• About
  • Contact
This site contains commercial content
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Bill Tracker
    • Arizona
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Georgia
    • Illinois
    • Iowa
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Mississippi
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • West Virginia
  • MI
  • VA
  • NJ
  • PA
  • TN
  • IN
  • CO
  • Betting Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Common Beginner Mistakes
    • Guide To ‘Risk-Free’ Bets
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Bill Tracker
    • Arizona
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Georgia
    • Illinois
    • Iowa
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Mississippi
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • West Virginia
  • MI
  • VA
  • NJ
  • PA
  • TN
  • IN
  • CO
  • Betting Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Common Beginner Mistakes
    • Guide To ‘Risk-Free’ Bets
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
No Result
View All Result

Yes, Michigan, There IS A Santa Claus

Michigan's governor signs off on sports betting, iGaming bills

Jill R. Dorson by Jill R. Dorson
December 20, 2019
in Regulation
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Michigan became the latest U.S. jurisdiction with legal sports betting on Friday morning, when Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of iGaming bills that state lawmakers sent her late last week. The package, which includes HB 4916, is the culmination of years of work by lead bill sponsor Brandt Iden, and will make state-wide mobile sports betting legal. Michigan is the first state with a significant tribal presence to legalize.

“After four years of hard work, I’m happy to see Michigan enter the modern era of gaming,” Iden told Sports Handle via text Friday morning. “We’ll have a safe, regulated environment for thousands of Michigan residents who for years have been forced to travel to other states or play on risky offshore sites.”

Iden, the Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has likely been holding his breath since the Senate approved the bills on Dec. 11 and two days later sent the package to Whitmer. Last year at about this time, Iden had a similar package sitting on then Governor Rick Snyder’s desk. He unexpectedly vetoed the bills on Dec. 28, 2018, leaving Iden to lobby and negotiate for yet another year.

Sports betting tax rate will be 8.4%

This time around, it seemed clear Whitmer would sign after lawmakers hashed out a new tax structure on iGaming. Sports betting, both mobile and retail, will be taxed at 8.4%, plus a 3.25% Detroit city tax for the three downtown casinos. While the package of bills didn’t legalize retail sports betting, Iden said late last week that sports wagering at brick-and-mortar casinos has been legal in Michigan since the fall of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May 2018, but that one of the bills, HB 4307, made the tax rate more reasonable.

In a statement, Whitmer characterized the new law as “a real bi-partisan win.” Whitmer’s goal with gaming legislation has been to protect and potentially create a new revenue stream for the School Aid Fund.

The American Gaming Association also praised the new law.

“With Gov. Whitmer’s signature, 20 states plus DC have now legalized sports betting in the United States, capping off a tremendous year of growth,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “These new markets offer more Americans a safe, legal way to wager on sports while positively impacting communities, like in Michigan, where revenue from sports betting will generate needed resources for public education, first responders, and, importantly, responsible gaming.”

March Madness launch?

From here, Michigan will likely be in a sprint to go live. Having legal sports betting by March Madness has been bandied about, but is a tall order, especially in a state with 23 tribal casinos. It’s likely that the federal government, in the form of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and the Department of the Interior, will have to sign off on the new law before tribal casinos can offer sports betting.

Beyond that, the Michigan Gaming Control Board will have to license potential operators and promulgate rules. The state that moved the fastest from legal to live was neighboring Indiana, in which sports betting was legalized on May 8 of this year, and the first bet was taken on Aug. 15. It’s been more usual for states to take six months or more to get up and running. But Michigan already has a mature gaming infrastructure and an experienced regulatory body, so it’s possible the Wolverine State will move quickly.

Michigan now joins Colorado, Illinois, Montana, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. as jurisdictions that have legalized, but not launched.

“Our economy will benefit as jobs are created, and local communities will benefit from new revenue,” Iden said. “This is a huge win for our state and its residents.”

ShareTweetShare
Jill R. Dorson

Jill R. Dorson

Jill has covered everything from steeplechase to the NFL and then some during a more than 30-year career in sports journalism. The highlight of her career was covering Oakland Raiders during the Charles Woodson/Jon Gruden era, including the infamous “Snow Bowl” and the Raiders’ 2003 trip to Super Bowl XXXVII. Her specialty these days is covering sports betting legislation across the country.

Related Posts

arizona sports betting
Regulation

Arizona Senate Approves Sports Betting, DFS Bill Amid Heated Debate

April 12, 2021
Baton-Rouge-Riverfront
Betting

Louisiana Sports Betting Bill Goes For The Gusto: Statewide Mobile, Including Bars, Restaurants

April 8, 2021
Load More

Top Sportsbooks In Your State

1
Monkey Knife Fight
Rating / 4.5
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.
2
PrizePicks
Rating / 4.2
BET NOW
T&Cs Apply21+. Eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details.

Get Email Updates

State Sports Betting Guides

VA captial

Virginia Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonus Offers

by Brett Smiley
February 12, 2021

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

Michigan Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
January 22, 2021

Pennsylvania Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonuses

by Brett Smiley
August 25, 2020

nj flag

New Jersey Sports Betting — Sportsbook Bonus Offers, Power Rankings, And Wagering Info

by Brett Smiley
September 10, 2019

Most Read Stories

Handicapping NY MSB

Handicapping The Race To Become A Sports Betting Platform Provider In New York

April 15, 2021
Texas Huberty sports betting

Huberty Set To Make Push For Sports Betting In Texas

April 13, 2021
arizona sports betting

Arizona Senate Approves Sports Betting, DFS Bill Amid Heated Debate

April 12, 2021
maryland sports betting

Maryland General Assembly Sends Sports Betting Framework To Governor

April 12, 2021

Problem Gambling

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA/MI), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN).

Subscribe

Search Sports Handle

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Contact

No Result
View All Result
  • US Sports Betting
    • Bill Tracker
    • Arizona
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Georgia
    • Illinois
    • Iowa
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Mississippi
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • West Virginia
  • MI
  • VA
  • NJ
  • PA
  • TN
  • IN
  • CO
  • Betting Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Common Beginner Mistakes
    • Guide To ‘Risk-Free’ Bets
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News

Please share your location to continue

[ 'FBIOS', 'Twitter for iPhone', 'WebView', '(iPhone|iPod|iPad)(?!.*Safari/)', 'Android.*(wv|.0.0.0)' ]
[ 'FBIOS', 'Twitter for iPhone', 'WebView', '(iPhone|iPod|iPad)(?!.*Safari/)', 'Android.*(wv|.0.0.0)' ]