Michigan Looks to Build on Record-Setting Online Sports Betting Month

Nick Makowitz Sports Betting Expert

2 minute read

Michiganders have reaped the benefits of online sports betting since the beginning of 2021. In January of 2021, Michigan saw the largest online launch of any state up to that point. 10 online sportsbooks went live just over a year after state legislators voted to pass the online sports betting bill with flying colors. Now, Michigan looks to build upon a record-setting month for sports betting.

Since that historic launch, Michigan has added four sportsbooks to its online repertoire for a total of 14. The Great Lakes State has established itself as a leader in the burgeoning mobile sports betting market. In October of 2021, online wagers accounted for over $460 million, or 93 percent, of Michigan’s nearly half-a-million-dollar betting handle.

The market leaders are familiar faces to many across the US. During the record-breaking month, FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM made up three-quarters of the online betting handle in Michigan. 11 other legal operators filled out the remaining 25 percent:

• Barstool Sportsbook (9%)
• Caesars (8%)
• PointsBet(4%)
• FOX Bet (1%)
• BetRivers (1%)
• TwinSpires (1%)
• WynnBET (1%)
• Parx (<1%)
• FireKeepers (<1%)
• Golden Nugget (<1%)

In November, Michigan may very well re-break its online sports betting record. From April through July of 2021, the state saw monthly decreases in its online betting handle, likely due in part to insurmountable numbers achieved as a result of the Super Bowl and March Madness. Since football season began in August, the state has drawn a record-breaking online sports betting handle each month.

With football season in full swing, the Wolverines and Spartans tipping off their college hoops seasons, and The Big Game coming in November, Michigan sports bettors are in for a jam-packed month. With so many major sports active at the same time, the winter months tend to be more lucrative for sportsbooks. Michiganders will be at the center of the action with an abundance of hometown teams to bet on.

In addition to the existing online sportsbook options in Michigan, Kambi Group has agreed to partner with Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in launching an online sportsbook as early as the first quarter of 2022. If it launches after the Super Bowl, Soaring Eagle could miss out on sizable revenue, but it would likely be fully operational by the start of the 2022 football and basketball seasons.

For users looking to get in on the Michigan action, be sure to check out all the promotions and bonus codes for online Michigan sportsbooks. Capitalizing on promos and racking up free bets and bonus money is a great way to make sports betting as fun as possible. Many sportsbooks also offer specials on local teams. Luckily for Michiganders, there are plenty of options.

Written by Nick Makowitz, our US Sports Betting Industry Expert. You can learn more about our author's expertise here.

Nick Makowitz

In his spare time, Nick likes digging into NFL and NCAAB betting data, going to breweries with friends, and trying out any and every Mexican restaurant in Pittsburgh. More from Nick Makowitz