Michigan Online Gambling Dips Slightly In April 2025

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Michigan’s online gambling revenue dipped slightly in April 2025, with iGaming and sports betting operators posting $290.7m in gross gaming. The figure was down 0.9% from the month before. March was a record month for the state and the month’s figures proved too difficult to beat.

April’s figures saw a 5.3% decline in iGaming figures but an impressive 83.4% surge from sports betting. iGaming is still responsible for the vast majority of the state’s monthly revenue. During the same period, physical casinos posted a 0.4% year-on-year revenue gain, although adjusted gross receipts dropped significantly.

Michigan Betting Evolution

Betting has been a popular activity in Michigan for a long time. The Racing Act of 1933 saw the regulation of gambling on horse races. In 1997, the state allowed the opening of three casinos. And, not long after the Supreme Court overturned the national ban on sports gambling, Michigan legalized online casino betting and sports betting.

Today, you can play on your phone or via desktop within the state and enjoy the benefits this offers. According to finance and iGaming writer Aman Jain, these benefits include generous bonuses and large selections of games, as well as recent innovations like live dealer games and the acceptance of crypto deposits and withdrawals.

April Falls Just Short Of March’s Record

iGaming has proven popular in Michigan, which is one of only seven states to have regulated online casinos – the others are New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. In April 2025, which is the last full month of gambling revenue figures, online operators raised $290.7m in gross gaming receipts in Michigan.

While this does represent a 0.9% drop compared to March, that was a record month that is going to prove difficult to top. April still came close. And, while April was down slightly compared to the month before, it fared well compared to 2024. In fact, the state saw an increase of 23.8% compared to April 2025.

In adjusted gross receipts, April was even closer to March’s record-breaking figures. Adjusted gross receipts are gross gaming receipts minus promotional spending, and April 2025 saw $259.9m in adjusted receipts. This was a year-on-year increase of 28.7% and just 0.3% lower than March 2025’s numbers.

Casino Games And Slot Machines

Unsurprisingly, casino games and slots made up the majority of the figures. In total, iGaming posted revenue of $248.1m with sports betting accounting for $42.6m. Looking at adjusted revenues, slots, and table games saw a 33.9% increase to $233.1m.

Slots are usually the most popular iGaming titles because they are easy to learn and quick to play, but they can still offer access to some of the biggest jackpots, especially those games that are part of progressive jackpots. Other popular games include roulette and blackjack, both of which are popular in physical casinos, too.

Licensed Casino Operators

There are 15 licensed online casinos operating in Michigan. These sites must be run by licensed casinos or recognized tribal casinos. The industry is regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board who have the power to prosecute unregistered and illegal sites. They have warned that officers of unlicensed sites can face fines of up to $100,000, 10 years in prison, or both.

In February, the Gaming Control Board served cease and desist letters to several online entities that it said were operating without the appropriate licenses and have previously pointed to the fact that U.S. states lose out on more than $13bn in tax revenue every year.

The regulatory board has also said that the lack of regulation means “these unlicensed operators are not only in violation of Michigan’s laws but also pose significant risks to consumers by offering limited and often unreliable withdrawal options.”

Sports Betting Receipts

Total sports betting gross receipts were up 1.7% compared to 2024, but adjusted gross receipts were down 3.6% at $26.8m. Handle was up 4.7% during the period.

Operator Performance

MotorCity Casino, which is partnered with FanDuel, generated the most receipts, bringing in revenue of $67.6m in the month. BetMGM raised $64.9m in revenue while MGM Grand Detroit generated $61m.

MotorCity also led the way in sports betting receipts, with $19.1m in gross receipts generated from $154.6m in total handle.

Physical Casinos

While iGaming accounts for the lion’s share of gambling receipts in the state, Michigan does have more than 25 casinos. Of these, three are retail casinos, with the rest being tribal casinos. The three retail casinos are the Hollywood Casino at Greektown, the MGM Grand Detroit, and the MotorCity Casino Hotel. The three retail casinos generated $109.8m, which was a slight 0.4% increase compared to 2024 but a 6.5% drop compared to March this year.

Tax Revenues And Tribal Revenue

Michigan and its tribes see considerable financial benefits from the state’s online gambling laws. iGaming generated $48.2m in tax revenue with the city of Detroit earning $13.1m and Michigan tribes paying $5.6m to governing bodies. Sports betting generated $1.4m in tax with Detroit receiving just over $0.5m. Physical casinos saw $8.9m in tax raised for the state with Detroit generating $13m, all from casino-related betting. Casinos, which are also licensed to offer retail sports betting, generated $20,000 in tax along with nearly $25,000 for Detroit.

Further iGaming Regulations To Come?

Despite states like Michigan generating considerable tax revenue from iGaming, only seven states currently have fully regulated iGaming markets. Rhode Island was the most recent state to do so, with Governor Dan McKee signing Senate Bill 948 into law in June 2023.

The new bill effectively opened Bally’s land-based casino monopoly to a wider market, giving it sole rights to operate online casinos. Wyoming and Indiana are known to be considering making the move to regulated online casinos, while New York may also make a similar move and is expected to generate considerable tax revenue if it does so.

Supreme Court Ruling

However, considering the Supreme Court effectively made it possible for states to regulate online casinos back in 2018, uptake has been surprisingly slow with an average of one state a year initiating the changes.

The court was forced to step in when New Jersey challenged the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992. The court ruled that the Act went against the Constitution, and the decision effectively enabled states to make their own decisions regarding gambling. Nearly 40 states have since legalized online sports betting, but only a fraction of this number have taken the same steps toward iGaming regulation.

Critics of the move argue that it is more difficult to protect players, while some also claim that iGaming would cannibalize existing physical casino industries. Some states are also reticent to change the status quo with regard to tribal rights to gambling within their borders. However, proponents argue that players should be given the choice and that the states themselves are missing out on substantial tax revenues.

If you or anyone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.