In 2019 the Michigan Legislature and Governor Gretchen Whitmer passed a gambling ballot measure to expand sports wagering to the state of Michigan. The bill allows Michigan’s gaming control board to issue sports betting licenses to legal casino operators.
There are primarily two types of casino operators in Michigan: commercial and tribal casinos. Three commercial casinos are operating in the city of Detroit, and 23 tribal casinos throughout the state. All three of those commercial casinos already allow in-person sports betting. Twenty out of twenty-three of the tribal casinos are in the process of securing licenses.
Initially, there was a fifteen-day waiting period that the legislature had to adhere to before officially deciding on the rules and regulations behind the sports wagering licenses. In a Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, legislators waived that waiting period.
Now, Michigan residents may find online legal sports betting as soon as within the next forty-eight hours. The legislature expects over $90 million in revenue from the endeavor and hopes that the casinos regain their pre-coronavirus popularity on new online platforms.
Bettors outside of Michigan should not feel left out; five other states passed 2020 gambling ballot measures this election cycle. And if you don’t live in those states either, we always recommend our top-rated online international sportsbooks where you don’t have to worry about pesky state gambling laws restricting your wagers.
The five other states that passed 2020 gambling ballot measures are Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, and South Dakota. These measures were passed by voters in the general election and are expected to take effect by the end of 2021.
Colorado passed two Amendments related to gambling. The first expands the rights of non-profits who host bingo/raffle games that technically fall under gambling. The second specifically removes wager caps and expands types of games offered by gambling operators in the cities of Black Hawk, Cripple Creek, and Central City.
Louisiana passed an act that allowed its parishes to vote on whether or not to allow sports wagering in those parishes. This includes mobile sports betting as well. Fifty-six parishes approved the act, and only eight shot the measure down.
Maryland’s gambling ballot measure expands commercial gambling and allows sports betting within the state. However, legal sports betting licenses will only be issues to video game lottery license holders and racetrack license holders.
Nebraska also opened its gambling industry. With three consecutive ballot initiatives, Nebraskans struck down statutory restrictions, authorized gambling to racetrack operators, and created a taxing scheme for the new revenue.
South Dakotans opened its gambling industry within its premier gambling city, Deadwood. The amendment provides legal sports betting within Deadwood’s city limits and allows city residents to vote on the new casino and card games that licensed casinos may offer.
Sources:
Fox 2 Detroit