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While Michigan sports betting remains inactive due to the state’s shelter-in-place measures, residents confined to their homes are seeking entertainment options amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday, West Virginia residents found themselves in a similar situation and were given an unexpected opportunity to place bets on the US presidential race as FanDuel briefly introduced political betting markets.
You shouldn’t anticipate a recurrence of the events that occurred in West Virginia this week in Michigan.
Last month, Mary Kay Bean, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Gaming Control Board, stated in an email to Playinmichigan that they have no plans to include betting on political races.
FanDuel opened Presidential election betting in West Virginia
In an unexpected twist, FanDuel was granted permission by the West Virginia Lottery to accept bets on the presidential election, leading to a flurry of exciting events on Tuesday.
FanDuel pulled the market at the request of West Virginia officials after it had been up for only two hours.
As per the West Virginia Code, it is discovered that wagering on elections is prohibited in the state.
The odds displayed on FanDuel included:
- The odds for the 2020 Presidential Election are as follows: Donald Trump with a line of -110 and Joe Biden with a line of +125.
- The Democratic Nominee odds are as follows: Biden is favored at -714, followed by Andrew Cuomo at +1400, and Bernie Sanders at +1600.
- Kamala Harris leads the Democratic Vice Presidential race with odds of +188, followed by Amy Klobuchar with odds of +400.
- The winning party in the US Presidential Election 2020 is projected as follows: Republican with odds of -125 and Democrat with odds of -110.
- Winning Party by State
Election betting illegal in Michigan too
Wagering on an election is considered a misdemeanor under Michigan election law, as stated in a section that highlights prohibited conduct.
According to section 168.931(1)(l) of the Michigan Compiled Law, it is prohibited for an individual to place bets or stakes, involving property, money, or any valuable item, or to hold custody of such items, in relation to the outcome of a political nomination, appointment, or election.
Michigan lawmakers not opposed to election bets
In December, Michigan officially legalized sports betting, and the first bets were placed in Detroit. However, unfortunately, shortly after the launch, the pandemic struck, leading to the closure of sports events and casinos.
Last month, Playinmichigan conducted a poll in which Democratic Senator Curtis Hertel from East Lansing and Republican Representative Michael Webber from Rochester Hills revealed that they personally do not oppose betting on elections.
On Thursday, a casino executive chose not to provide any comments regarding the matter.
“There’s no good way to put it,” remarked Allen Kerridge, interim CEO of Kewadin Casinos in the Upper Peninsula, advising against getting involved with it.
While there may be a desire to invest in political opinions, don’t anticipate any immediate financial benefits from supporting either Biden or Trump.
