Sports betting in Michigan might not need to wait much longer before expanding onto digital means.
As reported by The Detroit News, a member of the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has said that online gaming and sports betting could be live by “late fall”.
Sports betting is already live at land-based outlets in the state, but casinos are adhering to limited capacity restrictions due to COVID-19.
Moving closer
On Wednesday, the MGCB held a public meeting. In this, the board said that a “key step” had been completed when it came to rule making for online sports wagering and casino gaming.
The MGCB, in a statement, said that will consider proposed changes it has received from both industry stakeholders and the general public. Once this stage is complete, rules will be submitted to Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR). The MOAHR must then approve them, before the Legislative Service Bureau needs to give them final certification.
After the above steps, the Michigan Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) will then need to review rules. They will have 15 days to do so after receiving them.
A decision on rules for online casino and sports betting in Michigan is expected next month.
Operators expected to cooperate with the licensing process
After the rules have gone through all of the necessary stages, licence applications for tribal and commercial casinos will be processed and approved. Online operators have been able to submit their applications since early this summer.
MGCB Executive Director Richard S. Kalm has said that “the licensing timetable also depends on the applicants and their delivery of completely and timely applications to us”.
Sports betting in Michigan
Just before Christmas last year, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer approved legislation related to legalising sports betting both online and at retail outlets.
Land-based sports wagering in the state launched in March. However, operations were halted later after casinos were forced to shut their doors due to the ongoing pandemic. Since reopening, they have been limited to a maximum capacity of 15%.
It was initially feared that online sports betting in Michigan could be subjected to a delayed 2021 launch.
