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Best ChoiceIs MLB Betting Legal in Michigan?
Yes, MLB and sports betting became legal in December 2019 when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of gaming bills that also included online poker in Michigan and Michigan online casinos.
Benefits of MLB Betting in Michigan
Michigan citizens have the luxury of living in one of the more progressive gaming states in the country. It was one of the first 13 states to offer legalized online sports wagering, along with in-person sports betting.
Bettors can expect to find a plethora of MLB lines at every sports betting site, including moneyline bets, run lines, totals, futures bets and MLB prop bets. And with games just about every day from April through October, there are plenty of opportunities for players to find action they like.
Signing Up to Bet on MLB Games
When you find a sportsbook that interests you, make sure to read our review. Then, click on the link and you will be sent to the sportsbook’s website. After clicking on “register,” you will be required to give an email address before choosing a password and username. Next, an ID process will ask you to provide the last four digits of your Social Security number and proof of your address.
When you decide to deposit for the first time, a copy of your driver’s license or passport may be required to verify your identity as a security check. Once the initial deposit is made, new players are eligible to take advantage of any welcome bonus offers and can begin wagering on the MLB. Just choose the MLB from the league list in the app or the betting site’s menu.
MLB Bets to Make in Michigan
Before the season begins, an MLB futures bet can be an ideal wager for those looking to wager on the outcome of the season before Opening Day. Bettors can bet on who will win the World Series, each division, the Cy Young and each league’s MVP. Over/under on each team’s win totals is another preseason wager for plenty of bettors.
During the season, among the more popular options are the MLB moneyline, run line spreads (more on this later), first five innings spreads and run totals for each game. Live betting during a game is also very popular as baseball’s slower pace lends itself to making bets in-between innings, batters – and even pitches.
Odds for live betting, also known as in-play wagering, are set by the sportsbook using an algorithm to keep pace with play and can include whether there will be a home run, a team will take the lead or even if the next batter will strike out.
Popular MLB Events to Bet On
Wagering on who will win the World Series is one of the popular MLB bets to make, in addition to over/unders for a team’s win total and individual awards such as the Cy Young Award or the MVP of each league.
During the season, the annual All-Star Game, which includes the Home Run Derby, is also popular to bet on. During the MLB playoffs, bettors can wager on who will win the World Series, or wager on a team to win a given series or bet on each game individually. The national TV games, such as ESPN Sunday Night Baseball or the spotlight games from FOX or TBS, tend to see more betting action since they will be more visible to players across Michigan.
MLB Betting Tips to Consider
Lefty vs. Righty matchups: Certain teams may have more hitting success against left-handed pitchers compared to right-handed pitchers, or vice versa. As the season progresses and this sample size increases, trends may develop that may serve useful to bettors later in the season.
Bullpen Usage: Researching a team’s recent bullpen usage can prove vital when analyzing an MLB game. If a team’s starting pitcher has been yanked early on in each of the most recent games, it’s fair to assume the bullpen may be gassed and not be at its most effective for the upcoming games. Whereas a team with its full arsenal of arms available late in games can be a key factor in preserving a lead.
Environmental Factors: For individual game totals, there are a couple of key things bettors should consider for each game. Some stadiums are known as “hitter parks,” such as Coors Field in Colorado, where games can devolve into offensive shootouts given how the ball jumps off the bat. Other parks may be more pitcher-friendly, such as Petco Park in San Diego, where runs can be hard to come by.
Another factor to consider is the weather. If the wind is blowing out, the over may have decent value. On the other side, if the wind is blowing in, a low-scoring game could make the under a value bet.
Reading MLB Odds and Betting Lines
Moneyline Odds
Wagering on the MLB moneyline is picking which team will win the game. Moneyline odds are based on $100. If the Detroit Tigers are -150 favorites versus the Houston Astros, Tigers bettors would need to bet $150 to win $100. But if someone wanted to bet on the Astros, who are listed at +130 underdogs, then every $100 wagered would earn $130 in winnings if the Astros win.
Run Line
The run line is baseball’s version of the point spread. Run lines are normally at 1.5, with the favorite having to win by two runs for the bet to cash out, and an underdog able to lose by a single run to cover the spread. Odds on run lines are better for favorites compared to moneyline wagers since they must win by two, and are worse on underdogs since they are getting a run-and-a-half. In the Astros and Tigers scenario above, the Tigers at -1.5 may have odds a +100, while the Astros at +1.5 could have odds at -110.
Total Odds
Totals in MLB betting include how many runs will be scored in the game, including extra innings. The total is known as the over/under, and for the Tigers/Astros example, we’ll use 5.5 as a total. If a player thinks the game will have six runs or more, the player will bet on the over. But if a bettor believes the game will have five runs or fewer, the person will take the under. Odds on over/unders are typically -110, meaning players need to risk $110 to win $100.
First Five Innings
First Five Innings betting works the same as full-game wagering, except bets are determined after five innings. Players can wager on run lines, moneylines and totals for the first five innings of a game. These types of bets are useful for players who want to wager on an outcome likely to be decided by the two starting pitchers.
Why Trust Us for MLB Betting
We have a team of experts who are dedicated to researching and reviewing each sportsbook in Michigan to guide our players to the best and safest betting experience possible, with the best baseball betting sites featuring a wide array of MLB betting lines. Betting on the MLB is only a click away. Check out all our reviews and select one of the premier online sportsbooks in the state to start playing now!
MLB Betting FAQs
Like the other professional sports leagues, the MLB has reached numerous sports betting partnerships. The MLB’s official partnerships include BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel. Individual teams are also permitted to reach deals with sports betting companies. In Michigan, the Detroit Tigers signed a sponsorship deal with BetMGM sportsbook.
Wagering on the MLB is safe in Michigan if it’s with a licensed and regulated sportsbook. Only operators who are approved by the Michigan Gaming Control Board are permitted to launch legal sportsbooks within the state. Using any of the sportsbooks on our top-rated list will guarantee that you are wagering on an approved and licensed website.
Michigan bettors have the luxury of being able to choose from multiple sportsbooks across the state. This will allow the state’s players to shop across each of the sportsbooks to find the best odds.
Yes. In Michigan, all sports gambling winnings are subject to federal and state taxes. The Michigan tax on gambling winnings is 4.25%.
Author
Bryce covers sports betting and gaming for BetMichigan.com, along with other Midwest states. He joined BetMichigan.com after spending the last nine years covering high school and college sports throughout Michigan. His favorite sports to gamble on are football, basketball, baseball and Formula 1.
