.
Pre-Launch Bonuses Available for Michigan Gamblers
A few prominent operators are already offering pre-launch bonuses for gamblers in the state, so players who act fast will have some extra money to work with when launch time comes.
At Fanduel Michigan, those who register before launch will receive a $100 no-deposit credit, getting $50 for the sportsbook and another $50 for the casino. DraftKings has an even sweeter offer for Michigan bettors, offering $200 for new signups in the form of a $100 free sports bet and $100 in casino credits. Also, BetRivers is offering $50 in site credits at launch for those who register now.
Those offers are likely to be only a few of the many available in the coming weeks, and operators are likely to offer other bonuses and perks as well upon launch. So even though there may still be several more weeks to wait it out, the wait will be worth it.