Michigan first permitted legal online casinos with its passing of the Lawful Internet Gambling Law in 2019. In the short time that the laws have come into effect, there is a sizable list of impressive online casinos Michigan that demand to be tried. In this guide to the best legal online casinos, we’ll present you with some great sites with top welcome bonuses.
To guarantee that all of the online casinos that we are recommending are of a high quality, we take the time to verify that each operator is a legal, trustworthy site. Throughout this review, we have covered the criteria we use to determine whether the sites in our list of MI online casinos are worth signing up to.
We consider important factors such as the welcome bonuses, the payment methods, the available games, and much more. As we only recommend legal sites here, we can assure you that all of the MI online casinos on this page have been licensed by an official local gaming regulator.
We only recommend casinos that are tested and verified by:
Michigan Gaming Control Board
National Council on Problem Gambling
About Michigan Online Casino Bonuses and Offers
If you want to start your time at a new gambling site with boosted benefits, we suggest you find a site with a great welcome bonus. The promotions are available to new customers and often come in the form of free spins and bonus funds that match your deposit.
Sometimes, bonuses are even offered without the need to make a deposit at all. Each real money online casino Michigan that we have recommended offers welcome bonuses, but how do you know which are the best? Below, we’ve ranked the sites according to their unique offerings before explaining how to spot a good bonus.
DraftKings Casino – MI Casino Bonus With Free Spins
The DraftKings Casino offers plenty in the way of new customer bonuses, whether that be for its sports betting site, DFS platform, or casino. In addition to bonus funds, DraftKings offers a cash bonus that can be used exclusively on slot spins. There are some great slots to play at the site, including 88 Fortunes.
BetMGM Casino – Best MI Casino
BetMGM Casino was chosen as one of the top the top online casinos in Michigan due to its great welcome bonus, impressive game selection, and smooth web platform. The site, which is affiliated with the MGM Grand Detroit land-based casino, also offers sports betting and a fast mobile platform.
BetMGM– Casino With Highest Payout Rate
BetMGM offers a big selection of games, just like the other sites on its list, setting standards high for both quantity and quality. As a NetEnt slot and table games provider, the site has a high RTP rate of around 96.0%.
BetRivers– Newest MI Casino With A Bonus
The BetRivers is just one of several new online casinos MI is set to launch in 2019. The site is affiliated with the land-based tribal casino established by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. The site is licensed by its own and Michigan’s gaming authorities, and all games are certified by GLI fairness testing.
DraftKings Casino – Top Slots Casino Offer
There are more than 400 slots available at the DraftKings Casino. These slots are extremely diverse in terms of the play styles, aesthetics, and themes, and there really is something for everyone. Featured slot providers include NetEnt, NextGen, and Big Time Gaming, the latter being behind the revolutionary MegaWays payout games.
Terms and Conditions of Bonus Offers — What to Consider
Before you claim a new bonus at one of the online casinos Michigan has on offer, there are several steps you can take to test the quality and value of the offer. First and foremost you need to read the terms and conditions. In this fine print, you will find details about the validity, wagering requirements, and any game restrictions,
The validity refers to how long you have to use the bonus before it expires. The wagering requirements are concerned with how many times funds must be wagered before they can be withdrawn as cash prizes. The game restrictions indicate what games can and can’t be played with the bonus.
It’s ideal to choose a MI online casino bonus with lower wagering requirements and longer validities. Also, the restricted games shouldn’t be ones that you want to play. If the terms are too unrealistic to meet for your style of gaming, it may be of little or no value to you at all.
Features of Legal Online Casinos in Michigan
There can be a lot of confusion about what constitutes legal or illegal online casinos in Michigan. The easiest way to tell if it’s been authorized is by checking whether or not it has been licensed. Licensing isn’t just a sign of legality, but it also guarantees that several important safety and security features are included.
For example, licensing requires that online casinos use strong encryption technology to protect users’ private information from hackers. It also ensures that responsible gambling guidelines are followed and that all games are fairness tested by independent laboratories. Unlicensed sites don’t guarantee any of these things so can’t necessarily be trusted.
Below, we have listed a few features that reputable, licensed online casinos in Michigan offer, such as:
Licenses
All legal online gambling sites in MI must first be licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. This government-run body thoroughly reviews every applicant to ensure they meet the highest safety standards. The organization also enforces rules and regulations and facilitates tax payments and fees.
Payment Methods
Trustworthy online casinos will only facilitate payments through high-quality, trustworthy payment providers. These should be major credit companies such as Mastercard or Visa, or e-wallets like Skrill or PayPal. These providers are known for their added layers of security as well as anti-fraud protections.
Fair Bonus Offers
Bonuses should never offer unrealistic terms that are impossible to meet no matter how much you play, nor should they encourage irresponsible gambling with short validities. Trustworthy sites will only offer bonuses that are both fair and fun.
Games and Software
Michigan is a liberal state when it comes to permitted online gambling games. The state permits online video slots, table games, bingo, sports betting, and daily fantasy sports. The options for online gambling Michigan grew even more in the summer of 2021 with the launch of live dealer games.
A sign of a trustworthy site is the quality of software developers that are represented. The best sites will only offer games from developers with reputations for creating fair games. If a site only offers slots from obscure providers, it indicates that it isn’t trusted by developers who only partner with authorized sites.
Online Gambling in Michigan – Legal Aspects
The Michigan online gambling law has recently developed in a positive way. At the end of 2019, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Lawful Internet Gaming Act into law. The intention of the act was to establish an online gaming market and outline the authorized kinds of legal gaming activities. It also set out a legal framework for license-holders to follow.
Included in the legal online gambling Michigan activities were online casinos, sportsbooks, poker sites, and daily fantasy sports. However, only current casino license holders in the state are able to apply for online gaming licenses, meaning that up to 26 individual sites can exist in the state at once.
The new Michigan gambling laws allow for major websites such as DraftKings to operate in the state on the basis that they partner with these casinos. It also gave power to the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) to overview the licensing process, impose fees and enforce any regulations. We assure you that all sites in our list of online casinos Michigan have been approved by this regulator.
Player Protection in MI Internet Casinos
The benefit of creating clarity with gambling laws is that laws establish clear frameworks for sites to maintain player protection standards. For instance, they guarantee that operators create and follow responsible gambling policies to protect vulnerable players and give problem gamblers a chance to self-exclude or self-limit.
In order to be granted a license, sites must also earn certifications from independent testing laboratories such as eCOGRA or GLI to verify that their games have not been tampered with. The best MI online casino sites have been certified to be fair and safe both independently and by government agencies.
Where in the US is Online Casino Gambling Legal?
Michigan is the latest of five states to legalize online casinos, and its first sites only launched in early 2021. Despite this, Michigan gambling is one of the least-restricted markets for both online casinos, poker, and sports betting. Other US online casino states include West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Overview of US Online Casino Licensing
Online casinos in MI are only legal if they have gone through the appropriate licensing process. To be qualified, the operators must already first be licensed as a land-based casino. Throughout the application process, operators must prove to have enough liquidity to support the sites as well as pay an application fee of $50,000.
Tax rates on gaming revenues hover between 20% and 28% depending on how much is earned. Players in Michigan are only allowed to gamble at sites approved by the Michigan Gaming Control Board despite the other legal states each having their own government-run licensing bodies. These regulators include:
New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement
West Virginia Lottery
Michigan Gaming Control Board
The Most Popular Casino Games in Michigan
Michigan gamblers are extremely fortunate when it comes to their online gaming options. The state has very few restrictions on what can be played, though the most popular games still remain to be slots. The best MI online casino sites offer dozens of popular titles from world-class software developers, so users have plenty of options when it comes to themes and features.
These games are also compatible with MI casino apps, so on-the-go gamers are also catered to. For table games fans, there are several roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and video poker options on offer. And while online poker and live dealer games are still yet to launch, these can be expected to debut in the coming months.
The best online slots in Michigan are those that come from reputable software developers, have loads of special features, and offer high return to player rates. Whether you’re into classic-style games or modern variants, you will find exactly what you need in the online slots MI libraries.
In the following section, we’ve covered the most popular slots that can be played at our recommended gambling sites.
Dazzle Me from NetEnt is an extremely popular, high-quality modern video slot that appeals to plenty of players due to its wide betting options. There are plenty of fun features to enjoy, including the Dazzling Wild Reels, free spins, and linked reels. There are 20 selectable paylines and a high RTP of 96.9%.
The vampire-themed Blood Suckers was released at the height of the vampire craze in 2009, but this title has truly outlasted the trend. It is perhaps most famous for offering one of the best slot RTPs, with the payout rate of 98% being truly outstanding. This NetEnt game has an updated sequel with improved graphics which is also available in MI.
Fans of the 80s rock back Guns N Roses can’t skip this dynamic and immersive slot. Built on a classic 5 reel set up with 20 fixed paylines, the game has a wide betting variance. You can expect to hear the band’s biggest hits while playing, with different features like free spins and a bonus game triggering different tracks.
Progressive slots are a kind of slot that offers the added bonus of hitting a massive cash jackpot prize. In most cases, the jackpots will build without end until they are claimed by one lucky winner. All of our recommendations are casino sites that payout jackpot prizes
The following games are popular progressive slots that can be found at several of our top-rated Michigan online casinos. We have briefly explained each to help you find a suitable jackpot experience.
Mercy of the Gods is an Egyptian-themed 5 reel, 20 payline video slot from NetEnt which offers three different jackpots. These Gift of Wealth Jackpots are available in the bonus round, with different combinations awarding either the Minor, Major, or Mega Jackpot. The progressive prize is offered across several NetEnt games so builds quickly.
Divine Fortunes – Hit the Mega Jackpot
The Divine Fortune slot is one of the most popular jackpot games in the USA. In fact, in 2020 the game broke online jackpot records when a PA woman won more than $500 thousand on the Mega Jackpot. Players have a shot at the jackpot in a special 15-reel bonus round.
MegaJackpots Golden Goddess – For Low and High Rollers
This ancient Greek-themed game was created by IGT and uses the company’s MegaJackpots system. This game offers a wide betting variance so it appeals to all players’ budgets. You can win the jackpot if you fill the reels with 15 MegaJackpot symbols on the main reels, so the prize can land at any time.
Blackjack is a classic card game that challenges players against dealers in a race to 21 points. As a long-time staple of Michigan’s land-based casinos, it’s great to see that there are plenty of online blackjack options available at the best Michigan online casinos, each with its own aesthetics and fun features.
There are several software developers behind the featured blackjack games, and in some cases, you’ll be allowed to play multiple hands and make side bets. A huge bonus of blackjack over other online gambling games is its high RTP, making it one of the fairest games on the market.
Like blackjack, roulette is a classic land-based casino game that is made exciting by plenty of different betting options. The biggest perk to playing roulette online is that some games offer incredibly small buy-ins, unlike land-based games which tend to have minimum bets of $5 per spin.
The most common online variants are American Roulette and European Roulette. While it may sound tempting to opt for the homegrown game, European variants have higher RTP rates, so these are a better bet in terms of fairness. That said, each game is made unique with its own interesting aesthetics that range from realistic to highly stylized.
Poker is an extremely popular attraction at Michigan’s land-based casinos, and early results are showing that online poker is causing just as much excitement. Several legal Michigan online casinos offer both online poker and video poker. The biggest difference between these is that online poker is played against real players, while video poker is played against computers.
Common and popular poker options include Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud. There are plenty of rooms available for varying buy-ins, and you have the option to join tournaments or single cash games. Video poker games can be great for improving your skills and tend to offer smaller minimum bets than online versions.
Live Casino
DraftKings
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Live dealer games have completely revolutionized the global online casino market in recent years. These immersive games pit players against real-life dealers who are streamed from high-quality studios. Popular games include live blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and even board game and TV game show adaptations.
Michigan is yet to launch live games, though we expect them to launch in the near future. Michigan gambling laws mandate that live studios must establish a presence in the state, and recent news suggest that both Playtech and Evolution Gaming are in the process of setting up local studios.
We will be sure to update this page as soon as live dealer games launch in Michigan. Below, we’ve listed several top global live software developers that could make a debut in MI in the next year.
Evolution
NetEnt
SG Digital
Playtech
Land-Based Casinos in Michigan
There are a huge 26 land-based casinos in Michigan. Of these, 23 are tribal casinos, and the remaining three are commercial enterprises such as the MGM Grand Detroit and Caesars’ MotorCity Casino. The local gambling market is extremely diverse and allows for land-based gambling on slots, table games, bingo, sports betting and more.
Michigan’s largest casino is the MGM Grand Detroit. With more than 3,500 slot machines and a 400-room hotel, this is the closest thing to Vegas-style gambling in the state. The Soaring Eagle Casino and the Four Winds Casino are perhaps the best-known and most comprehensive land-based tribal gambling options.
Below, we’ve listed details for some of Michigan’s top land-based gambling destinations.
Michigan Land-Based Casinos Overview
Fred Williams Author and Casino Expert
MGM Grand Detroit
🍒 3,500 slot machines, 🃏 143 table games
Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort
🍒 3,300 slot machines, 🃏 60 table games
Four Winds Casino Resort
🍒 2,600 slot machines, 🃏 49 table games
Online Casinos and Land-Based Casinos Comparison
Land-Based Casinos
More social
Buzzing atmosphere
Winnings paid out immediately
Tournaments, events, and entertainment
Complimentary drinks
Online Casinos
Huge game selection
Play on mobiles
Great bonus offers
Customer service 24/7
Impressive jackpots
More payment options
If you’re wondering whether it’s worth signing up to a Michigan gambling site, then wonder no more, they offer a few things that land-based casinos generally do not. For example, there is a much larger selection of slots to enjoy and the buy-ins for table games are also generally lower, making it far more attractive for newer players. Added to these two points, gambling sites usually offer better promotions and bonus offers for first-time players.
At MI online casinos, players have plenty of payment methods to use for both deposits and withdrawals. Each of these has been verified to be safe and secure, and includes credit and debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, and bank transfer systems. The more that is offered, the more players can be catered to.
Some payment methods offer more perks than others, whether that be larger transfer limits, more versatility, and quicker processing times. It’s best to do your research about which method will suit your needs the most before making any transactions, or checking whether any payments are ineligible to receive bonuses.
Common MI casino payment methods include:
Visa
Mastercard
PayPal
Skrill
Neteller
Bank transfers
BetMGM
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Although the Michigan online gambling market is only very young, we predict that it will soon become one of the most comprehensive in the country. With the best MI online casino sites also being some of the best casinos in the world, players have access to a huge range of high-quality and legal gambling products.
As the market continues to grow, we will continue to update this page with the most relevant information about new top sites. We recommend that you return to this page over the coming months for the latest offers and bonuses at legal MI gambling sites options.
Online casinos in Michigan have a great selection of games and offer a safe gaming environment. After thorough tests, I found the four best deals.
Do you still have more questions about online gambling in Michigan? Below, we’ve covered some more essential information to consider before choosing a site, as well as any common queries asked about the local gambling market.
Are online casinos legal in Michigan?
After drawn-out efforts, the Lawful Internet Gambling law was signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2019, legalizing MI online casinos.
This expansive gambling law is set to change the entire local gambling industry and will help benefit numerous state programs with additional tax revenues.
How do I choose the right MI online casino for me?
The only way to know if you can trust an online casino is by checking that it has been licensed. Licensing is an essential step that ensures applicants will offer online casino games with fair odds, secure payments, quick payouts, and responsible gambling mechanisms. Unlicensed sites are illegal and can never be trusted.
Is online sports betting also legal in Michigan?
Yes, online sports betting is also legal in Michigan. Most of our recommended MI casino sites even offer online sportsbooks, with the DraftKings Casino, in particular, being a world-class sports betting product. You are free to bet on sports through web platforms and on mobile devices.
Who regulates online casinos in MI?
All land-based casinos and licensed gambling sites are regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Furthermore, the online casinos linked to the tribal gaming establishments are monitored and regulated by their own tribal gaming groups.
Are there any lucrative bonuses for MI players?
Sure. You can check the value of a welcome bonus by looking into its terms and conditions. Here, you will discover the length of its validity, the game restrictions, and the wagering requirements. These are important casino welcome bonus details that can tell you whether or not the promotion will suit your needs.
Online Casinos and Land-Based Casinos in Other States