Michigan Legal Online Poker Overview

Michigan Online Poker Laws Summary

The earliest form of online gambling in Michigan launched in 2014 with the Michigan Lottery’s online program. In 2017, Senator Mike Kowall introduced SB 889 with the intention of legalizing online poker and online casinos. This bill died in committee but Kowall and Representative Brandt Iden launched another proposal a year later, grouping SB 203 and HB 4926 under the guise of the ‘Lawful Internet Gaming Act’. Both bills passed the Senate and House respectively but were vetoed by then-Governor Rich Snyder on the basis that online gambling would affect retail gambling revenue.

However, support for gaming in Michigan remained, and in early 2019 Iden and Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. launched identical bills – HB 4311 and SB 186 – once again under the name of the ‘Lawful Internet Gaming Act’. The House Bill was initially opposed due to its potential impact on land-based gaming establishments, but Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a counterproposal suggesting removing online slot games and raising tax rates, which eventually led to a compromise.

The amended bill comfortably passed the Michigan Senate and was re-approved by the House before Whitmer signed HB 4311 into law on December 20, 2019. The all-encompassing bill, which legalized online gambling and sports betting as well as online poker, came into effect immediately but online poker operators still had to wait for approval from the Michigan Gaming Control Board. By December 2020, several online casinos had received newly-minted licenses in the state and the Michigan online poker market officially launched on January 29, 2021, when PokerStars MI dealt the first hand.

The Michigan Senate passed SB 991 in October 2020, which allowed the state to merge player pools with other legal states. Originally, MI ran into issues from the outdated US Wire Act, but in January 2021 the courts ruled in favor of the gaming companies and allowed for mergers to proceed in regulated markets. Shared liquidity poker player pools in Michigan finally became a reality on January 1, 2023 when PokerStars combined their MI and New Jersey pools.

Legal Online Poker Operators in Michigan

There are currently three online poker operators in Michigan, providing gaming options to a population of almost 10 million in the Great Lake State. Each site offers a host of traditional poker games and popular events including multi-table tournaments (MTTS), sit and go tournaments (SNGS), monthly standout and jackpot-style tournaments, cash and free play games, and satellite events.

Read on to see our favorite features of the legal online poker operators in Michigan:

BetMGM

BetMGM started operating their online poker site in Michigan on March 22, 2021. They offer daily tournaments and regular cash games, with the latter available on all different buy-in sizes. The poker site is available on mobile and desktop across all operating systems and is merged with the BetMGM casino and sportsbook app for added loyalty bonus points.

Based on data collected by in September 2022, the BetMGM poker site was averaging 75 players in online cash games over a seven-day period. The site sees most of its traffic during its monthly online promotional series that runs around 10 days each month.

BetMGM’s standout features include:

• MGM Resorts M Life Rewards Program used throughout the US

• Monthly online poker tournament series

• Progressive Knockout (PKO) tournaments

PokerStars

PokerStars launched in Michigan on January 29, 2021, and is available on mobile or desktop across all operating platforms. As of September 2022, the site averaged about 130 cash game players online across a seven-day period (based on statistics), and sees most of its traffic on Friday and Saturday nights. This number is expected to increase following the merger of New Jersey and Michigan player pools at the start of 2023.

PokerStars has many perks, including:

• Great operational software systems

• Yearly Championship of Online Poker (COOP) tournaments

• Spin and go tournaments

World Series of Poker

WSOP.com launched on March 28, 2022.The online app can be accessed via mobile or desktop, and is available on PC, MAC, IOS and Android. According to data from , WSOP.com averaged about 60 players in online cash games over a seven-day window in September 2022. The site sees most of its traffic on WSOP Circuit events monthly.

WSOP site highlights include:

• Monthly circuit ring events

• Direct satellites to the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas

• Online Bracelet Tournaments

How to Play Online Poker in Michigan

Signing up to an online poker operator may seem confusing if you have never gambled online before. However, the process is straightforward – just follow the simple steps below and you’ll be at a virtual table in no time:

1. Select one of our recommended Michigan poker operators. You can visit your chosen operator on mobile or desktop, or download the relevant app.

2. Click ‘sign-up’ or ‘register’. This process will be similar across all operators and platforms, and you will need to input personal information such as your full name, date of birth, address, phone number, and email. You may also be required to enter part of your Social Security number. Most of the information is required in the same format that is displayed on your driving license or state ID.

3. Players are then asked to provide a unique username and password, and you may need to confirm your email and identity. New players might also have to provide follow-up documents, such as a picture of their license.

4. Once all your personal information is confirmed, you can make a deposit on the site. Go to the cashier section, choose a payment method and deposit amount, and follow the instructions to fund your account. Enter any relevant bonus codes and satisfy any welcome bonus deposit requirements to earn maximum rewards.

5. You do not have to live in Michigan to sign up for a site, but to legally play you must be physically located within MI state boundaries at the time of bets being made. Poker operators verify this by using geolocation services so you may have to allow this on your phone to access the sites.

6. Use your cash and bonus funds to play your favorite poker games. If you win, revisit the cashier page and follow the instructions to withdraw.

Michigan Poker Bonuses & Promotions

Michigan poker sites offer a range of welcome bonuses for new players. Each site in MI offers players credit to use in free games, plus there are plenty of real money bonuses to take advantage of in the form of no deposit sign up promotions and matched offers.

Visit your preferred Michigan poker site to start building a bankroll using these bonuses:

Welcome Bonus

• BetMGM bonuses

  • Up to $75 in free tournament tickets on deposit

  • 100% match up to $1,000 on deposit

• PokerStars bonuses

  • $50 in free tournament tickets (no deposit necessary)

  • 100% match up to $600 on deposit OR play 1 hand and get $50 free dollars

• WSOP bonuses

  • $25 free on sign-up (no deposit necessary)

  • $25 free on first deposit

  • 100% match up to $1,000 on deposit

Loyalty Programs

• BetMGM Rewards

BetMGM have replaced their M life Rewards program with two separate reward systems – BetMGM Rewards and MGM Rewards. When playing with BetMGM Poker, you will be operating under the BetMGM Rewards program. These reward points can be redeemed online for cash bonuses or converted into MGM Reward points, which can then be used to secure comps at live venues owned by MGM Resorts.

Players can earn up to 500 BetMGM Rewards points for every $100 paid in rake during cash games, and the same for every $100 paid in tournament fees. Tier credits determine the level of rewards that players receive.

• PokerStars Chest Rewards

PokerStars’ online Chest Rewards system has six levels of rewards. Each chest has different values, and the higher the Chest Level, the more rewards you’ll win. The number of reward points you accrue within 28 days determines the size of your chest. The system resets after that point.

• WSOP Loyalty Program

The WSOP rewards program sees players earn Action Player Points (APPs) for various activities. Once you have collected 200 APPs (Bronze Status), you can convert them into WSOP points which are redeemable for playable credit. Every 100 WSOP points earns you $1, but you can only redeem these when you have 1,000 or more WSOP points.

Players receive two APPs for every $1 in rake collected at a table during a standard game, and you will also receive two APPs for every $1 in fees paid during tournaments.

Your WSOP rewards program can be linked to a Caesars Rewards account, meaning players are able to accumulate wagering points across multiple platforms. You can then redeem those points for a prize of your choice, including tournament tickets and free play. You can also redeem cash back or use your points as loyalty points in retail Caesars properties.

Playthrough Requirements

BetMGM Playthrough Requirements

Michigan poker players looking to take advantage of BetMGM’s offer to 100% match up to $1,000 on deposit must earn rewards points to clear their bonus.

The following terms usually apply too:

• Funds are cleared in 10% increments and need to be played through 14x.

• 5.5 reward points are accumulated for every $1 spent on tournament fees/raked in cash games.

• Players have just seven days from the date of deposit to satisfy playthrough requirements.

PokerStars Playthrough Requirements

PokerStars offers Michigan players up to $600 as a deposit bonus. In order to clear these funds, you must earn a certain number of Redemption Points (RPs):

• For every $1 in a tournament buy-in or raked cash games, 5 RPs are accrued.

• Players will receive $10 for every 180 RPs earned.

• RPs are cleared on every live cash game and also set rates on tournaments.

• Players have four months from the deposit date to clear the bonus.

WSOP Playthrough Requirements

WSOP offers a 100% match up to $1,000 on deposit and uses its own Action Player Points (APPs) system to track playthrough requirements. These APPs can be gained by playing cash games or real money tournaments.

To clear the bonuses, the following regulations also apply:

• The first bonus $10 clears at a rate of $1 per 10 APPs.

• After the first $10 bonus, $50 can then be unlocked at a rate of $5 for every 50 APPs accumulated.

• The final release rate occurs at $10 for every 100 APPs.

• APPs are cleared on every live cash game and also at set rates on tournaments.

• The bonus must be cleared within 60 days.

Michigan Poker Tournaments

Michigan poker sites mainly offer no-limit hold ’em and Omaha-style tournaments. These often include progressive and bounty knockout tournaments. The sites also offer freezeouts, turbos, deepstacks and satellites. Each site runs multiple daily tournaments and generally offer a major event series once a month.

Knockout Tournaments (KO)

Also known as bounty tournaments, knockout tournaments are popular in the poker community. Players earn a predetermined cash prize for every opponent they knock out.

Progressive Knockout Tournaments (PKO)

Progressive knockout tournaments (PKO) are unique bounty tournaments. When a player is taken out by another player, that winner receives 50% of the loser's bounty.

The other 50% is added to the winning player’s own collective bounty. Bounties keep rising every time a player eliminates another, which means that near the end of the tournament bounties can be worth a lot of money.

Live Tournament Satellites

Paying entry to events such as the WSOP Main Event ($10,000) can be a lot of money for players. Online players can instead play in weekly satellites with smaller buy-in qualifying tournaments for as little as $1.

Turbos

For players that do not have all day and night to grind out a tournament, turbos consist of an accelerated format that allows players to finish an event in around four hours. The structures (e.g., blinds, antes and payouts) usually increase every five minutes.

Super Turbos

To take it one step further, super turbos are generally completed in under three hours. The blind levels usually increase about every three minutes. These are perfect events for recreational players that want to kill some time and still make it to work the next morning.

Guaranteed Prize Pools

Online poker rooms will offer guaranteed prize pools for different events. The guarantees can range from $500-$100,000+, depending on the series tournament. The poker operator guarantees that no matter the amount of entries, the prize pool will still be there to win. If there are less players than required to generate the funds, this is called an overlay. That means the poker site is responsible to cover the money needed to fulfill the guarantee.

Special Formats

Some special tournaments such as mixed games, pot limit Omaha, seven-card stud, and other additional games can sometimes be found on Michigan poker sites.

Jackpot Sit & Gos

Jackpot sit & gos (SNGS) are a mix of slots and poker. These small tournaments may include three or four people and offer bonuses that aren't known to the players until the game starts. Each player buys in for a certain amount and plays until there is a winner. At the end, a special prize amount is awarded as a jackpot. These can payout big wins occasionally.

Types of Poker Games Available in Michigan

Online poker sites in Michigan offer many different variations of the popular game. No limit hold ‘em (NLHE) is widely regarded as the most popular, but there are plenty of other options available and sites will sometimes include special variants. These events generally pop up during major series and can be lots of fun to try.

Texas Hold ‘em

Texas hold ‘em can be played in no limit, limit, or pot limit fashion. This is currently the most popular game in the US. You receive two cards in the hole before five community cards are spread across the felt for all players to use. You must use the best five cards to make your hand.

Omaha

The second most popular poker format in Michigan is Omaha. As with hold ‘em, players can play in no limit, limit, or pot limit. Pot limit is the most popular and this is referred to commonly as PLO. Omaha plays almost identically to regular hold ‘em, except a player gets four hole cards instead of two. Out of those four cards, players must only use two in their hand to complete their best five-card hand.

Open-Faced Chinese Poker

One of the newest poker trends in the last 10 years is a game called open-face Chinese poker (OFCP) – a variant of Chinese poker. Players start with five cards and are then given one card at a time until they reach 13 in their hand. Players must make rows of their strongest hands, with three cards in their front row and five cards each in the middle and back rows. Despite its name, the game variation is said to have originated in Finland.

Three-Card Poker

Three-card poker is a table game found in both retail and online casinos. Unlike other forms of poker, three-card is played against the house and not against other players. The goal of the game is for the player’s hand to beat the dealer’s hand.

Stud Poker

One of the oldest forms of poker is stud poker. This game is still popular on the east coast but is generally not played as much online. Stud poker today usually includes seven-card stud. In seven-card, players must make the best five-card hand. Four out of each player's seven cards are exposed to the table face up. Earlier formats included five-card stud, but that game is rarely seen anymore.

How to Deposit & Withdraw at MI Online Poker Sites

When it comes to making a deposit, Michigan poker players have many options to pick from. Regulated sites allow players to choose a method that best suits their needs.

The following are some examples of how deposits can be made:

• Credit or debit card (Visa/Mastercard).

• Direct bank deposits.

• Direct cash deposits at physical casinos.

• eCheck bank payments (ACH transfers).

• eWallets such as Neteller, Paypal.

• PayNearMe cash deposits at 7-Eleven and Family Dollar stores.

• Prepaid/gift cards – Play+ and Paysafecard gift card deposits.

Live Poker Rooms in Michigan

In Michigan, poker players have multiple brick-and-mortar poker rooms to choose from. The Wolverine State also allows for casino poker rooms and charity poker rooms. Each fall under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Casino Gaming Board for regulations and procedures.

The list of active poker rooms in the state include:

Future of Online Poker in Michigan

The state of online poker in Michigan is a bright one. With over 10 million residents, a booming live scene and big-name online operators, the state has huge potential. A major boost in poker popularity is also expected to occur now that PokerStars has merged its Michigan player pools with New Jersey.

Michigan Online Poker Responsible Gambling Resources

• – Offers links to resources such as phone numbers and a live chat where you can get support. It also refers to further help, including local and national organizations. (800) 270-7117

• – Provides a helpline for those in need of support and refers bettors to a treatment program. It also offers further advice on responsible gambling.

• – Helps you find local support in your area and provides a list of questions to self-test for problem gambling. (517) 672-6904

Michigan has set up a free gambling helpline for crisis intervention and referral to treatment. Trained and experienced counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by phone or online to provide immediate help to address issues related to gambling disorder, including screening services and referrals to treatment or support groups.

Michigan also runs a , which anyone can enter from any online casino. This program will prevent people from registering with any gambling operator in the state and stop them from receiving gambling marketing material.