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The Michigan Gaming Control Board will gradually issue licenses as Michigan approaches the launch of online casinos later this year.
While licenses for operators are currently being developed, progress is being made by other entities associated with online gambling sites. Ainsworth Game Technology Limited, a prominent supplier of online casino slot games, is among the first to receive recognition in this regard.
On October 20, the Australian company received provisional licensing from the board as a supplier of sports betting and online casino services.
While the name Ainsworth might not hold great significance for upcoming MI online casino players, it is encouraging to see the issuance of interim licenses.
MGCB starting to issue supplier licenses
Ainsworth is among the six companies provisionally licensed in the Great Lakes State, anticipating an online gambling launch in late 2020.
Other companies in this category include Konami Gaming Inc., another provider of online games, and Sportradar Solutions LLC, a well-known player in the sports data and sports betting industry.
As of October 20, the MGCB website has reported that a total of 47 companies have submitted applications for supplier licenses.
What is Ainsworth and why do they matter?
Let’s shift our focus from Michigan and turn our attention to New Jersey, a state that has embraced legal online gambling for nearly seven years. Among the numerous game suppliers in New Jersey, Ainsworth stands out.
A number of New Jersey game suppliers are expected to transfer to Michigan’s servers, with Ainsworth being notably highlighted in recent news.
A partnership was announced last week between the company and Rush Street Interactive in New Jersey. Ainsworth will be collaborating with Rush Street’s PlaySugarHouse brand to introduce their successful slot machine titles.
Ainsworth offers exclusive slot titles like Big Prize Bubblegum, Money Heat, and Winning Wolf at NJ online casinos.
Ainsworth has formed several partnerships in the Garden State, including agreements with Golden Nugget and BetMGM, among others.
In September, the biggest brands in NJ raked in over $85 million in online casino revenue.
Michigan on the horizon for Ainsworth online games
Last week, Lawrence Levy, the CEO of Ainsworth, stated in an interview with Fantini Research that the company is targeting Michigan.
Levy mentioned that there will be overlap in the companies that Ainsworth collaborated with in New Jersey and those they will partner with in Michigan.
RSI brands such as BetRivers, BetMGM, and Golden Nugget are highly probable to offer Ainsworth titles.
Levy expressed that this presents a tremendous chance for us to not only enter that market but also expand within it and generate substantial profits.
While Levy specifically mentioned Michigan, he stated that multiple states will subsequently pursue similar actions.
Levy mentioned that there may be additional companies beyond those mentioned, with more partnerships anticipated to be announced in November.
MI online casinos launch coming soon
In May, the online gaming supplier license forms were made accessible, prompting MGCB executive director Richard Kalm to emphasize the urgency for companies to expedite their applications.
It seems that obtaining the necessary license will be the last step required for the initiation of online gambling in Michigan.
The Internet Gaming and Internet Sports Betting rules are currently being reviewed by the Joint Committee for Administrative Rules, as per the legislative process. These rules were submitted by the MGCB on October 8th.
The committee has a deadline of 15 session days to take action on them, although a waiver could expedite the process.
However, the launch might take place either in November or extend until early 2021.
Ainsworth, along with other vendors and suppliers, share the same goal as operators, which is to obtain a license prior to launching their operations.
