The beginning of the week saw the gambling regulator in the state of Michigan give the green light to a new online gambling and sports betting operator.
As revealed by The Detroit News, on February 15th, the Michigan Gaming Control Board officially provided the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and Pala Interactive LLC, which is its platform provider, with permission to offer online gambling and sports betting services in the state. Currently, the aforementioned Indian tribe operates three casino venues situated in Hartford, Dowagiac and New Buffalo as part of its Four Winds brand.
The move of the state’s gambling watchdog to authorize the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and its online gambling platform provider with the right to expand their offering has made it possible for them to become part of other companies and platform providers that have recently gotten the approval of the regulator after the state’s legal gambling sector was officially expanded with the two forms of gambling in January 2021.
The latest online gambling and sports betting platform was allowed to go live as of 12:00 PM, February 15th. This was confirmed by the executive director of the Michigan Gaming Control Board, Richard Kalm, who welcomed the addition of Pala Interactive and Four Winds Casino to the expanding online gambling and sports betting market.
Ten More Operators Allowed to Offer Online Gambling and Sports Betting in the State
As explained by Mr. Kalm, the addition of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians’ online gambling and sports betting services would generate fresh revenue for the state that would be used to support economic development, education and the tribal community of the nation.
Four Winds Casino will be the eleventh operator offering both new forms of gambling in Michigan. The rest of the gambling companies and platform providers that offer both online gambling and sports betting on the territory of the state are:
- Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (William Hill),
- Bay Mills Indian Community (DraftKings),
- MotorCity Casino (FanDuel),
- Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (Golden Nugget Online Gaming),
- Greektown Casino (Barstool Sportsbook and Casino),
- MGM Grand Detroit (MetMGM),
- Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (WynnBet),
- Little River Band of Ottawa Indians (Rush Street Interactive),
- Hannahville Indian Community (TwinSpires),
- Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (PokerStars and FoxBet)
For the time being, Lac Vieux Desert Tribe and its platform provider, PointsBet, are permitted to offer only online sports betting services.
The bill that made online gambling legal in the state of Michigan was transformed into law at the end of 2019. Under the provisions of the law, the state’s licensed casinos are allowed to offer online gaming and sports wagering services to local customers, while platform providers are permitted to partner with the casino companies in offering such services.
The Detroit News reminded that the gambling regulator of the state is expected to issue its report for the January online gambling revenue by the end of the week. Both Industry analysts and gambling companies and their platform providers have hinted of strong performance, especially considering the busy schedule of the key sporting events since the coronavirus measures have been relaxed.
