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Michigan is one of the biggest and most successful states for gambling, but this wasn’t always this way. The gambling industry of Michigan is just short of reaching 50, but it has achieved quite a lot in the half a decade of its existence.

The residents of Michigan have plenty of excellent retail and online casinos to choose from. There are also plenty of opportunities for sports betting and other types of gambling excitement.

There is also a place for tribal casinos, and there are plenty of them, 23 to be exact. The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians proudly boasts the largest number of casinos in Michigan, with a total of five gaming properties, all known as Kewadin Casinos. These casinos are strategically situated across the state, providing avid gamers with a convenient and unparalleled gaming experience.

Let’s look at the history of gambling in the state of Michigan and how it all came to be.

History of gambling in Michigan

The history of gambling in Michigan technically goes back to 1933, when the Racing Act authorized pari-mutuel horse racing.

In 1972 state voters approved a law that authorized a state lottery.

In order to boost the local economy, Atlantic City residents opted to allow casino gambling in 1976. A year later, in 1977, the New Jersey Casino Control Act was adopted, allowing casinos to open in Atlantic City.

During the 1980s, the most contentious casino project was the Taj Mahal. With 120,000 square feet of gaming area, the Taj Mahal became the biggest land-based casino in the world when it opened for business on April 2, 1990.

In 1993, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe signed a gaming compact, becoming the first tribe to do so.

In 1996, voters in Michigan authorized the construction of three casinos in Detroit. The next year, the MGCRA was signed into law, and it authorized the operation of these three casinos.

In 1999 and 2000, the city of Detroit saw the opening of three casinos, MotorCity Casino Hotel, MGM Grand Detroit, and Greektown Casino Hotel.

Legalization of sportsbooks

Legislators in Michigan approved a number of proposals in 2019 that legalize online poker, sports betting, and fantasy sports. After the legislation was signed into law by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, sports betting and online gambling licenses became available for tribal and commercial casinos.

In 2020, the three casinos of Detroit opened the first retail sportsbooks in the state.

The state's first tribal casino sportsbook, Dacey's Sportsbook, opened its doors in September 2020 at FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek. Tribal sportsbooks then became available in Four Winds Casino's three tribal casinos, located in Hartford, Dowagiac, and New Buffalo. The first sportsbook in northern Michigan opened at the Little River Casino in Manistee. It was Island Resort & Casino that introduced the first BetAmerica Sportsbook in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Michigan debuted online sportsbooks, online casinos, and online poker sites in 2021.

Online casinos in Michigan

The Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA), approved by New Jersey in 2006, opened the door for regulated online gaming.

Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey signed Bill A2578 in 2013, completely legalizing online gambling in the Garden State. The initial players at internet casinos placed their bets later.

With the repeal of PASPA in 2019, players were able to place sports bets. Bill 4111, which legalized gambling at racetracks and casinos, was signed later that year. And right now, both the internet and physical parts of the sector are booming.

What types of gambling are legal in Michigan?

Michigan is a progressive state when it comes to gambling, allowing most types of gaming and wagering to be licensed. There are commercial and tribal casinos, online poker rooms, online lotteries, land-based and mobile sportsbooks, and parimutuel betting.

Land-based gambling, online gambling, online and retail sportsbooks, lottery, charitable gaming, and fantasy competitions are all legal in the state of Michigan.

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