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Michigan has finally got its act together and has now provided us with a timeline as to when online sportsbooks and casinos will be up and running.
After a lot of speculation, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) announced that it would take between 4 to 6 weeks to get its sports betting and online casino industry up and running.
This would mean that punters in Michigan can expect legalized online gambling and sports betting by Jan 15.
The MGCB announced on December 10 that they have given the green light to 15 platform providers who will now get their provision licenses to operate in the state.
These 15 providers have tied up with Michigan’s tribal and commercial casino’s sportsbooks and have been waiting patiently to get their license approval from the gaming watchdog.
The provision licenses were awarded to the following partners: Sports Information Services Limited and Kambi, BetMGM and Roar Digital, American Wagering and William Hill Sportsbook, TSG Interactive US Services Limited and Fox Bet, Betfair Interactive US and FanDuel. Churchill Downs Interactive Gaming and TwinSpires.
The other partners include Gan Nevada Inc, Crown MI Gaming and DraftKings, Rush Street Interactive, Golden Nugget Online Gaming, PointsBet Michigan, NYX Digital Gaming (USA), Penn Sports Interactive and Parx Interactive.
Providers Must Meet Regulatory Requirements
The MGCB expects its legalized betting and online casino industry to be up and running by Jan 15, 2021. However, MGCB executive director Richard S. Kalm said it would be up to the licensed operators to ensure that they meet all regulatory requirements specified by the MGCB to get the green light to launch their services.
The official launch date for each provider will be determined by how quickly they can meet these requirements and get final approval to go live. There are a number of requirements that need to get approval, we list some of the below.
Licensed providers will have to get approval for occupational licenses for their main employees. They will also have to get all of their games and betting platform tested and vetted by an independent provider. Providers will also have to get final approval from the MGCB regarding all of their internal controls and procedures.
MGCB will be proceeding on a first come first launch model. Licensed operators can go ahead and launch their betting apps. Michigan players will also be able to create their accounts but will not be able to play any games until full approval is given to go live.
