Online Poker in Michigan & The Best Real Money Poker Sites in MI

No matter where you go in the world, online poker is going to be a popular pursuit among the local population. Currently, Michigan doesn’t have any legal online poker platforms, but there are plenty of offshore poker sites that you can use instead. 

This allows you to play online poker games in a safe and secure manner when you choose the right platforms. This guide will take a comprehensive look at the situation of Michigan online poker today.

Top 3 Online poker Sites in Michigan, MI, USA

A lot of people in Michigan love playing real money poker but they do not have any regulated market in the state of Michigan. As a result, they have to rely on offshore poker sites. You will come across various options that have great bonus offers, player pools, and poker variants. Here are three of the best offshore Michigan online poker sites we have come across through our extensive research:

  • Slot Title
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Poker bonus: $2,000 in deposit bonuses

  • Superb player traffic
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Poker bonus: 100% first deposit bonus up to $3,000

  • Anonymous Tables
  • Payout Speed: <24 hours
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Poker bonus: 100% first deposit bonus up to $500

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  • Payout Speed: Instant
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Is online poker in Michigan legal? Yes 

Online poker is currently legal in Michigan. Gov Gretchen Whitmer signed a number of online gambling expansion bills in December 2019 that legalized the likes of online poker, online casinos, sports betting, and daily fantasy sports (DFS). However, the online poker market hasn’t yet launched in Michigan, with the expectation that this will not come until 2021. Therefore, residents in the Great Lake State will have to rely on offshore internet poker and offshore sportsbooks until then. Michigan Sports Betting

Other forms of gambling in Michigan

As well as the recent moves to expand various forms of gambling legislation in the state, there have been other forms of legal gambling that have been around for many years. The state lottery has been steadfast, offering jackpots since 1972, and generates a lot of tax revenue for the state government. At the time, Michigan was one of the first states in the United States to allow a lottery. 

In terms of land-based casinos, there are some tribal casinos found across the state that offer the likes of casino gambling, with some having poker rooms where you can play the likes of Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Stud variants. You will also come across some commercial casinos in the likes of Detroit that cater to popular table games and slot machines. They include the MGM Grand Detroit, Motor City Casino Hotel, and the Greektown Casino Hotel.

There are certain forms of charitable gambling allowable, but there are strict rules for social gambling. Another popular pursuit in Michigan is horse racing betting. There are a number of racetracks in the region, as well as pari-mutuel facilities.

Our Recommended Online Poker Site in Michigan

Our Rating

  • Great reputation
  • 200% first deposit bonus up to $1,000
  • Large player base
  • Many daily tournaments
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Top 3 online poker sites that accept players from Michigan

If you like the idea of getting started using offshore poker sites, here are three of the best options we have come across after conducting extensive research on the subject:

1. Everygame Poker - Great reputation (200% deposit bonus up to $1,000)

Everygame Poker has been a favorite among Michigan residents for many years. It has been an active platform for over two decades and has developed a strong player base and liquidity over the years. As a result, there is always going to be players available for you to play against. You have the option to play through your web browser or download the client to your desktop. Cash games, in particular, are well catered for, with tons of options in particular for smaller stake players.

There are also many guaranteed live poker tournaments taking place on a daily basis, many of which have significant prizes. You have tons of payment options, 24/7 customer support, and an ideal welcome offer when you sign up for an account with Everygame Poker. If you create an account, you will get a 200% first deposit bonus up to $1,000. You do need a bonus code to claim this offer.

Our Rating

  • Great reputation
  • 200% first deposit bonus up to $1,000
  • Large player base
  • Many daily tournaments
  • No mobile app

2. Ignition Poker - Large player pool ($2,000 in welcome offers)

Ignition Poker (formerly called Bodog) has been looking after US poker players for many years, with this offering being extremely easy to use. It is one of the biggest offshore poker sites you will come across, rivaling the likes of Pokerstars in a lot of ways with its depth. Tons of recreational poker players use this offering, so the games are often loose and highly enjoyable. While there are some limitations on the payment options, most of the standard choices will be available. There is usually always at least one thousand players active, so you will not struggle to find a game of your choice. For new signups, you can get your hands on welcome offers that can provide you with as much as $2,000 in bonus funds.

Our Rating

  • Big player pools
  • Guaranteed daily tournaments
  • Great reputation
  • Welcome offers up to $2,000
  • Limited withdrawal options

3. Bovada Poker - All-round quality (100% first deposit bonus up to $500)

Bovada Poker is another staple of the offshore Michigan online poker sector. It caters to all skill levels, with the player base always being strong. There are tons of different online poker rooms for cash games and tournaments that you can play no matter what time you are logging into your account. Different supported variants include Texas Hold'em and Omaha. Most of the tournaments will be guaranteed and take place each and every day. There are some events that cannot be played when using a mobile device. For those with new accounts at Bovada Poker, you can get your hands on a first deposit up to $500. One of the best sides of this offering is the strong mobile app, which allows you to play seamlessly on the go, similar to how you would with the Pokerstars app.

Our Rating

  • Large player base
  • Many game options
  • 100% first deposit bonus up to $500
  • Great mobile app
  • Some tournaments not on mobile

How we rate the best Michigan online poker sites

There are a lot of different ways that you are able to analyze the merits and capacities of an online poker real money Michigan site. Different poker players will have their own preferences, but it is good to get a nice overview of the standout offerings before committing to one option. Here are some of the most important aspects of a given Michigan online poker offering that we look at:

  • Game variants
  • Player base
  • Operator’s reputation
  • Regular promotions
  • Welcome offer
  • Tournament selection
  • Stake sizes variations
  • Customer support
  • Payment options
  • Loyalty program
  • Mobile offering

What to consider when choosing a poker site

As soon as you have this shortlist together of the potential Michigan online poker sites that you are going to consider using, you will then be ready to narrow down this list to one or two options. 

The best approach to doing so is deciding what is most important to you as a poker player. By figuring out your priorities, you can make this process pretty easy and straightforward. Here are some of the biggest priorities for Michigan online poker players:

Legal standing

It is vital that you are playing with a legit offshore poker site. This means checking to see if it holds a license elsewhere. Also look to see if it offers safe and secure payment, honoring withdrawals and keeping your sensitive data safe.

Customer support

When you are using an online poker site, you may have a question or query that you need answered. You want to be able to contact the support team around the clock and have a range of methods to do so.

Promotions

One of the best aspects of signing up at a new platform is the welcome offer. You should also look at the regular promotions for existing players, as well as the loyalty program that is on offer. These perks can add up over time.

Player base

It is vital that you are dealing with a platform that has plenty of players. This means that you will be able to play your favorite games when you want without having to wait around. This could mean that the platform is a part of a network with other sites.

Payment options

It is important that there are sufficient options for depositing and withdrawing funds from your poker account. This means checking the available methods to make sure they are secure, have no fees and process funds in minimal time.

Game selection

Poker players will have different preferences when it comes to the type of online poker they want to play. Some prefer cash games, while others like tournament play. Choose an offering that caters to these specific needs.

The future of online gambling in Michigan

It is an exciting time for legal online gambling in Michigan. There has been a wave of legalization and expansions in the Senate and House thanks mainly to the Lawful Internet Gaming Act. This sees the likes of online sportsbooks, online casinos, poker sites, and DFS coming to the state in 2021. This is despite staunch opposition from former Governor Rick Snyder for many years against any form of Michigan online poker bill. People from other states will likely come into Michigan and play on these online platforms, with geolocation blockers stopping them from accessing the regulated market in their own states.

As a result, the online gambling scene will soon rival the likes of New Jersey and Pennsylvania in terms of having a full range of online gambling options. It also joins the likes of Delaware and Nevada also with online poker. The sector will likely grow rapidly in the coming years as more and more online poker operators enter the market.

Where else is online gambling legal in the US?

There is currently a wave of online gambling expansion across the USA. This has largely been led by the ending of the federal ban on sports betting in May 2018. Many lawmakers are legalizing retail and online sports betting. As a result, they are also now considering allowing for the likes of online poker and casinos. 

However, the progress is slower with the online poker expansion. Not being able to have multi-state player pools due to the Wire Act holds a lot of states back from embracing online poker legislation. If you want to see the situation of online gambling in a given state today, you can have a look at the interactive map below:

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC

Best online casinos in Michigan

If you want to take a break from playing online poker, you can also check out some of the best online casinos available to Michigan residents. You can play everything from roulette to blackjack, casino poker, baccarat, online slots, and much more online gaming through these platforms. Here are some of the best offshore online casinos available in Michigan today:

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Bottom line

As you can see, there is a lot of change happening in the online gambling scene in Michigan. While the regulated market is nearly here, for now, people will have to rely on offshore poker sites. 

These platforms have been tried and tested for many years, with a lot of players even considering staying with these options once the legal market opens up. With great player bases, stunning promotions, and smooth gameplay, you can’t go wrong with one of the chosen offshore platforms when you are looking to play Michigan online poker.

FAQs

Is online poker legal in Michigan?

Currently, online poker is legal in Michigan, but the regulated market has not yet launched. This is expected to happen at some stage in 2021. Therefore, you will need to rely on offshore poker sites until that point in order to play your favorite games online.

What are some operators that may enter the regulated online poker sector in Michigan?

Once the regulated online poker market opens up, it is likely that a lot of the major poker brand operators will enter the scene. This includes the likes of Pokerstars through its parent company, The Stars Group. This operator has already struck a partnership in the state with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Gaming Authority. There will also be entry likely from Roar Digital's BetMGM, Caesars, WSOP, and partypoker.

Who is in charge of the gambling sector in Michigan?

For the most part, the Michigan Gaming Control Board looks after the issue of online gambling regulation in the state, acting as one of the main regulators. The MGBC decides what operators get licenses and on the regulations and enforcement of these rules across the state.

What are common welcome offers for new players?

At offshore poker sites, you will come across many different types of welcome offers. These will often be in the form of a deposit bonus or tournament freerolls. These offers are a great way to start your new account.

What is the legal gambling age in Michigan?

The age to play at regulated online poker sites in Michigan is set to be 21 years old, the same for the likes of online casinos. Usually, sports wagering will only require you to be 18 years old, as well as buying a lottery ticket. A lot of the offshore poker sites will accept players once they are at least 18 years old.

About Andrew O'Malley

Alex has been writing about the gambling industry for more than five years, covering everything from sports betting to casinos and poker. With the sector constantly evolving, he loves nothing better than staying up to date with the latest movers and shakers in the space.