If you live in Michigan and like to play online at SI Casino, you’ll have a few more months before it’s discontinued.
That’s because Sports Illustrated Casino and Sportsbook now plans to leave the Michigan gambling market in Q1 2025, according to a trading update filed last month.
The original plan was to shut it down at the end of 2024, but it’s now going to be delayed until the first quarter of next year.
Low Revenue Forcing Evoke to Leave Michigan
Michigan launched online casinos on January 22, 2021, and online poker followed a week later. The state has a total of 15 online casino licenses, which are held by Michigan’s 12 tribes and the three commercial casinos in Detroit.
Evoke, formerly 888 Holdings, bought 888’s US assets earlier this year and owns the SI Casino brand. It is leaving the Michigan market because SI's revenue has been disappointing. Even after switching from TwinSpires to SI Casino, it has consistently been the least popular among the 15 online casinos in Michigan.
A closer look at the numbers reveals that from June to September, SI couldn't even make $1 million a month from online gaming.
- June – $749,479
- July – $835,618
- August – $808,054
- September – $941,463
Since the gaming industry is always evolving, it necessitates constant strategic adjustments by operators—like this one. Waiting until the first quarter of 2025 will buy SI a little more time before its anticipated overhaul.
Hard Rock Expected to Fill The Gap in Michigan
People are talking more about the possibility that Hard Rock could be Michigan's next gaming operator after buying Evoke’s US assets.
Even though Hard Rock bought 888’s US assets, they still need to get their own license to operate in Michigan. Lisa Keith from the Michigan Gaming Control Board said they'll need to apply for it separately and get approval after going through the process.
If Hard Rock does decide to start in Michigan, it’s been said that they might work with the Hannahville tribe, which has an open license. When PlayMichigan asked Hard Rock about their plans for Michigan, a spokesperson did not give any details or a timeline for when they might start.
What If Hard Rock Balks and No Buyer Is Found?
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) limits the number of operators in the state to 15. With SI planning to exit in early 2025, a new spot will become available for another operator to enter the market.
Whether it’s Hard Rock, or not, remains to be seen, but the MGCBoard would have to vet and approve a new operator.
If no buyer is found, though, SI will stop its operations in the state, making a valuable online casino and sportsbook license available.
Evoke Promises No Disruptions in Service
That said, Evoke announced in May that it was fully committed to staying open and providing excellent betting and gaming experiences for players in the state.
This commitment appears to hold, as the SI casino continues to offer slots, table games, and live dealer options.
