Online Poker Michigan Laws
Is it legal to play online poker for real money in Michigan? The answer is yes, Michigan has legalized online poker, providing residents and visitors with the opportunity to engage in real-money poker games through authorized platforms. The state’s legalization of online poker aligns with its broader efforts to regulate and generate revenue from online gambling activities.
Players in Michigan can enjoy a variety of poker variants, participate in tournaments, and compete with others from the comfort of their homes. Players should always ensure they are using licensed and regulated platforms to guarantee a secure and fair gaming experience. Below are the poker rooms we recommend:
Top Sites for Online Poker in Michigan
Is Online Poker Legal in Michigan?
Yes, Michigan legalized online poker in December 2019.
The Lawful Internet Gaming Act was a bipartisan piece of legislation that was the product of years of efforts by multiple Michigan legislators. Along with a supplemental bill passed the following year, the Michigan Control Board was authorized to issue licenses for online poker and online casino games to Native American tribes in Michigan. By choosing an online gambling partner, the licensed tribes and sites could then work together to provide online poker, online casino games, and sports betting.
Licensed online gambling endeavors could then join with sites in other states via the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement to share poker player pools for greater liquidity.
This change in Michigan gambling laws created a new generation of online poker players.
Long Road to Michigan Online Poker
It was not an easy road, but the tenacity of a few lawmakers made it happen.
Efforts began in 2017 with Michigan State Senator Mike Kowall introducing an online poker bill, one later picked up on the other side of the legislature by State Representative Brandt Iden. After a committee passage on the Senate side and positive informational hearing on the House side, the bills died.
SB.203 and HB.4926
In 2018, Kowall and Iden put their bills – SB.203 and HB.4926, respectively – back into play. Both were called the Lawful Internet Gaming Act. There was some activity throughout the year, including a rewrite of the Senate bill, but Iden began pushing his House bill in the summer. He took his bill to the House floor, where it passed by a 68-to-40 vote.
After the summer break and late into the year, Kowall took HB.4926 to the Senate floor on the last day of the session for the year. And during that last day, during the week before Christmas, the Senate made a few changes but passed it by a vote of 33-to-5. The House then approved the amended bill by a 71-to-38 vote.
Brandt Iden introduced HB 4926, better known as the Michigan online poker bill.
The bill went to then-Governor Rick Snyder for his signature, but instead, he vetoed it on December 28. He claimed that the issue required more study, worrying that online gambling would affect land-based gambling revenue. The veto was a massive disappointment for online poker supporters, especially Iden and Kowall.
Kowall retired at the end of 2018, so Iden found a new supporter in the Senate in State Senator Curtis Hertel Jr. In early 2019, the two introduced identical bills, both called the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, which were essentially reiterations of the 2018 bills. The Senate bill was SB.186, and the House version was HB.4311.
Michigan Online Poker Became Reality in 2019
Iden quickly took HB.4311 to the House Regulatory Reform Committee, but a hearing revealed that the Michigan Department of Treasury announced that it opposed the bill due to certain harm to the state’s online lottery sales and land-based gambling establishments. Newly-elected Governor Gretchen Whitmer agreed and issued a counterproposal to Iden’s bill.
Whitmer’s suggestions removed online slot games from the bill and raised licensing fees and tax rates significantly. Iden called it a non-starter, and the two engaged in a standoff. Iden said that Whitmer refused to meet for further negotiations.
At the beginning of December, Hertel stepped in. He was a Democrat, as was the governor, and she once worked for Hertel’s father, who had been in the legislature years before. Hertel met with Whitmer friend and State Representative Rebekah Warren. The two worked out a compromise.
On December 11, the newly-amended bill passed the Michigan Senate by a vote of 35-to-3, and the House re-approved it quickly.
And on December 20, 2019, Governor Whitmer of Michigan signed the bill into law, declaring victory for bipartisanship, compromise, and new revenue dollars for the state.
Lawful Internet Gaming Act
The bill that became law was HB.4311, better known as the Lawful Internet Gaming Act. Its purpose was multi-fold but summed up as:
Operating, conducting, and offering for play internet games… that already occur throughout the state illegally.
Consistent and in compliance with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.
Consistent and in compliance with the 1963 Michigan State Constitution, ensuring internet games be played lawfully…only conducted by persons who are lawfully operating casinos in this state.
In order to protect residents of this state who wager on games of chance or skill through the internet and to capture revenues generated from internet gaming.
Use of the internet to sell lottery games, sales of which will not be prohibited by the act.
The three Detroit-based casinos and 23 tribal casinos located throughout the state will be able to apply for licenses to operate online poker and/or casino games. The application fee is $50,000. If approved, the licensee will pay a $100,000 fee for the initial license and $50,000 per year for annual renewals.
The tax rate on gross gaming revenue, which is significantly more than what Iden originally proposed, will be as follows:
- 20% tax on amounts up to $4M
- 22% tax on amounts from $4M to $8M
- 24% tax on amounts from $8M to $10M
- 26% tax on amounts from $10M to $12M
- 28% tax on amounts over $12M
Michigan Gambling & Poker Laws Summarized
| Type/Code | Summary |
|---|---|
| State Code Section(s) | 432; 750.318.750.301-315 |
| Definitions | Illegal gambling: Any person or his or her agent or employee who, directly or indirectly, takes, receives, or accepts from any person any money or valuable thing with the agreement, understanding or allegation that any money or valuable thing will be paid or delivered to any person where the payment or delivery is alleged to be or will be contingent upon the result of any race, contest, or game or upon the happening of any event not known by the parties to be certain.Winning at gambling: Any person who by playing at cards, dice, or any other game, or by betting or putting up money on cards, or by any other means or device in the nature of betting on cards, or betting of any kind, wins or obtains any sum of money or any goods, or any article of value.Social media internet game: A game offered over the internet or on a telephone or other mobile device. The chapter does not prohibit a social media internet game from rewarding a player, as a result of chance or uncertain event, with either 1 or more free plays or an extended period of playing time. |
| Online Poker/Gambling | Michigan legalized online poker and online casino games in December 2019. One year later, lawmakers updated the poker law to allow for interstate connections with New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware. |
| Live Poker | Some of the casinos in Michigan do have operational live poker rooms with cash games and tournaments offered. |
| Casinos | There are more than two dozen casinos throughout the state associated with federally-recognized Native American tribes. Some are card rooms or bingo and pull-tab parlors, while others are fully functional casinos with table games and slot machines. |
| Sports Betting | Michigan lawmakers legalized live, mobile, and online sports betting in December 2019 when it passed a comprehensive gambling expansion bill. |
| DFS | The 2019 gambling expansion bill legalized daily fantasy sports contests in Michigan. |
| Other Forms of Gambling | Recreational card games for seniors, horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, bingo, charitable gambling, redemption games, lottery. |
Michigan in MSIGA
There was only one problem with the new igaming law in Michigan; it didn’t allow for interstate compacts. It prohibited online gambling operators from sharing player pools across state lines.
Governor Whitmer’s primary concern was that online slot jackpots would grow to amounts that would induce people to gamble, people who wouldn’t otherwise do so. However, Iden and Hertel explained the need for interstate online poker, that it would be the only way for poker to be profitable in the long run. Larger player pools would mean bigger tournament guarantees and a bigger variety of games, all parts of growing online poker.
Lawful Internet Gaming Act for Multi-State Poker
Almost exactly one year after Michigan passed the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, the legislature then passed an amendment (SB991) to that law to allow the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) to enter into multi-jurisdictional internet poker agreements. Whitmer signed it in late December 2020.
By that time, the MGCB had already issued 15 provisional igaming licenses, several of which included online poker. With the new interstate provision in place, PokerStars was ready and became the first to launch online poker in Michigan in January 2021. It did so with its land-based casino partner Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians. BetMGM launched two months later on its partypoker platform. Interestingly, WSOP didn’t launch its online poker platform in Michigan for another year. WSOP.com finally went live in March 2022.
Next Step
The next step was to get Michigan to sign the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). This would allow poker operators in Michigan to connect with their sites in other states. Until then, the only signatories on the agreement were Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware, and the only site operational in more than one of those states was WSOP. Michigan’s entry to MSIGA would allow operators like PokerStars and BetMGM to connect with their New Jersey players.
That happened in early 2023. Michigan approved MSIGA in April, and the governors of other states joined Whitmer in signing the updated agreement in May 2023.
Pokerstars
PokerStars was in front of the pack again, this time working to connect its Michigan and New Jersey player pools. And it was the first to obtain the proper licensing, receive approval for the interstate poker offering, and launch. The larger PokerStars site went live on January 1, 2023.
PokerStars operated its Michigan-New Jersey online poker site in a new market of its own throughout 2023 and the first half of 2024.
While BetMGM long said it was working on connecting its sites as well, it was the WSOP.com site operated by Caesars Interactive that was the next to do it. In the late spring of 2024, just as the World Series of Poker was preparing to start its summer WSOP in Las Vegas, it announced the relaunch of its online poker product, connecting its Michigan site with its sister sites in New Jersey and Nevada. It happened in coordination with the WSOP/Caesars land-based casino partner, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
The launch was in the works for quite some time, and players anticipated the new, larger, and improved WSOP site prior to the summer WSOP in order to play from those states in official WSOP bracelet events. It did happen during the last week of May, when players in New Jersey, Michigan, and Nevada had to sign out of their original accounts and log on to the new platform to find their transferred account information and balances.
Ultimately, the new site overcame some initial glitches and ran 30 WSOP Online bracelet events.
BetMGM is likely to connect its Michigan and New Jersey online poker sites sometime in the second half of 2024.
Michigan Gambling Facts
There’s a long relationship between Michigan and gambling, but it wasn’t until the 1900s that the state began a slow and steady march to expand regulated gambling. Horse racing came first, with pari-mutuel wagering getting the nod in 1933. The lottery followed in 1972, and laws governing charitable gambling passed the same year. Following that burst of activity, proponents of regulated gambling had a bit of a wait before further progress was made. In fact, it would be nearly 20 years before additional options were introduced in the state.
Benefits of Online Poker Michigan
Michiganders are not only able to play poker form their homes now, but a range of reviewed and trusted sites are also available via mobile devices. There are many benefits of playing poker online, including bonuses, tournaments with large guarantees, and real-money tables open around the clock. With fast payouts offered at all of our featured sites, players can choose their favorite deposit and withdrawal methods to suit their needs.
Advantages of Playing Poker on Mobile
- Convenience: You can play on your couch, in bed, on the go, wherever you like, as long as you stay within the borders of Michigan.
- Play Anywhere, Anytime: If you’re playing cash games, you can pull your phone out to play a few hands whenever you like, and put the game down just as easily. If you’re playing tournaments, you can get up for a drink or a snack – or, even a bathroom break – without needing to miss a hand.
Disadvantages of Playing Poker on Mobile
- Convenience: When it comes to online poker, the small screen and touchscreen interface of a mobile device mean sacrificing some of the features available in a desktop client.
- Display: They can only display one table at a time. You may be able to play multiple tables at once, but will have to switch between them, which means not keeping an eye on the action when it isn’t your turn to act.
- Functionality: The lack of a real keyboard also makes typing in bet sizes and player notes more of a chore. You may find yourself relying on the bet slider and player labels instead.
The good news is that poker operators are in an ongoing race to improve mobile functionality. With each app update, these issues become less of a bother, as companies find ways to work around them and adapt the game to mobile play.
Regulated Michigan Gambling Options
What’s there to do for a gambler in Michigan seeking regulated choices? Plenty – you’ll find all of the major five regulated gambling formats on offer in Michigan. If you need a quick refresher, that means commercial casinos, tribal gambling options, pari-mutuel betting, and the state-run lottery. Casinos (commercial and tribal) are spread throughout the state, with the highest concentration in and around the Detroit area.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is the government-designated state agency that oversees all gambling in the state. From issuing licenses to operators and suppliers to writing regulations for the industry and tracking revenue, the MGCB handles all of it.
Currently, there are state-licensed online poker sites, online casinos, live and online sports betting, and daily fantasy sports that complement the land-based casinos throughout the state.
Geo-Location Procedures
Players who want to play on any Michigan poker sites need to be physically present in the state. You will need to be within Michigan state borders. The system does not work on the trust basis. Instead, there is geolocation software that you will have to allow to access your device to check your IP and other information. Only if the software can verify your physical presence in the state will you be able to play.
It is very hard to fool this system, and even if you are able to do it, it is not recommended. If any player is discovered to have played from an area outside of Michigan, they will have their funds confiscated, and they could potentially face even more serious ramifications. It is important to note that you only have to be physically present in Michigan to actually place real money wagers or bets of any kind.
Famous Michigan Poker Players
Dan Heimiller is a longtime poker pro who has held third place on the Michigan leaderboard for years. But new players have jumped ahead of Jeff Gross and David Baker in recent years. Sam Panzica holds a solid fourth place in the rankings, but most of the list can change with a single big win.
As of March 2023, this is the top 10 per the Hendon Mob rankings for Michigan:
- Ryan Riess $16,054,263
- Joe Cada $14,395,481
- Dan Heimiller $6,401,482
- Sam Panzica $4,837,911
- Brek Schutten $3,587,696
- Jeff Gross $3,541,616
- David “ODB” Baker $3,393,737
- Dash Dudley $3,125,762
- Nicolas Manion $2,909,719
- Ping Liu $2,224,495
Conclusion
Michiganders now have the privilege of indulging in poker from the comfort of their homes, with a plethora of reputable and thoroughly reviewed online platforms seamlessly accessible through mobile devices. As the online poker landscape in Michigan continues to flourish, players can anticipate an engaging and gratifying gaming environment, ensuring an unparalleled experience within the legal bounds of the state.
All Poker and Gambling Laws by State
- Alabama
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- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
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- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
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- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Michigan in the News
BetMGM Poker Connects Michigan and New Jersey Sites
BetMGM has been a quiet but strong force in the US online poker market for years. With online casinos, sports
WSOP Online Experiences Ups and Downs in October
The World Series of Poker has been awarding gold bracelets online all fall long, as GGPoker hosted its WSOP Online
US WSOP Online Bracelet Events Begin September 29
The bracelet chase is far from over in 2024. The summer World Series of Poker may be in the rearview
FAQs
Yes, Michigan now licenses and regulates online poker through the MGCB. Players must be located within the state to play, with the exception of online poker sites that have received approval to connect their poker tables to those in other states. For example, PokerStars’ online poker site includes players from both Michigan and New Jersey.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board regulates all online gambling in the state, including online poker.
Phone: 313-456-4100
Email: MGCBweb@michigan.gov
All poker rooms provide free poker software and do not apply and fees to those who use it. This includes software that is downloaded or software that is accessed via a web-browser.
Online poker players can play on sites that connect sites across state lines. As of 2022, online poker sites in Michigan, New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada can join their player pools. Well into 2023, however, Pennsylvania had not signed the agreement to join, nor had Connecticut or West Virginia.
The current US igaming laws do not allow players from other countries to compete on these state-regulated sites. Online casinos and sports betting sites are not allowed to share even across state lines.
You have to pay state and federal tax on your poker income. Federal tax is 25% and state tax will be 4.25%. Wins of $5,000 will be subject to increased oversight. However, anything under that amount will be your responsibility to report on your tax return.
Sources & Citations For This Article on Michigan Online Poker
- Michigan Gaming Control Board
- Michigan Problem Gambling
- Latest debate over gambling in Michigan tied to proposal at horse racing tracks | MLive.com
- UNLV Center for Gaming Research: Michigan Gaming Summary
- Michigan Lottery and Charitable Gaming
- National Council on Problem Gambling (Michigan)
- Official State Website
- Laws/Code of Michigan
- Michigan Legal Guide
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