Many states have legalized online gambling over the years. The same can be said about Michigan and its legalization back in 2018. The history of gambling in Michigan is rather short and sweet. Interestingly, a good portion of all American states legalized online gambling in 2018 after the Supreme Court reversed its previous bill. Therefore, if you are 21 years old, you can easily travel to Michigan and enjoy all the benefits of online gambling there. However, there are still several things. We have to discuss the history of casino gambling, Michigan, taxes, online opportunities, and other elements. Today we will go through these points and complete a full guide to playing in Michigan.
History of Michigan Gambling Laws
You are probably wondering whether gambling is even legal in the state. We are happy to announce that, yes, playing is, in fact, legal in this particular state. As we have mentioned before, it became legal back in 2018. A true development MI online casinos were ordered around 2019 and 2020 after everything was successfully legalized and all legal issues were settled. Once online gaming became legal, Michigan grew when it came to online platforms. However, history is a little bit more complicated than that. If we look at the gambling history in Michigan, we will learn that it started in 1933. The first mention of the legalization of horse racing started the overall office of the racing commissioner. It took Michigan almost a whole century to get to December 2019, when all the forms of online casinos were finally legalized. As you can see, Michigan gambling history is rocky.
What Forms of Gambling Are Legal
Now we can talk more about different variations and games. As we have previously mentioned, everything started with horse racing. This particular sport was practically the father of any sports betting out there. After the successful legalization of horse racing, the government started talking more about lotteries and soon land-based casinos. However, it was a journey of more than 60 years, from horse betting to the first ever real-life casino in this particular state. After the first appearance, it took America more than 18 years to settle for the same decision on the Internet. Below, you will find a short list of different activities that are fully legal in this state if you are 21 or older:
- sports betting
- online casinos
- online poker
- DFS
- Pari-mutuel wagering (horse racing)
- Licensed charity gaming
- Michigan Lottery
- Tribal casinos
- Detroit commercial casinos
In other words, we can hardly think of any illegal game in Michigan. You can do anything, and the history of gambling Michigan ensures that all your ventures will be safe.
Horse Racing and Sports Betting
Let’s go back to the beginning and talk a bit more about horse racing. As we have mentioned before, horse racing initiated the introduction of gambling. It happened back in 1933, as was previously said. In 1972, the same decision was reached about the state lottery. The vote passed by a 2-1 margin. It didn’t take the government more than several months to do the same with licensed bingo games, millionaire parties, sales, charity games, tickets, and practically any other way to raise funds through gambling. Through the decade, the government signed several contracts with the first tribes that agreed to return 2% of their winnings to the government. It was also the first mention of taxes regarding gaming. Right now, sports betting and horse racing, and lotteries are just as legal as they were before. Here we are talking about personal enjoyment as well as charity events.
Online Platforms and Poker
It is quite obvious that online casinos, as well as poker, are also legal. Interestingly enough, full legalization was only reached in 2020, so all the mobile sportsbooks had zero-to-know legal precautions. However, different online variations existed way before that. The lottery was the first game ever to become part of the Internet world. Interestingly enough, the first 1 million winners came to Michigan in 2015. He spent $20 and got $1 million. All casinos must also realize that their ventures must be licensed. The license lasts for five years, and it will cost around $50,000 for the application, $100,000 for the initial license, and $50,000 every year.
Taxes
The final point that we wanted to discuss concerns taxes. All sports betting operators must pay an 8.4% tax. If those platforms are located in Detroit, they will pay an additional 1.25% to the city itself. The same tax applies to fantasy sports as well as online casinos. We also have an answer if you’re wondering whether you should pay as a user. Whatever you win in the casino will count toward your income tax. The withholding rate is around 4.25%, depending on how much you win or your location.
Bottom Line
In short, the history of casino gambling Michigan is not as complicated as in other states. Michigan was one of the first ones to actively vote for full legalization. However, even with all the positive thoughts about gambling in this state, it took them more than a century to finally get to where they are now. Right now, if you’re 21 or older, you can enjoy every game available. You can play poker, enjoy horse racing, place bets on different sports, and try the local lottery. However, don’t forget to always gamble responsibly.
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Belle Isle Casino, Detroit, Michigan. Public Domain via picryl.com