Michigan onsite sports betting will begin March 11

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The first legal sports betting in Michigan will begin next week, state regulators said Friday.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board is expected to give final approval after presentations by all three commercial casinos in Detroit this week. MGM Grand plans to go live at 1 p.m. Wednesday. It was not clear when Greektown and MotorCity casinos will start.

Online and mobile sports wagering through the Detroit casinos or tribal casinos is expected to start in 2021.

Richard Kalm, executive director of the gaming board, said staff worked hard to make the launch of in-person sports betting possible in time for March Madness, the NCAA men's basketball tournament that starts March 17.

“This new gaming opportunity has been highly anticipated, and we hope citizens will enjoy it and see benefits from additional revenue to both the state of Michigan and the city of Detroit,” Kalm said in a statement.

Onsite sports betting at 24 tribal casinos across western and northern Michigan is not regulated by the state, though platform providers and other suppliers working with the tribes will need a license for online wagers. They will announce the launch of their physical sports books individually.

Michigan legalized sports betting and online gambling in December.

To wager on sports, people must be at least 21 years ago. Casinos that open physical or online sports books will pay an 8.4% tax on receipts after winnings are paid out.

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