Michigan’s online gambling market has entered a new phase. There’s tighter regulation, increasing player expectations, and calls for more innovation. Many people in Michigan still use offshore online casinos that feature on AskGamblers. They find trustworthy sites that aren’t limited when it comes to bonus sizes or payment methods.
There’s still a lot of activity in Michigan’s locally licensed gaming market. Tax revenue continues to hit new highs and online casinos are in the Great Lakes State for the long run.
No slowdown for revenue
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has reported monthly all-time high revenue months regularly during 2025. Total iGaming revenue of operators is over $2.5bn up to the end of October 2025, which resulted in over $180 million in tax revenue. Early projections show demand will rise even higher next year.
Retention strategies from operators are paying off and they’re investing more in their technology. This includes personalized promotions, which make the user experience more tailored to the individual.
A focus on consumer protection
The MGCB is placing a lot of focus on ensuring that consumers are properly protected. It’s brought in mandatory cool-off prompts, tightened identity verification checks, and cracked down on unlicensed operators.
The regulator is trying to find a balance between offering freedom to players and also protecting them. This is a challenge that most state regulators grapple with.
Tribal casinos making big moves
Michigan is one of the most diverse gaming landscapes in the US. Commercial and tribal operators are co-existing under the same regulatory framework. Tribal Michigan casinos have made some big moves this year to try to get ahead of the competition.
A couple of tribes are considering creating in-house development studios. Others are looking at ways to integrate their offline loyalty rewards with their online player base. There’s even a partnership model in discussion that would see smaller tribes licensing their game libraries from bigger tribes.
Bigger focus on college sports betting
One big issue that’s damaging sports betting conversations in Michigan is the availability of player prop bets.
Many people are calling for these to be banned due to the rising number of cases of student athletes getting caught manipulating games or passing insider information to bettors. The NCAA wants a complete ban on player prop bets.
The MGCB is considering a partial ban, which would prohibit individual player props in particular. This will be a key decision in 2026, especially given the recent high-profile scandals in professional sports leagues like the NBA and MLB.
Gamblers are getting more selective
Michigan players are no longer just joining new casinos due to their welcome bonuses. Consumer trend survey results show that people are prioritizing fast withdrawals and a better user experience.
Players also are relying more on third-party ratings from trustworthy platforms like AskGamblers to see what real users are saying about specific gambling sites.
Going forward, three big trends that appear to be emerging are an increase in AI-driven oversight in Michigan, including real-time fraud detection and automated limit suggestions. There’s also going to be continued cross-market loyalty ecosystems emerging and a stronger collaboration between tech firms and regulators.
Michigan’s online gambling industry is maturing rapidly, constantly becoming safer and more advanced technologically. Regulators are continuing to push higher standards and operators are competing more on innovation rather than bonuses.
The state is positioning itself as one of the most forward-thinking regulated gambling markets in the US. The onus is on operators to stay transparent and player-first if they want to keep attracting players.
That makes it an ideal environment for gamblers who always want access to the best options without having to worry about the security of their funds or personal information.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: https://www.americancasinoguidebook.com/blog/michigan-gambling-landscape-is-evolving-fast-and-2026-could-be-its-most-defining-year.html
