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Michigan – Online Casinos & Gambling Regulations
With its name originating from the Ojibwe word “mishigami”, which translates to "large lake", Michigan is synonymous with the great lakes that surround it. Being the only state in the country with two peninsulas and located in the Northern regions, visitors can be blown away by the sheer beauty of nature on display. We suppose it is also worth mentioning that Michigan is one of the most progressive states in the country when it comes to gambling and even has a regulated online component that is able to cater to the gaming population of the around 10 million residents that live there, as well as visitors.
- Excellent range of customer support options
- Very generous welcome bonus
- Excellent ongoing promotions
- Great selection of progressive jackpots
- User-friendly mobile site
- Sportsbook, Poker, Casino & Live Casino
- Accepts players from most countries, including the US
- Deposit with FIAT or Cryptocurrency
- 3 welcome bonuses + crypto bonus on all deposits
- Play in the mobile casino without downloading an app
- Licensed by the Curacao Government
- Accepts Bitcoin
- Monthly and weekly promotions
- Mobile-first website design
- Live chat available 24/7
- Great for bingo players
- Lots of casino titles too
- Accepts Bitcoin deposits
- 24/7 customer support
- Mobile-friendly site
- One of the best Esports bookies around
- A small selection of casino games
- Solid sportsbook
- Available in seven languages
- Regulated by the Isle of Man GSC
Find the Best American Casino Online
Being a resident of Michigan means you are one of the lucky few that gets to enjoy gambling online from a fully regulated market without having to cross state lines. Playing from a regulated market means that you have the protection of government oversight, as well as the ability to take legal recourse should there be a need for it. That means you can spend more time looking for the things you like, such as good deals and large game selections, which is great. It is however advisable that you don’t find yourself becoming complacent, as illegitimate operations can still slip through the cracks on occasion. That is why it is a good idea to ask yourself a few simple questions before signing up with a site.
- Is the casino fully licensed?
- What is the reputation of the licensing body?
- Will you be able to use your preferred payment methods?
- Will you be able to participate in loyalty programs?
- Does the site feature sports betting?
The easiest way to confirm the legitimacy and value of a casino is by checking out a review for it, such as the ones found here at GoodLuckMate. Our casino reviews are written by industry veterans with the aim of providing an easy to understand yet thorough analysis of the various aspects of each site.
Gambling Regulation – The Michigan Gaming Control Board
Gambling regulations prior to 2019 are somewhat of a moot point in the state of Michigan. The Lawful Internet Gaming act was signed in December of 2019, giving way to a fully regulated casino market that can operate on both online and offline platforms. One of the main aspects of this act was granting the authority to the Michigan Gaming Control Board to issue gambling licenses to operators. The land-based component has been able to progress much faster than the online side, as it already had a presence, but it is the sports betting side that particularly benefited with the first sportsbook opening its doors in March of 2020.
Delays to the online market have been mainly due to the extra complexities involved in it, regarding the technology at work behind the scenes. which has required the Gaming Control Board to take the time to finalize all of the necessary regulations. It is however expected that online casinos and sports betting platforms will be available during the course of 2021. In the meantime, some sites that are already set to be authorized are offering deals to Michigan players who pre-register in preparation for the grand opening.
Localized Online Casinos
US players, also counting those living in unregulated states, have always had a good choice of localized content from online casinos even though it wasn’t done so with them in mind. It is simply impossible for the majority of online organizations to be able to cater to every distinct difference found throughout the world and therefore a few standards have been developed. This includes using English as a default language and having US dollars be a default currency.
Worldwide appeal is also big on the agenda and a lot of major US sporting events tick all the boxes in this respect, with events like the Superbowl and Kentucky Derby being widely represented at online sportsbooks. While these are great features for US players, there has often been a real lack of promotions and offers, simply due to the restrictiveness of the country. This definitely won’t be the case for Michigan though, once the rollout happens, as there will be huge incentives for sites to bombard customers with great deals in order to make a strong day one impression.
Gambling with US Dollars
US dollars on the internet are the currency equivalent of the English language. That is to say that most people are familiar with it and have probably used it in one form or another. No currency is as widely available online or as thoroughly supported by payment providers as the US dollars. This is why most online casinos use the currency as a default option for players whose local currency could not be supported for one reason or another. As such, online casinos have been fully equipped to handle US dollars for years now and way before regulated online gambling became a thing in the States. A variety of payment cards, e-wallets and bank transfer options are usually provided, giving you plenty of choice for how you wish to deposit your dollars.
Casinos in Michigan
Michigan’s largest city of Detroit is one of the country’s largest and most populated metropolitan areas in a state that is listed as the 10th most populated in the country. You can find a number of casinos and betting shops throughout Detroit now, with the total land-based casino count around 30 now across the state. What is most exciting though is what is yet to come, as 2021 appears to the watershed year for gambling in Michigan. Finally facilitating an online market will allow the government to properly benefit from gambling through taxation, which can then be used to fund public works and social supports. States like New Jersey, which have had a regulated market for some years now, have already shown off a dramatic increase in tax revenues from online casinos. A lot of hope is put on Michigan’s Gaming Control Board to make an equally successful debut into the online scene.