The middle of the week saw the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) reveal that it has started to accept applications for online gambling and sports betting operator licenses both from commercial casino operators and Native American tribes in the state.
As announced by the MGCB, the firms supporting gambling operators and suppliers can now file their vendor registration applications to the gambling watchdog.
The executive director of the regulatory body, Richard S. Kalm, shared that the MGCB is still making progress towards the release of online gambling by adding forms for both vendors and operators. Mr. Kalm further noted that gambling operators should make sure they file their applications as quickly as possible so that the regulator can conduct its investigations and check whether they are in line with its lab certifications, technical standards, internal controls and other requirements. Furthermore, he reminded that the gambling companies and suppliers should ensure their vendors to also fill in and submit their registration forms.
All the related information and the forms can be found in the Internet Gaming and Fantasy Contests section of the watchdog’s website. Operators would also be able to find information about the expected timeline and the rulemaking process of the MGCB on the regulator’s website.
The agency started to accept forms from online gaming suppliers as of May 15th, 2020. Mr. Kalm revealed that the state’s gambling regulatory body remains hopeful that Michigan will officially roll out online gambling and online sports betting operations by the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021.
Online Gambling Is Expected to Be Rolled Out in Michigan in Late 2020 or Early 2021
Michigan lawmakers gave the green light to the legalization of online gambling and sports betting in December 2019.
In March 2020, casinos in the state of Michigan received permission to offer sports betting services on their premises. Unfortunately, they have been unable to take advantage of the legalization of the new form of gambling as the authorization came right before the coronavirus outbreak that resulted in a massive shutdown not only of the state’s economy but of businesses all over the world. With the lockdown measures now being gradually relaxed, many tribal casinos across the state have resumed operation but the three commercial casinos in Detroit remain shut.
Still, online gambling is coming to the state. Each of the Detroit-based commercial casinos already has a well-established online identity, so the process of gaming offering implementation should not take long. Currently, MGM Grand is partnering with BetMGM, Greektown is partnering with Barstool, while Motor City is collaborating with FanDuel.
On the other hand, Native American Tribes that operate casinos in Michigan have also inked several partnerships. The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians have recently revealed a partnership agreement with Kambi, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians have joined forces with PointsBet, while Bay Mills Indian Community is partnering with DraftKings. The other two tribes that operate casinos in the state – Grand Traverse band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians – have partnership agreements with William Hill and Scientific Games, respectively.
