Michigan Ready to Roll Out Online Sports Betting in Early 2021

Michigan Gaming Control Board has finished with the in-person sports betting launch in March and online supplier licensing process in May…

…and has now signed off on provisional licenses for 15 platform providers to support commercial and tribal casinos and their online gaming and sports betting programme.

Doubts Cleared

The regulator has been quite unclear about the release of Michigan’s online sports betting and online gaming markets…

…with the doubt being whether they will be released at the end of 2020 or early 2021. The body’s website now lists early 2021 ad launch’s target date.

Some of the state’s provisional licensees include BetMGM, BetRivers, DraftKings, FOX Bet GAB, Golden Nugget, Kambi, Parx Interactive, PointsBet, William Hill, Scientific Games and so on.

MGCB’s executive director, Richard Kalm, has said that “The MGCB now can approve provisional licenses following the filing of the administrative rules for online gaming and sports betting Dec. 2 with the Office of the Great Seal.”

He added: “The platform providers still must meet other regulatory requirements before online gaming and sports betting can launch in Michigan. The launch date will depend on how quickly they can fulfill the requirements.”

No Emergency

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has, in December 2019, signed the sports betting and online gaming legalization bill…

…and as neighboring Indiana expedited its rule-making process, Michigan was hoping to release their market before the end of 2020. However, Governor has asked that emergency rules should not be used to speed up the process as the online gambling rules dod not meet emergency criteria.

Regulatory requirements must be completed by all platform providers before online wagering can begin in Michigan.

Kalm has said: “The platform providers’ ability to meet the requirements of the laws and rules will determine which entities can be licensed for launch first.”

During the March - August lockdown, the three commercial casinos in Detroit lost millions in revenue. They are now opened at 15% capacity.

From November 18th, the casinos were closed again and that was supposed to end on December 8th, but the virus’ surge in the state did not come to a halt and the casinos will remain closed until at least December 20th.

Source:

“Mich. Gaming Control Board approves 15 online gaming platform providers' licenses”, michigan.gov, December 10th, 2020.