History and facts of Michigan casinos
The state of Michigan is one of the most admired states when it comes to legalizing online casino gambling, and it has since legalized DFS, online poker, online casinos, and sports betting which essentially means playing online casino games at a licensed Michigan online casino will not put you on the wrong side of the law, and you can confidently claim your winnings at any time. Michigan has a bunch of casinos right now, with three big commercial ones and the rest tribal. As a matter of fact, as of 2024, Michigan is home to 26 physical or land-based casinos, with 15 of those same casinos providing online casino gambling.
Horse racing is among the first categories of gambling to be legalized in the state; its legalization was in 1933. It authorized and regulated horse racing in the state, and this also led to the creation of the Office of Racing Commission. Act 382 was passed in 1972, permitting nonprofit organizations to generate funds via licensed bingo games, charity game tickets, raffles, and millionaire parties.
Fun fact: the first lucky lottery winner in Michigan was Hermus Millsaps, carting home $1 million on February 22nd, 1973! Lottery went online in the state in 2014, and gamblers could purchase tickets via their computers and mobile devices. Online gambling, online poker, fantasy sports, and sports betting were legalized in 2019 by the Michigan Legislature, permitting commercial and tribal casinos to apply for gambling licenses. March 2020 saw the advent of retail sportsbooks in Detroit. Meanwhile, the first tribal casino opened for business in 1984, with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe becoming the prime tribe ever to sign a deal with the Michigan state government.
Gamblers in the state can also access these other forms of gambling as highlighted below:
- Detroit commercial casinos
- Tribal casinos
- Michigan lottery
- Licensed charity gaming
- Horse racing or Pari-mutuel wagering
Michigan takes pride in the fact that it is one of the most progressive, forward-looking states when it comes to gambling, and the legalization of both offline and online gambling did not have as much “drama” attached to it, unlike in other states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This lack of drama can perhaps be attributed to the fact that gambling taxes have all but paid for the School Aid Fund, especially when the tax revenue in the state exceeded all expectations and came at a mammoth total of $354 million in 2023. This number is even predicted to grow more this year, as players have already wagered an astonishing total of $181 million in January of this year alone! There’s no way to go but up - and Michigan residents and lawmakers alike are reaping the benefits as we speak.