Michigan Online Casino Market Maintains Strong Growth in 2023

Michigan's online casino (iGaming) market continued to show consistent growth through 2023, reinforcing its position as the third largest US state for regulated online gambling behind the established leaders New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) publishes monthly iGaming revenue data covering all licensed operators, providing one of the most transparent and frequently monitored datasets in the US gambling industry.

Michigan iGaming Background

Michigan enacted the Lawful Internet Gaming Act in December 2019, signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The Act created a comprehensive licensing framework for online casino games and online poker. Michigan's iGaming launch on January 22, 2021 was significant as the first new state to launch regulated online casino gaming since Pennsylvania's 2019 launch — and the first state in the US Midwest to offer licensed iGaming.

Market Structure

Michigan's iGaming licences are tied to the state's three commercial casinos in Detroit — MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino Hotel, and Greektown Casino-Hotel — as well as to tribal casino operators under agreements with the state. This creates a multi-platform market with licences distributed across both commercial and tribal casino partners.

Major operators active in Michigan iGaming in 2023 included BetMGM (partnered with MGM Grand Detroit), DraftKings Casino (expanded through the Golden Nugget Online Gaming acquisition), FanDuel Casino (Flutter Entertainment), BetRivers (Rush Street Interactive), and PokerStars (Flutter Entertainment's poker brand, operating in MI under its own licence).

Michigan permits both online casino games (slots, blackjack, roulette, live dealer) and online poker — making it one of only a handful of licensed US states to offer regulated online poker. The Michigan Online Poker Network operates for competitive poker, giving Michigan players access to larger player pools.

Revenue and Tax Framework

The MGCB's monthly revenue reports track gross gaming revenue (GGR) for each licensed operator, allowing detailed analysis of market share and growth trends. Michigan's iGaming GGR tax rate ranges from 20% to 28% depending on the licence category, with revenues shared between the state, the City of Detroit (for commercial casino partners), and tribes (under tribal-state gaming compacts).

Michigan's sustained iGaming growth has been cited in legislative discussions about iGaming expansion in other Midwest states including Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.