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Best ChoiceCan I Play Online Poker in Michigan?
Is online poker legal in Michigan? The good news for Hold’em and Omaha players in the Wolverine State is that internet poker was included in recent gaming legislation.
In late 2019, the Lawful Internet Gaming Act was passed, opening the doors for regulated sports betting, Michigan online gambling and online poker.
In doing so, Michigan joined a list of US states with its own gaming laws. It now belongs to an exclusive list of states that have introduced a blanket legalizing of most forms of online betting. While the Lawful Internet Gaming Act has been passed onto the books, the first online poker rooms are unlikely to be launched for a while yet.
When Did Online Poker Launch in Michigan?
Michigan poker saw its first operator launch when PokerStars went live on Jan. 29, 2021, with approval from the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). In a July 2020 press release, the Michigan Gaming Control Board said that legalized internet gaming would launch by late 2020 or early 2021. However, the COVID-19 pandemic affected the process.
The good news for any future potential operators offering online poker in Michigan is that the legal framework is already in place. The Lawful Internet Gaming Act allows online poker operators to apply for licenses.
To play poker on a site in Michigan, you have to be 21 or over. You have to register for an online account at a legal, regulated poker site. You also must provide a valid home address and Social Security number to prove your age.
Top Michigan Poker
Can US citizens play online poker for real money? Yes, there are currently five states offering legal online poker and real money play in America and luckily for us, Michigan is one of them. PokerStars launched as a MI online poker site in early 2021. The Michigan Gaming Control Board has also approved gaming with WSOP Online Poker in Michigan, and we'll take a look at some of the best online poker sites in Michigan. WSOP.com offers online poker while operating as a legal, state-regulated online gaming and online poker site via Nevada. WSOP cardroom is the most popular real money online poker room in the US with a strong cash game offering, but where else can we play our beloved Texas Holdem cash games and Pot Limit Omaha?
PokerStars Michigan
Online poker players were ecstatic when PokerStars MI became the first legal, regulated online poker site in the state, and PokerStars tops the tree in terms of ratings of our best three online poker sites for Michigan players. Only players in a handful of states can access the real money games at this online poker operator. Early in 2023 the PokerStars MI player pool merged with PokerStars NJ for more action at the tables and a wider variety of playing options like more Pot Limit Omaha. PokerStars MI is partnered with Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.
BetMGM Poker Michigan
At BetMGM Poker MI, they claim to listen to the poker players and update software to deliver an unbeatable poker experience for the Michigan poker player - be they recreational or pro. BetMGM Poker is now available in app stores like the Google Play store for all Michigan players.
BetMGM is apparently the King of Poker, and why not, as they are also the self-confessed Kings of sports betting! The Bounty Blitz is where you can take your shot at $100k in GPPs (Guaranteed Prizepools) in the Wolverine State. There is a $500 Daily Spins leaderboard in operation and a $50 refer-a-friend (to BetMGM poker) bonus code. There are daily happy hour cash games running from 3pm to 5pm where you earn double Reward Points (BRPs).
Michigan Poker Partnerships
Online poker in Michigan will be offered by established gaming sites in deals with existing land-based partners.
The major Detroit casinos already have deals in place with major online gaming operators. Some of the MI tribes also have partnerships with online operators to provide software and iGaming solutions.
- PokerStars/The Stars Group: Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (launched Jan. 29, 2021)
- partypoker/GVC: MGM Grand Detroit
- Golden Nugget Online Gaming: Keweenaw Bay Indian Community/Ojibwa Casino
- GAN: Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians
- William Hill: Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
How to Choose the Best Michigan Poker Site
Online poker for Michigan gamblers is now a reality. After PokerStars launched its Michigan online poker product in January 2021, MI players can enjoy fully legal cash games and tournaments on their PCs and mobile phones.
At BetMichigan.com, we’re with you all the way. We’re as excited as you about the new regulated poker rooms coming to the Wolverine State.
- Welcome Bonuses
- Registration & Sign-Up
- Software & Security
- Guaranteed Prizepools
- Player Pools & Traffic
- Fast & Reliable Banking
- Customer Service
Responsible Gambling with Michigan Poker
The Michigan Gaming Control Board looks after player safety and oversees rules and regulations at legal online poker sites and online gambling sites like BetMGM Poker following the Lawful Sports Betting Act which is passed in Michigan. There's a bit of a grey area with offshore (but legal) online poker sites like ACR but they are still dedicated to gambling responsibly. March is problem gambling awareness month in the US in 2023 and BetMGM is advertising it on the homepage of their Michigan poker sites.
Michigan Poker FAQ
Author
Bill Ordine, senior journalist and columnist for BetMichigan.com, was a reporter and editor in news and sports for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Baltimore Sun for 25 years, and was a lead reporter on a team that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News. Bill started reporting on casinos and gaming shortly after Atlantic City’s first gambling halls opened and wrote a syndicated column on travel to casino destinations for 10 years. He covered the World Series of Poker for a decade and his articles on gaming have appeared in many major U.S. newspapers, such as the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald and others.
