Michigan Gambling Laws – Gambling Legislation
The Michigan gambling laws extend over the brick and mortar and online casinos in the Great Lake State. This article contains information about the regulatory organ, licensing procedure, legal gambling age and more. We listed the legal games at the 26 licensed Michigan casinos in Detroit, MI and on Native American tribal lands.
The regulatory organ with the power to issue and revoke licenses is the Michigan Gaming Control Board. You can read how the Board and the Commission apply the gambling laws in Michigan and monitor all state gambling locations’ activities. In the table below, you will notice that we have a special section dedicated to Michigan online casinos. Jump to the part of the article you deem interesting or read everything top to bottom. We start with the federal and Michigan state gambling laws.
Michigan Gambling Laws vs Federal Gambling Laws
In the times before and during the Old Wild West, gambling games were illegal most of the time and considered an activity for outlaws and society rejects. The modern history of gambling laws in the state of Michigan, USA, began in 1933 with the legalizing of horse race betting. It took a few decades until the first MI casino – Kings Club Casino opened in Brimley in 1984. Marquette’s 906 Poker Social club became the first place where poker players could enjoy their favorite game.
Today, all gambling locations and games in the Great Lake State are created under the USA’s federal gambling laws and the Michigan state gambling laws. Anyone who intends to visit a land-based casino or play at an online operator in this state should read them and avoid getting in trouble. In the table below, we listed some of the essential federal and gambling laws in the state of Michigan:
| 🦌 Michigan Gambling Laws |
|---|
| 👮 Michigan Penal Code |
| ✔️ Gaming Control and Revenue Act |
| 🐴 Horse Racing Act and Rules |
| ✨ Internet Gaming, Internet Sports Betting and Fantasy Contests Acts & Rules |
| 📱 Michigan iGaming Regulations |
| ⚖️ Federal Gambling Laws |
|---|
| ⚡ The Interstate Wire Act |
| 🏇 Horseracing Safety and Integrity Act |
| 🏀 The Professional & Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) |
| 🦅 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act |
| 🌐 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act |
As you know, all federal gambling laws are at the base of the states’ legislation in the USA. Michigan state gambling laws listed above stretch over casino licenses, gaming, operators’ work process, and more. Since online gambling is legal in Michigan, there are also online casinos opened for locals and visitors of the state.
Whether players choose a land-based or online casino, it is recommendable to know the basic requirements of gambling age and winners tax we describe in the paragraphs below. It is also recommendable players avoid any kind of casino cheating, or they will have troubles with the law.
Legal Gambling Age According to MI Gambling Law
The legal gambling age in the USA varies from state to state and depending on the gambling games. In Michigan, 18 year olds can play in poker rooms, tribal casinos, and no-alcohol casinos, and the games include lotteries, bingo, and pari-mutuel gambling.
Players must be 21 years old to enter and play at sports wagering or casinos where alcohol is served. Those restrictions may vary depending on the operator’s policy, so checking the legal gambling age before playing is recommended.
Michigan Gambling Law – Winners Tax & Casino Revenue
All brick and mortar gambling locations pay a tax rate of 8.4%, while the three licensed Detroit casinos’ tax rate is 11.4%. Alongside this, there is a 20-28% tax rate for the Michigan online gambling sites depending on the operator’s total online revenue. The government and state authorities distribute 55% of the taxes to the casino’s city and 45% to the Michigan state.
The state and gambling laws in Michigan state that the winner’s tax is 4.25% per prize. The Michigan Gambling Control Board’s website has detailed information on the matter, and the operator who grants the prize can assist in filing the IRS report.
Michigan Gambling Law – Crimes & Fines
The US gambling laws and the penal code are clear about the severity of gambling crimes. The legal authorities and the Board investigate even the smallest violation, and all perpetrators are punished. Here are some of the popular crimes and illegal activities related to gambling:
- Illegal gambling
- Cheating
- Underage gambling
- Bribes
- Results alternation
- False game predictions
- Book alternation
- Unauthorized rules change
- Avoiding taxes
- Tampered equipment
As you can see, those crimes can extend from small bets to huge amounts. That is why the penalties for operators and players depend on the severity of the action and its extensions. For example, the operator can be sentenced to pay a fine of up to $100,000, up to 10 years in prison, or both. The gambling establishment’s license can be revoked, all equipment, gaming devices, and everything else can be confiscated.
Since players’ gambling crimes are fewer and can cause less damage, the penalties are less. Even so, in case of a violation, players can also be fined, imprisoned, or both. Any gambler or casino visitor may report illegal gambling activities to the Michigan Gaming Control Board or the local authorities monitoring the gambling laws in the state of Michigan.
Michigan Gaming Control Board & License Procedure
The Michigan Gaming Control Board and the Michigan Gambling Commission regulate gambling and gaming related matters in the state. The five members of the Board and the commission have multiple duties at online and brick and mortar casinos, including, but not limited to:
- Applies the gaming and gambling laws
- Issues, denies, renews, or revokes operators’ licenses
- Issues, denies, renews, or revokes suppliers’ licenses
- Investigates illegal gambling activities
- Regulates all online and land-based casinos
- Monitors all gaming equipment
There are specific procedures and required documentation before the board issues, denies, or revokes a license. In case a working operator commits a gambling crime, the license is always revoked, and the owners of the establishment face a fine or a court trial. When a license expires, the operator may request it to be renewed, or the certification is revoked by the board or the city.
Land-Based and Online Casinos in Michigan, USA
The list of the best online casino sites in the USA for 2024 includes some of the Great Lake State’s online casinos. If you prefer playing at the classic brick and mortar gambling locations, then there are 26 licensed Michigan casinos. Here are your gambling options:
Michigan casinos enter many lists of high-quality gambling locations. Comparable to them are the best NJ online casino sites, Nevada, Illinois, and other states where online gambling is legal. Players at legal age are welcome to try all Detroit, tribal, and online casinos in the Great Lake State whenever they like.
Michigan’s Legal Gambling Games
Just like the online gambling laws worldwide, the Michigan gambling legislation has a list of legal gambling games. All games we listed below are accessible online and at land-based casinos. The only requirements towards players and bettors are to be at legal age and pay their taxes after winning. Here is what you can legally wager on:
- Casino Games include 30,000+ slots and gaming machines, classic casino games like roulette, craps, blackjack, baccarat, and their variations.
- Poker: there are 30+ poker rooms in the state.
- Lottery & Games of Chance are all lotteries, scratch cards, bingo and keno games played for charity or profit.
- Horse Races became legal in 1933, and bettors can place stakes at the tracks and licensed casinos ever since.
- Sports Betting in Michigan covers wagering at professional, college, and amateur leagues in the most popular sports.
- Daily Fantasy Sports raise the excitement to another level and allow bettors to support their favourite player or team.
Illegal gambling in Michigan includes bets registering, pool selling, and gambling with any kinds of stocks, bonds, grain, or other types of products. We remind you that the Michigan online gambling games and gambling at land-based locations are best experienced in legal casinos.
Michigan Gambling Laws Popular Questions
Our Michigan gambling laws article has more than enough information about the gambling legislation. In this section, we will answer several popular questions about the casinos, games, winners’ taxes, and more matters related to the gambling legislation in this state.
