In-person sports betting will be launched by the Michigan Gaming Control Board in march, while the online vendor licensing process will take place in may, according to the agency’s forecast.
As of now, 15 platform providers have received provisional licenses in order to support the sports betting and online gaming program of commercial and tribal casinos.
Operators that will receive provisional licenses
Michigan’s sports betting and online gaming launch schedule has so far been inaccurate by the regulator. Confusion was generated as to whether these launches later this year or early 2021.
However, the regulator’s website has reported that the launch will finally be early next year. Among the companies that receive provisional licenses from the state are: DraftKings, BetMGM, BetRivers, FOX Bet GAB, Kambi, Golden Nugget, Parx Interactive, William Hill, PointsBet and Scientific Games, among others.
“The MGCB can now approve provisional licenses following the presentation of the administrative rules for online games and sports betting on December 2 at the Office of the Great Seal,” said MGCB Executive Director Richard Kalm.
“Platform providers still have to meet other regulatory requirements before online gaming and sports betting can launch in Michigan. The release date depends on how quickly they can meet the requirements,” he added.
Delays in Michigan
Although Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer passed the bill to legalize sports betting and online gaming a year ago, these markets were planned to launch later this year.
Instead, Indiana put its foot on the gas to free its market as soon as possible. Although, the governor asked that the emergency rules were not used to push this process, because they were not designed for these cases.
Before Michigan Online Gambling begins operations, all platform providers will be required to fully comply with state regulatory requirements.
In this regard, Richard Kalm commented:
“The ability of platform providers to meet the requirements of laws and regulations will determine which entities can be licensed for launch first.”
Detroit’s casino industry has been hit hard during the pandemic. The income losses from march to august of the three bookmakers have been millionaires. Following the second coronavirus outbreak in the state, casinos are now operating at just 15% of capacity. So they will remain until about december 20.
Source: https://lcb.org/news/michigan-ready-to-roll-out-online-sports-betting-in-early-2021