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We are in the thick of the legislative season. That special time of year where some lawmakers are returning to state capitals and others are turning into cats on zoom calls.

It’s a magical time of year where one can actually watch bills die and witness the very few rise to the top.

This week, Michigan online sports betting revenue figures debut to thunderous applause, Vermont lawmakers discuss sports betting, TopGolf and BetMGM strike a deal, and much more.

On the rewind:

Michigan online sports betting only needed 10 days to leave its mark

Michigan online gambling launched on Jan. 22 and it’s already turning heads. According to data from the state gaming board, in the first 10 days of operation, sports betting handle was $115.2 million. Combined with the retail handle, which was $35.7 million, and you get $150.8 million for the full month of January.

Michigan online casinos in Michigan also contributed to the 10-day effort by collecting $29.4 million in gross revenue.

The takeaway: People expected big things from MI online gambling, but I don’t think they expected this. Online P0ker Reportwrites if you extrapolate Michigan’s first 10 days based on a daily average of $2.94 million, in one full month of operation, Michigan online casino could have earned $91.1 million had they been in business beginning Jan. 1.

Vermont latest to discuss sports betting

After several defeats in 2020, lawmakers will once again try to legalize sports betting in Vermont.

A handful of state senators led by Sen. Dick Sears filed S 77, authorizing Vermont sports betting through the lottery. The bill would also allow up to six mobile sportsbooks.

The takeaway: This is still very early in the deliberation process. At only 15 pages, the bill is relatively short and doesn’t give many specifics. However, Vermont is noticing the changing landscape. The state borders Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York, all of which either have sports betting or, are in advanced talks to authorize it.

Barstool sportsbook coming to New York, eventually

Twenty years is a long time. It’s just six short of the 14-year deal Fenando Tatis Jr. signed with the San Diego Padres.

But like the Padres, perhaps Penn National Gaming sees something we don’t. The company recently announced a 20-year partnership with Rivers Casino & Resorts, which could mean the start of New York sports betting apps and online casinos – subject to legislation being enacted.

Penn National currently operates online sports betting in Pennsylvania and Michigan and plans to be live in 10 states by the end of 2021.

The takeaway: New York is viewed by many as one of the top gaming markets should online gambling ever become a reality. Penn operates the widely popular Barstool Sportsbook, so it’s a smart business move to get in on the ground floor.

BetMGM partners with TopGolf

Nothing like golf, beers, and sports betting.

BetMGM recently announced a multi-year deal with TopGolf, which will include branding and rewards program integration between the two companies.

The deal only affects locations where BetMGM operates and a TopGolf driving range is located. That means the list is limited to Las Vegas, Nashville, Detroit, and Denver.

To be clear, this is not a physical sportsbook inside TopGolf locations. This is, for now, a way for customers to possibly earn TopGolf rewards by placing a bet on the BetMGM app.

The takeaway: TopGolf, much like online sports betting, tends to cater to a younger generation. It’s only smart that BetMGM looks to capitalize on this shift in dynamics as more states attempt to legalize sports betting.

Illinois sports betting market still No.4 in US

Our last story once again brings us to The Land of Lincoln.

Illinois once again set another monthly record by collecting $491.7 million in sports betting handle for December. A large portion of this was via online sports betting in Illinois.

The numbers keep Illinois locked in as the No.4 sports betting market in the US, right behind Pennsylvania, which recorded $548.6 million in handle for December.

Is there a chance the state moves up in the rankings? Maybe, but several other online operators would have to launch, and a full return to land-based casinos would be needed.

The takeaway: For now, it appears Illinois has hit its ceiling. The market grew by only $42.5 million from November to December. But, we are still in the thick of a global pandemic. There is still lots of ground to make up.

Introduction to Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Michigan slot machine casino gambling consists of three commercial casinos in Detroit and 23 tribal casinos throughout the state. Caesars Windsor is also nearby, just across the border from Detroit in the Canadian Province of Ontario.

Detroit’s commercial casinos have a minimum theoretical payout, while tribal casinos have none. Neither type of Michigan casino has return statistics publicly available.

This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Michigan*

The minimum legal gambling age in Michigan depends upon the gambling activity:

• Land-Based Casinos: 18/21
• Poker Rooms: 18
• Bingo: 18
• Lottery: 18
• Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18

The minimum legal age for gambling is 21 if the casino serves alcohol. Further, the minimum legal age for gambling at Caesars Windsor is 19 years old. Be aware that, at Caesars Windsor in Canada, all bets and winnings are in Canadian currency.

In 1996, Michigan voters approved three licensed casinos for Detroit via the Michigan Gaming Control & Revenue Act.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in Michigan

It is legal to own a slot machine privately in Michigan if it is 25 years old or older.

Gaming Control Board in Michigan

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) within the Michigan Department of Treasury regulates commercial casinos in Detroit. Further, the MGCB provides compliance oversight authority for tribal-state compacts with Michigan’s federally-recognized tribes.

Federally-recognized American Indian tribes are sovereign nations. As such, the State of Michigan does not have general regulatory authority over tribal casinos, although the state has oversight authority of compliance with state-tribal compact provisions.

Instead, through the federal IGRA of 1988, Michigan’s tribes have tribal-gaming compacts in place to allow Class III games-of-chance slot machines. Therefore, the National Indian Gaming Commission and each tribal government regulate Michigan’s tribal casinos.

Otherwise, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), a crown agency of Canada, and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) regulates gaming at Caesars Windsor in Canada.

Casinos in Michigan

There are three commercial casinos and 23 tribal casinos in Michigan.

The largest casino in Michigan is MGM Grand Detroit with 3,500 gaming machines.

The second-largest casino is Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort with 3,330 gaming machines.

Commercial Casinos in Michigan

Detroit’s commercial casinos, including the popular Caesars Windsor in Canada, include:

1. Caesars Windsor Hotel & Casino across the Canadian border from Detroit in Windsor, Ontario.

Tribal Casinos in Michigan

Michigan has tribal-state compacts with 12 American Indian tribes, which have produced 23 tribal casinos. At the end of 2017, these tribal casinos had a total of 21,976 Class III, Vegas-style gaming machines.

Tribal casinos in Michigan are a thriving business, and many major expansion projects are underway throughout the state. This is especially true for casinos in northern Michigan.

Michigan 23 tribal casinos are:

1. Bay Mills Resort & Casinos in Brimley located in the upper peninsula 53 miles north of Mackinaw City
2. FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek located 113 miles west of Detroit
3. Four Winds Casinos Dowagiac located 21 miles north of South Bend, Indiana near the Indiana border
4. Four Winds Casinos Hartford located 50 miles north of South Bend, Indiana
5. Four Winds Casinos New Buffalo located 34 miles northwest of South Bend, Indiana near the Indiana border and Lake Michigan
6. Gun Lake Casino in Wayland located 172 miles west of Mackinaw City
7. Island Resort Casino in Harris located in the upper peninsula 160 miles west of Mackinaw City
8. Kewadin Casinos Christmas in Munising located in the upper peninsula 129 miles northwest of Mackinaw City on Lake Superior
9. Kewadin Casinos Hessel located in the upper peninsula 41 miles northeast of Mackinaw City
10. Kewadin Casinos Manistique located in the upper peninsula 89 miles west of Mackinaw City
11. Kewadin Casinos Sault Ste. Marie located in the upper peninsula 59 miles north of Mackinaw City on the Canadian border
12. Kewadin Casinos St. Ignace located in the upper peninsula 12 miles north of Mackinaw City
13. Kings Club Casino in Brimley located in the upper peninsula 56 miles north of Mackinaw City
14. Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge in Peshawbestown located in the lower peninsula 20 miles north of Traverse City
15. Little River Casino Resort in Manistee located in the lower peninsula 58 miles southwest of Traverse City
16. Northern Waters Casino Resort in Watersmeet located in the upper peninsula 268 miles west of Mackinaw City near the Wisconsin border
17. Odawa Casino Resort in Petoskey located in the lower peninsula 38 miles south-southwest of Mackinaw City
18. Odawa Casino Mackinaw located in Mackinaw City
19. Ojibwa Casino Marquette located in the upper peninsula 158 miles northwest of Mackinaw City on Lake Superior
20. Ojibwa Casino Baraga located in the upper peninsula 239 miles northwest of Mackinaw City on Lake Superior
21. Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Hotel in Standish located in the lower peninsula 158 miles south-southeast of Mackinaw City on Lake Huron
22. Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant located in the lower peninsula 157 miles northwest of Detroit
23. Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel in Williamsburg located in the lower peninsula 11 miles east of Traverse City

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying Michigan slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Michigan is:

• North and East: The Canadian Province of Ontario
• South: Indiana Slots and Ohio Slots
• West: Minnesota Slots and, across Lake Michigan, Illinois Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Michigan.

Our Michigan Slots Facebook Group

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Michigan? If so, join our new Michigan slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.

There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Michigan. Join us!

Payout Returns in Michigan

Detroit’s commercial casinos have a minimum theoretical payout of 80%. In addition, they have a maximum theoretical payout of 100% unless otherwise approved by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.

Further, Class II skill-based electronic gaming machines at non-tribal casinos also have these payout limits when played perfectly. Return statistics from Detroit’s casinos are not publicly available.

Otherwise, there are no payout limits for Class III Vegas-style, games-of-chance slot machines at Michigan’s tribal casinos nor are return statistics made publicly available.

Finally, Canadian casinos in Ontario such as Caesars Windsor have a minimum theoretical payout of 85% and a maximum theoretical payout of 99.1% for Class III Vegas-style games-of-chance. However, Class II competition-style games-of-skill machines such as video poker have a minimum theoretical payout of 88%.

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According to their OLG gaming control board from their Slots Brochure, Canadian casinos in the Province of Ontario have a single return statistic: Their average return is 91.8%.

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Summary of Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

Michigan slot machine casino gambling consists of three casinos in Detroit and 23 tribal casinos throughout the state. Otherwise, Caesars Windsor in Canada, across the border from Detroit, is a popular casino destination.

Casinos in Detroit have a theoretical payout between 80% and 100%. Michigan’s tribal casinos do not have any theoretical payout limits for Class III slots. No return statistics are publicly available from Michigan’s casinos.

Annual Progress in Michigan Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Over the last year, there has been little change to the slots gaming industry in Michigan.

Related Articles from Professor Slots

Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots

• Previous: Massachusetts Slot Machine Casino Gambling
• Next: Minnesota Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC