Detroit Casinos Launch Michigan Sports Betting WednesdayThree Detroit Casinos Open First Sportsbooks In State History Wednesday At 1 PM |
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Three Detroit casinos will launch sportsbooks Wednesday afternoon, marking the first time those in Michigan will be able to legally place a wager on a sporting event inside state lines.
Last December, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill into law that legalized online gambling of all forms, including poker, and added sports betting to the list of regulated activities that its casinos could offer.
Whitmer made her state the 20th to legalize sports betting and with slightly more than a two-month turnaround time before launch, it’s also one of the quickest to go from signing to launch. MotorCity Casino Hotel, MGM Grand Detroit and Greektown Casino will open its respective sportsbooks at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
The launch comes just days after another midwest state, Illinois, launched its sports betting operation.
Michigan is home to three commercial casinos, all of which are located in Detroit, and another 23 tribal properties located throughout the state. The three commercial casinos get a slight head start on the tribal casinos, who will be able to launch sportsbooks later this year.
Despite the quick turnaround for brick-and-mortar establishments to offer sports betting, online betting won’t happen until next year. Regulators are still putting rules in place for an industry that hasn’t been regulated at the state level and they can’t start the licensing process until those rules are completed.
MGM Resort’s Vice President of Legal Counsel Louis Theros told the local ABC affiliate that he believes the launch of online betting will drive more people to the state’s casinos.
“We do know from our experience in New Jersey that internet online sports betting, internet casino gaming, does actually bring people back into the casino, because they win free room when they win a sports bet or play internet casino,” said Theros.
It’s estimated that Michigan’s recent gambling expansion will generate an extra $19 million in tax revenue to the state. That revenue will be used for the School Aid Fund, as well as used to help fund Michigan firefighters battle health issues related to on-the-job risks.
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