Regulated online poker only went live in Michigan in 2021 but the industry kicked in well with three of the nation’s leading operators opening shops. PokerStars MI, BetMGM Poker MI, and WSOP MI are your options when choosing a platform to play on; Profitsquad’s guide on online poker sites in this state aims at presenting important details of the trio and how to make sure you are playing on a legal site, so keep reading.
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When was online poker legalized in Michigan? | January 2021 |
How many sites operate in MI? | 3 |
Legal platforms | PokerStars, BetMGM Poker, WSOP |
What is the minimum age to play? | 21 |
Do I need Michigan residency to play in the state? | No, but you must be within the state to play for real money |
What is the best MI poker site? | PokerStars |
Can I play against players from other states? | Not yet. MI has been approved for the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement, but its membership is not finalized yet |
This operator was the first to go live in the state of Michigan and is a solid leader in the industry. Its state-of-the-art software is perfectly suited for both recreational and pro players. The site features a rich schedule of tournaments and offers plenty of cash games, Sit & Go and Spin & Go events. It is also the organizer of the Michigan Championship of Online Poker (MICOOP) series.
Key Facts
Main bonuses | 100% First match deposit bonus up to $600 and up to $50 in Spin & Go tickets |
Apps available | Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS |
Main tournament / best poker room | Michigan Championship of Online Poker (MICOOP) |
Main highlight | Best tournament schedule in MI |
Live since | 2021 |
Player pool | Not for now. A Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement is in progress |
What we liked most about PokerStars:
Going live just two months after PokerStars, BetMGM offers a solid platform to MI players. Plenty of cash games and a rich tournament schedule await punters with varying stakes. BetMGM’s sign-up bonus is the best you’ll find in the state.
BetMGM Key Facts
Main bonuses | 100% First match deposit bonus up to $1000 and up to $75 in MTT tickets |
Apps available | Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS |
Main tournament / best poker room | 6-figure Sunday tournament one Sunday a month |
Main highlight | Qualify your way to Borgata’s The Return January 2023 event |
Live since | 2021 |
Player pool | Not for now. A Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement is in progress |
What we liked most about BetMGM:
WSOP was the third operator going live in Michigan. Their main edge is that their rooms can offer players WSOP rings and gold bracelets. The operator’s new Poker 8 software platform runs smoothly and there’s plenty of cash game action as well as sit and goes to keep players entertained. Their $50 free money bonus consists of a $25 no-deposit deal and a further $25 bonus at your first deposit.
WSOP Key Facts
Main bonuses | 100% First match deposit bonus up to $1000 and $50 in free money |
Apps available | Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS |
Main tournament / best poker room | Over $100,000 in guarantees on Sundays |
Main highlight | Events offering WSOP rings and gold bracelets |
Live since | 2022 |
Player pool | Not for now. A Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement is in progress |
What we liked most about WSOP:
Regulated online poker in the state is overseen by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. The authority licenses internet gaming sites that would like to offer real money gambling games and sports betting in the state. Games at licensed platforms are tested by an independent test laboratory (approved by the same board) that makes sure that all games are fair and operate correctly.
By law, sites will have to make sure of the following:
Trying to hide your actual location through VPN or other means is against the law. If caught, the site can confiscate your funds and even more serious ramifications may follow.
In the state of Michigan, people who won monies in casinos, race tracks and organizations conducting charitable gambling will have to pay both federal and state taxes. You can find out more about Michigan gambling taxes on our dedicated page. Winnings are subject to the following taxes.
Tax type | Tax rate | Comment |
Federal tax | 24% | Tax is only payable if poker winnings are over $5,000 (reduced by buy-in amount) |
MI state tax | 4.25% |
You should only play real money games at MI-licensed gambling sites for two reasons. The first is to comply with the law and the second is to avoid being scammed or treated unfairly. Within the state, it is the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) that oversees gambling sites and issues licenses. If a site is licensed, you will find the board’s logo, or its name mentioned at the bottom of the site’s landing page.
At the time of writing (January 2023) there were only three MI licensed sites available (PokerStars , BetMGM and WSOP) so it is easy to tell which sites are illegal, however, in the future, more operators will probably apply for a license. If in doubt, you can always visit the MGCB’s website and confirm if the platform is licensed or not.
The deposits you make at poker sites are safe thanks to the policy requiring operators to always maintain a money reserve to secure players’ funds.
Should the site have financial difficulties, your money is still in safe hands.
When it comes to funding accounts, MI players have many options. The more deposit and withdrawal options a site offers the better as any player will be able to find a convenient payment method.
The options you’ll come across most often are the following.
Although playing at licensed sites is legal, some US banks won’t facilitate transactions to any gambling site. If it is so, it will most likely be mentioned in the cardholder agreement between you and the bank.
Credit cards only work one way - you can make a deposit with them, but you cannot withdraw to them. In case you would like to cash out, you’ll have to set up an alternative banking method.
All three online poker sites in MI offer a welcome bonus. Each site splits up its offers into a match deposit and a free play bonus which is great because no matter what your budget is, you can get good value out of these sign-up packages.
If you are a serious player and plan on wagering high amounts on the games, you can take advantage of the 100% match deposit bonus of all three sites.
Platform | Bonus | Notes |
PokerStars | 100% match deposit bonus up to $600 + | To unlock the free money, you’ll have to play a single cash game hand at any stake |
BetMGM | 100% match deposit bonus up to $1000 + | To get the full $75 worth of tickets, you’ll need to deposit the full $1000 |
WSOP | 100% match deposit bonus up to $1000 + | Make the minimum deposit and receive an extra $25 of free money |
There’s plenty of live poker action in the state, and you’ll find several online casinos in Michigan that offer multiple rooms with several tables.
MGM Grand Detroit offers 17 tables with No-Limit and Limit Hold’em as well as Pot-Limit Omaha games both as cash games and tournaments.
Other casinos offering poker tables across the state are:
Casino | Main Event | Prize |
Bay Mills Resort & Casino | Currently no tournaments | n.a. |
Greektown | $150 No Limit Holdem every Fri and Sat | n.a. |
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort | Monthly Tournaments | n.a. |
FireKeepers Casino Hotel | Mid-States Poker Tour Tournaments | $1,000,000 |
Muskegon Poker Room | Build-a-stack No Limit Holdem Fri and Sat | $60,000 |
Island Resort & Casino | Hunter’s Classic | $12,000 |
Gun Lake | Daily tournaments | n.a. |
MotorCity | Monthly Tournaments | $100,000 |
The FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan is home of the largest MSPT event outside of Las Vegas. The Mid-States Poker Tour Tournaments hosts more than 30 events each year across the United States and is known for its affordable, no-limit Hold’em tournaments. Last October, the main event was held at the FireKeepers and had a $1,000,000 guarantee.
You should only play at licensed sites to make sure your data is safe; your money is stored securely and you are not being scammed. Every legal gambling site must make its licensing information available on its website. It is easy to cross-reference this information by visiting the webpage of the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
Should you have a dispute with a site, try and resolve the matter with the operator. They are obliged to answer your query within 10 days. If the outcome is not to your satisfaction, you may file a complaint with the MGCB.
Don’t think of playing to make money. While it is possible to consistently win with the game, only a few percent of players will be able to do so. Don’t wager more money than what you can afford to lose. If your bankroll is tight, play games with micro-stakes so that you can enjoy them to the maximum without losing a significant amount of money.
There are many game variants with different game rules. Apart from this, each casino can have its own set of rules that you should be aware of. Not knowing the rules will often lead to disappointment. If you are unsure of all the rules, play the game with the smallest possible stakes at first.
Legal poker is fairly new to the state of Michigan and yet three of the nation’s top operators have gone live already. Recreational as well as serious players can enjoy a whole range of cash games and tournaments and there’s plenty of live action available within the state too. Players have great opportunities to claim generous welcome casino bonuses on all four sites.
Now that you are equipped with all the facts you need to make an informed choice on where to play. Keep our responsible gambling tips in mind and make the most out of your gaming sessions.
Yes if you are playing on an MI-licensed gaming platform.
Currently, there are three licensed platforms that operate in Michigan – PokerStars, BetMGM and WSOP. All these three sites are perfectly safe as they must adhere to local laws and strict regulations. You can check the list of legal gambling sites on the MGCB’s home page.
You’ll have to be at least 21 years old to play real-money online gambling games in MI.
Legal sites are never rigged. They are regularly audited by an independent authority that tests the games and makes sure that everything is operating according to laws and regulations.
For now, you can’t, however, a Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement is in progress so Michigan should start sharing player pools with other states in the near future.
This will depend on your bank. Although licensed poker sites are legal, some banks don’t like to transact with any gambling sites. Try depositing with your card and if the transaction declines, contact your bank to clarify the situation.
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