Legally Betting on Sports in Michigan

The state of Michigan is known for being the hub of the auto manufacturing industry, but that is not their only claim to fame. The Great Lakes State is also home to seven professional sports teams, representing the NFL for Michigan football betting, as well as the NBA, MLB, NHL and AFL. In addition, Michigan boasts seven strong collegiate athletic programs competing in the NCAA Division 1 level. They have nine Division II programs, and eight Division III programs. When it comes to both professional and college sports, Michigan is well represented. With such a strong commitment to sports throughout the state, it is not surprising that some of the most popular betting lines cover Michigan sports teams, with large number of wagers coming in on those teams from around the world. Based on this, developing a comprehensive resource guide to assist Michigan bettors in making informed decisions concerning their legal sports betting options was definitely the right move. This guide will address the legal questions that MI gamblers have, as well as provide insight into genuinely legal opportunities for residents of Michigan to participate in responsible sportsbook wagering.

Top US Sportsbooks Accepting Michigan Players

Sportsbook Name	Welcome Bonus	USA Accepted	Rating	Visit
Bovada Sportsbook	50% - $250	Yes		Visit
Betonline Sportsbook	25% - $1000	Yes		Visit
Sportsbetting.ag	25% - $1000	Yes		Visit
Bookmaker	15% - $2500	Yes		Visit

Is sports betting legal in Michigan?

In most areas of the United States, US based sports betting is not legal. The PASPA and Federal Wire Act both prohibit the operation of any type of sports betting online or offline outside of those designated areas specifically exempted from those laws. Michigan is not among the exempted territories, therefore, there will not be any state sponsored or licensed opportunities to bet on sports in Michigan. What is available to residents of the Great Lakes State are legally licensed and regulated sportsbooks located outside of the United States within a region that has already legalized online sports wagering. These sites are licensed to provide their services to players around the world, including those in the US, and can do so without violating US federal laws because they are not located inside of the US borders. This allows bettors in MI to participate without breaking the law as long as the sportsbook in question is indeed legally licensed, compliance certified and subject to regulatory oversight. So to answer the original question, yes, it is legal to bet on sports in Michigan as long as the participant is participating at a legitimate sportsbook destination that is operation legally within the industry. If you would like to review the state laws and statutes concerning gambling in the state, you can visit the Michigan State Legislature website.

What is the legal gambling age in Michigan?

The minimum age for gambling is established by Michigan state laws. For lottery, pari-mutuel wagering and bingo, the minimum gambling age is 18. To participate in any type of casino gambling, the minimum age is 21. The state takes the gambling age laws very seriously, and despite the fact that most online sportsbooks require players to be only 18, Michigan gamblers are wise to adhere to the state laws that require them to be at least 21 years of age. We strongly suggest adhering to all laws and statutes governing gambling in the state. Those laws are in place for a reason, and are in the best interests of the players.

Can I legally bet on Michigan sports teams online?

All of Michigan's professional sports teams are covered in the betting lines of the legal sportsbooks included in this guide including betting lines on the Detroit Lions NFL football team. Many of the NCAA college teams are also covered in betting lines at these destinations, particularly the Division I teams. With the state's strong presence in the sports arena on so many levels, it is a given that they are well represented through the lines and wagering options at the industry's leading Internet betting sites. In addition, Michigan residents can bet on any pro or college teams from anywhere in the country or the world with access to professional, collegiate, and European leagues.

Popular Betting Trends for Michigan Sports Teams

The Michigan State Spartans

Okay, sports fans: We realize that this article isn't covering MLB teams like the Tigers or NHL teams like the Red Wings. The reason here is that we're attempting to stick with (A) the most popular teams on which to bet, and (B) the more lucrative teams. One of the most lucrative Michigan teams on which to bet last year was the Michigan State Spartans of men's D1 NCF. They're currently the #5 ranked team in the nation, and if they can get through the season undefeated, or perhaps as a one-loss Big Ten champion, they will have cemented their spot in the four-team playoff for the National Championship.

Michigan State's biggest two opponents this year will be the Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Oregon only poses a challenge in that they can score quickly; the Buckeyes have a squad that might be able to beat some NFL teams. So the Spartans, as with last year, have a huge hill to climb. Speaking of last year, the Spartans of Michigan State were actually a good bet. They went 9-4 in total ATS (against the spread), and were 2-0 after a loss, 4-1 in non-conference games, and 8-3 as favorites. They also won their bowl game and covered the spread.

This year, we see a Big Ten that's weaker, save Ohio State's impressive squad, and a Spartans schedule that's not as daunting. We predict a solid 11-2 ATS for the Spartans this season, which makes them a great gambling option in college football.

The Michigan Wolverines

Did you know that Charles Woodson and Tom Brady both played college football with Michigan? We say that to remind people how far the Wolverines have fallen in the past few seasons. In the Big Ten, they went from on top of the world to the bottom of the barrel. They were 5-7 ATS last season, and their best number for gamblers was actually going 4-2 after a loss. Even though they have Jim Harbaugh from the 49ers coaching them, we can't see the Wolverines turning things around.

Unlike the X-Men Wolverine, Michigan doesn't heal instantly after being wounded. They have a gaping hole at quarterback, an O-line that cannot block, a mediocre running game, and a defense that allows points to be scored in bunches. They lost already this season to Utah, which means they're 0-1 ATS and 0-1 in every gambler's category already.

Will it get better throughout the season? We can see the Wolverines winning four or five games, but not much more than that. They still have Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State and Ohio State on the schedule. Look for Michigan to be worse ATS this year, even with an NFL coach.

The Detroit Lions

The Lions have the unfortunate task of playing in a division with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. They also lost a big player on defense last season when Suh signed with the Dolphins. They have a high-powered offense, but their lack of stifling defense makes them easy targets for teams to cover spreads. ATS last season, the Lions were 8-9. This simply isn't worth betting on.

They covered in a playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys. Although the Cowboys won the game, they only did so by 4 points while being favored better than a touchdown. But that's the only area all year where Detroit worked out in the favor of gamblers. They were abysmal in every other category.

One thing we predict about the Lions is that they themselves will be able to cover this year. Because of their big-time offense with Calvin Johnson, we see them closing spreads. However, the flip-side to that coin is that the Lions cannot keep other teams from covering against them. We see another 50% at best this season.

The Detroit Pistons

We won't drone on forever about the Pistons. The sad fact is that they're not a very good team of late. Last year, they didn't come close to making the playoffs, and it may be a repeat of that poor showing again this year. They don't have any superstars, and they haven't taken a difference maker in a draft in decades. ATS last season, they went 42-40, barely a touch over 50%. Their best practical category was going 14-9 as home underdogs.

We haven't seen anything from the Pistons to make us think that they can reverse these trends. We see them actually doing a bit worse ATS next season. The truth is that they're just not ready to make a big move in the East.