Typically Christmas is considered the most wonderful time of the year, but January isn't too bad for sports fans. Whether you like the NFL, NBA, college hoops, UFC, golf, soccer, hockey — you name it, it's probably going on right now.
It's the perfect time for legalized online betting to launch in a state, and that's exactly what's happening Friday, January 22 in Michigan.
Sports betting first launched in the Wolverine State in early March of 2020, but the regulations at the time made it so bettors first had to go in person to a casino to sign up for a sportsbook account. That changes Friday, though, as the whole betting process in Michigan will be online. Adults in the state will be able to register, deposit and bet with their phones or computers anywhere within state lines.
Ten sportsbooks are set to launch on Friday, including BetMGM, one of the biggest players in the early U.S. market. Read more about Michigan sports betting below, as well as the launch of BetMGM.
When Will Online Sports Betting Be Live in Michigan?
Online sports betting will go live in Michigan this Friday, as reported by our own Ryan Butler.
Tennessee, the most recent state to add legal online betting, launched with just four sportsbooks (DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Action 24/7), and even a month later it's still just that quartet. Michigan, however, has superior regulations, which will make it an enticing state for sportsbooks.
A total of fifteen sportsbooks have been approved for sports betting in Michigan already, 10 of which will be able to take bets this Friday.
It's good timing for Michigan, which will be live in time for the NFL Playoffs this weekend — and most importantly before the Super Bowl in February and March Madness a month later.
When Will BetMGM Launch in Michigan?
BetMGM has already been approved by the Michigan Gaming Control Board and will launch Friday.
Most people have surely heard of the MGM brand thanks to its worldwide reach within the hospitality industry. Bettors certainly know it thanks to its casinos in Las Vegas — including Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand and Bellagio — as well as New York, Massachusetts, Michigan and elsewhere.
When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down PASPA in 2018, allowing states to legalize and regulate sports betting, BetMGM was set up to be a major player in the burgeoning industry, and that's indeed what's happened in the 2.5 years since. They're now live in eight states — Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia — and Michigan on Friday will make it nine.
BetMGM also assuredly has plans to launch into more states as they come online over the next couple of years and is set up well to compete for market share alongside other major players like DraftKings, FanDuel and William Hill.
BetMGM Michigan Information, Review & Promo Code
BetMGM is one of the biggest books in the U.S. already and for good reason: They're available in a ton of states, they have a solid website and app that's quite user-friendly, and they're generous with promotions.
They also have fair odds and try to find ways to be distinct in their offerings. For example, while almost all books observe dead-heat rules in golf betting — that means if you bet a golfer to place top-five and they tie, you get a reduced payout in accordance with how many golfers tie for fifth — but BetMGM pays out in full, making it one of the best books to use for golf betting.
They offer betting on pretty much every sport you could think of, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college football and basketball, soccer, tennis, boxing, UFC, NASCAR, golf, eSports, and way more.
BetMGM should absolutely be one of the books in Michigan bettors' portfolio, and those wanting to sign up don't have to wait until Friday afternoon; in fact, bettors can get $200 in free bets for signing up early. No promo code needed — just click this link and you'll get $200 Friday when they officially launch.