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In Michigan, sports betting is now legally permitted. Both commercial and tribal casinos in Detroit have been given the opportunity to apply for licenses to run retail sportsbooks on their premises as well as online platforms. As a result, a significant number of Americans who used to engage in illegal betting through offshore sportsbooks and untrustworthy bookmakers associated with criminal organizations now have access to the legal sports betting market.
This page is dedicated to novice sports bettors like yourself. Here, you will discover a user-friendly guide on how to begin your journey into sports betting. We will teach you how to place bets on the nation’s most popular games and sporting events. Additionally, we provide clear explanations of commonly used sports betting terms.
Continue reading as the information provided here has the potential to transform you from a beginner into a seasoned sports handicapper.
Best sports betting apps for beginners
How to Bet Guides
- Ultimate Handbook for Futures Betting
- Guide for Betting Head to Head
- Guide and Prop Odds for the 2025 Super Bowl Prop Bets
- Understanding the Moneyline
- What Are Teaser Bets?
- What is the true value of the Detroit Tigers?
- What is the true value of the Red Wings?
- Can you explain the concept of a parlay bet?
- Can you explain what an over/under bet is?
- What Is Prop Betting?
Betting on sports in Michigan
There are two ways to place sports bets in Michigan.
- There are two ways to do this. The first option is to visit a Michigan sportsbook located at one of Detroit’s three commercial casinos or at any of the 23 tribal casinos scattered across the state.
- You can access the second option on your mobile device or computer by using a legitimate Michigan sports betting application or website.
Betting with an online and mobile sportsbook offers unparalleled convenience. With internet access, you can place bets from anywhere within state boundaries.
To engage in online betting, you need to follow a straightforward process:
- Sign up for an account. Add funds to your account. Place a wager.
The process may differ among operators, but the fundamental steps remain unchanged. We will guide you through each step outlined below.
Sign up for an account
To engage in online betting, it is necessary to create an account with an online sportsbook. Thankfully, Michigan’s online and mobile sportsbooks simplify the sign-up process. Typically, all you need to do is locate the “Sign Up,” “Join,” or “Register” button on the operator’s homepage.
Next, you will be required to complete a form with your personal account details, typically encompassing:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Cell number
- The final four digits of your Social Security number
- Account name
- Password
This website provides a variety of promo codes for Michigan sportsbooks, ensuring you can enter one during the signup process to secure the best new player bonus available.
Once you have checked the necessary boxes to agree to the book’s terms and conditions, you can finalize the sign-up process by submitting the information with a final click. It is important to note that all Michigan online sportsbooks will verify your age and location before proceeding. After this verification, you will be all set to progress towards placing bets.
Make a deposit
To place online bets, the initial step is to deposit funds into your sportsbook account. Luckily, online and mobile sportsbooks in Michigan provide convenient options to transfer money, offering a range of deposit methods.
To begin, you must log in to your account using the same login information you used during registration. Afterward, typically, you can locate the “Deposit” or “Cashier” button on the operator’s homepage or within the “My Account” menu.
Afterwards, it is important to select the deposit method that suits you best. This typically includes cash at different retail outlets, as well as credit and debit cards, and online payment processors. Make sure to carefully follow the instructions before finalizing your transaction, and the funds will be instantly accessible for sports betting.
Placing a bet
After completing the registration and depositing funds, you are now prepared to engage in online betting. Thankfully, the majority of the time, this can be accomplished in just five straightforward steps.
- Login to your account.
- Take a look at the available betting markets.
- Select the line you wish to place a bet on by clicking on it.
- An automatic generation will occur for the bet slip.
- You can either click to see other betting options or directly enter the amount you want to bet on that line.
- Before you click the button to confirm and place the bet, make sure to review the complete bet slip where your potential payout will be displayed.
How to bet on football
If you are new to betting, it is essential to begin with a football betting guide. This is particularly important for Americans, as football is traditionally the most wagered-on sport in the country. In Michigan, sportsbooks provide odds for both college football and the NFL. Whether you wish to bet on the Michigan Wolverines, the Detroit Lions, or any other football team nationwide, you can conveniently do so right here in the Great Lakes State.
You can bet on football games in three straightforward ways:
- Moneylines
- Point spreads
- Over/unders
Football moneylines
Moneyline bets are extremely straightforward. Your only task is to predict the game’s winner. The payout of moneyline bets is determined by the team’s likelihood of winning, as determined by the sportsbook. When examining the odds for a typical NFL game, you will notice the team names accompanied by either a positive or negative number.
In most Michigan sportsbooks, the Green Bay Packers are usually favored over the Detroit Lions in terms of moneyline. A negative number indicates the Packers as the favorite, indicating the amount you need to bet to win $100 plus your initial bet. On the other hand, a positive number signifies the underdog status of the Lions and represents the potential winnings from a $100 bet.
Suppose the listed moneyline odds for a standard Packers-Lions game are Packers -300 and Lions +350. This implies that if you bet $300 on the Packers and they emerge victorious, you will receive a total of $400, which includes your initial wager of $300 plus an additional $100. Conversely, if you place a $100 bet on the Lions and they win, you will receive $450 in total, comprising your original $100 bet and an extra $350.
Moneyline bets can be simplified as the act of choosing a winner and embracing the odds established by sportsbooks for the favored team. Seasoned bettors typically select their preferred team to win and then evaluate the odds offered by various sportsbooks, effectively searching for the most favorable price for their bet.
Football point spreads
Betting on NFL and college football point spreads is fairly straightforward. These bets involve choosing the game’s winner based on a line established by oddsmakers. The line represents the number of points that oddsmakers predict the favored team will win by. For instance, in the Packers-Lions game, Michigan sportsbooks may set the Packers as a 7-point favorite (-7) against the Lions (+7). In this scenario, the positive and negative numbers indicate the total points the favored team must surrender and the underdog will receive, respectively.
To clarify, you must subtract or add a certain number to the final score of either the favorite or the underdog to determine the winner of a bet. Specifically, in this game, if the Lions win or if the Packers win by a margin of 6 points or less, bets placed on the Lions’ point spread will be successful. On the other hand, if the Packers win by 8 points or more, bets placed on the Packers’ point spread will be winners. Additionally, if the point spread is set at 7 points and the Packers win exactly by 7 points, all bets will be considered a “push,” resulting in a refund for all bettors regardless of which side they chose.
In general, Michigan sportsbooks typically offer point spread bets with odds that resemble those of betting on a moderate moneyline favorite. The point spreads are commonly established with -110 odds, providing the sportsbook with a slight advantage. With these odds, you would need to wager $110 to potentially win $100 on either side of the spread. Consequently, this setup ensures that the sportsbook will accumulate a small profit over time from point spread bets.
Football over/unders
In conclusion, the third fundamental football wager available at Michigan sportsbooks is known as the over/under or totals bet. This type of bet requires you to predict whether the combined points scored by both teams in a game will surpass or fall below a specific number established by oddsmakers. For instance, in a Packers-Lions game, Michigan sportsbooks usually set the over/under at approximately 55 points, and you place your bet on whether the final score will exceed or stay below that particular total.
The sportsbook typically sets -110 odds for over/under bets, providing them with a slight house edge similar to point spread bets.
Football parlays
For any NFL or college football game, it is possible to create a parlay by combining two or more of the three fundamental bets mentioned earlier. Parlays offer higher payouts compared to individual game wagers; however, in order to receive the payout, you must successfully win each component of the parlay.
Football futures
Football futures go beyond traditional single-game and parlay wagers, offering a chance to bet on long-term outcomes. In Michigan, sportsbooks usually provide futures odds for the NFL and the NCAA Division 1 FBS College Football Playoff National Championship. These bets allow you to predict the winners of the NFC or AFC Championship games, the Super Bowl, or the College Football Playoffs at any time, whether it’s during the season or offseason.
As the season progresses, Michigan sportsbooks will modify the odds for each team according to their probability of winning. Hence, if you place your bet early on a team with a genuine shot at victory, you’ll enjoy more favorable odds. When it comes to futures bets, they are booked with moneyline odds, typically surpassing the magnitude of individual game moneyline odds.
Football props
Props are likely the most innovative method of placing bets on a football game. Essentially, props involve betting on specific events occurring during the game. Michigan sportsbooks might display odds for various props based on the level of interest in a particular game. For instance, they may offer props such as predicting the team that will score first or the player who will score first. Additionally, props can also be based on individual player statistics, such as passing yards or rushing yards.
Prop bets typically involve wagering on whether favorites or underdogs will reach certain milestones, predicting if a specific achievement will exceed or fall below a predetermined value, or answering “yes” or “no” questions based on the performance of a team or individual. The odds for prop bets are similar to regular moneyline odds. The number of prop bets available is highest leading up to the Super Bowl, with markets even existing for the coin toss before kickoff.
Betting on the Super Bowl
In Michigan, sportsbooks offer numerous betting options for the Super Bowl. From the classic bet types, you can wager on the game’s outcome. Additionally, the NFL Championship typically provides a wider selection of prop bets compared to any other sporting event.
How to bet on basketball
In America, basketball ranks as the second most popular sport to place bets on, trailing only behind college basketball and the NBA.
In the Great Lakes State, Michigan sportsbooks provide odds for college basketball and the NBA. This allows you to place bets on various basketball teams including the Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, and the Detroit Pistons, as well as any other team across the country.
Basic basketball betting is similar to football betting. In Michigan, sportsbooks provide a range of basic bets for college basketball and NBA games, just like they do for football.
Basketball moneylines
You have the opportunity to select the winning team in basketball games and receive payment based on the odds set by sportsbooks in case your chosen team wins. Sportsbooks will display positive odds next to the underdog team and negative odds next to the favorite team. The positive number represents the amount you will earn for every $100 bet if the underdog wins. Conversely, the negative number indicates the amount you must bet on the favorite team in order to earn $100 plus your original bet.
For a more thorough explanation, please refer to the section on football moneylines above.
Basketball spreads
When making predictions for basketball games, you choose the team that will win based on a line set by sportsbooks, which affects the final score. The line represents the number of points you need to subtract from the favorite’s final score or add to the underdog’s. It’s not necessary for underdogs to win the game; they simply need to lose by a margin smaller than the spread. On the other hand, favorites must win by a margin that covers the spread in order for spread bets on that team to be successful.
For a more detailed explanation, please refer to the football point spreads section mentioned above.
Basketball totals
In the game of basketball, it is up to you to determine whether the total score will surpass or fall below a specific line established by sportsbooks. Please refer to the football over/unders section mentioned earlier for a more comprehensive explanation.
Basketball parlays
In Michigan, sportsbooks offer the option to bet on basketball parlays, where you can combine multiple basic basketball bets. Parlays offer higher payouts compared to individual bets. However, it is important to note that in order for the parlay to pay out, you must win each and every bet or leg included in the parlay.
Basketball futures
Basketball futures in the NBA refer to wagers placed on teams that have the potential to win their division, conference, or ultimately the NBA Finals. Throughout the season and playoffs, the odds for these bets fluctuate, following the same principle as regular moneyline bets.
In college basketball, futures bets often revolve around predicting the NCAA Tournament winner. Michigan sportsbooks offer the opportunity to place such bets before and during the tournament, with the odds being updated in real-time as teams progress.
March Madness betting
According to the American Gaming Association, the annual betting on the NCAA Tournament in the United States exceeds $10 billion, solidifying March Madness as the largest betting occasion in sports. The customary approach for most individuals to place bets on March Madness is by participating in office and bar pools using NCAA Tournament bracket sheets.
To participate in a bracket pool at your office or local bar, you are required to select winners for all 63 games and submit your bracket. Unlike parlays, where every single bet must be correct, bracket sheets involve picking multiple games. In a bracket pool, your goal is to have a higher number of correct picks compared to other participants, rather than getting every game right.
Sportsbooks in Michigan have the opportunity to organize their own March Madness pools. Additionally, you have the option to place bets on specific games during the tournament, as well as predict the overall winner of the NCAA Tournament.
Basketball props
Michigan sportsbooks have the option to post game and player props based on the level of interest in a specific basketball game. These props provide the opportunity to bet on team or individual player milestones, achievements, and statistical performances at moneyline odds.
Bet on the NBA playoffs
In Michigan, sportsbooks offer a range of options for betting on the NBA playoffs. You have the opportunity to bet on individual game results as well as the overall series outcome. Additionally, you can place futures bets on the conference champions and the ultimate winner of the NBA Championship, with odds that change as the playoffs progress.
How to bet on baseball
With the lengthiest duration among all professional sports in the US, Major League Baseball offers abundant betting opportunities. Moreover, its season spans throughout the summer, coinciding with the offseasons of NBA, NHL, and NFL. This allows for undivided attention towards placing bets on baseball.
Michigan sportsbooks provide three different betting options for both Detroit Tigers’ games and other MLB matches.
There are three primary types of baseball bets that can be placed on every MLB game.
- Moneyline
- Run line
- Totals
MLB moneylines
Moneyline bets in baseball function similarly to moneyline bets in any other sport. In Michigan sportsbooks, odds are displayed for each team’s likelihood of winning. You simply choose the team you believe will emerge victorious and place your bet accordingly. If your selected team wins, you will receive a payout based on the moneyline odds offered by the sportsbook at the moment of placing your bet.
For a more comprehensive understanding of how basic moneyline odds function, refer to the football moneylines section provided above.
MLB run lines
The concept of run lines in baseball is similar to point spreads in football. To determine a betting winner, one must consider the run line alongside the final score of the game. Baseball is generally a low-scoring sport, thus run lines are typically set at 1.5. Betting on the run line is done at basic moneyline odds, and Michigan sportsbooks may additionally provide alternative run lines with different moneyline odds for betting.
If you choose a 1.5 run line, your bet is essentially on the favorite winning by a margin of two or more runs, or on the underdog winning outright or losing by only one run. You can refer to the football point spreads section above for a more comprehensive explanation on spread bets, which is essentially the same concept as run line betting.
When considering the run line, MLB underdogs have the potential to transform into moneyline favorites, and vice versa. Run line betting is frequently employed by experts to obtain more favorable odds with heavily favored MLB teams.
MLB totals
MLB totals follow a similar concept to totals and over/under bets found in other sports. Essentially, you wager on whether the total number of runs scored in a baseball game will exceed or fall short of a specific number established by oddsmakers, with different moneyline odds available.
MLB parlays
In Michigan, sportsbooks offer the option to place baseball parlay bets, where you can combine two or more basic bets. Parlays generally offer higher payouts compared to individual wagers. Nevertheless, it is essential to win each and every bet, or leg, in order for the parlay to yield any payout.
MLB futures
MLB futures present an opportunity to wager on the potential winners of every division, league, and ultimately, the World Series. These bets are placed at moneyline odds that change as the season progresses, reflecting the varying probabilities of each team’s success.
How to bet on hockey
In Michigan, sportsbooks offer the opportunity to place bets on NHL games, enabling you to wager on the Detroit Red Wings or any other team in the hockey league. Fans of the NHL have a multitude of options to bet on hockey games.
At all Michigan sportsbooks, the fundamental NHL wagers that you can find are:
- Moneylines
- Puck lines
- Totals
- Futures
NHL moneylines
Like other sports, hockey games can be easily bet on through moneyline wagers. When it comes to NHL, these bets pay based on a team’s likelihood of winning, which is determined by sportsbooks. Simply choose the game’s winner and accept the odds offered when placing your bet.
In Michigan, sportsbooks use positive or negative numbers to indicate moneyline odds. Negative numbers indicate the favorites, representing the amount you need to bet in order to win $100 along with your initial bet. On the other hand, positive numbers represent underdogs and indicate how much a $100 wager would earn.
For a detailed explanation on how moneyline odds work, please refer to the football moneylines section above.
NHL puck lines
Puck lines, also known as NHL point spread bets, are almost as simple to wager on as moneylines. Typically, the favorite is set at -1.5, while the underdog is set at +1.5 for NHL games. This is mainly due to the fact that the majority of NHL games are determined by a margin of two goals or less.
Betting on the puck line is a straightforward process: If you correctly predict the outcome while considering the 1.5 puck line, you emerge victorious. Essentially, this implies that wagers placed on the favorite team succeed when they win by a margin of two goals or more. Conversely, bets on the underdog team triumph when they win or lose by just a single goal.
The odds for Puck line bets are determined by the likelihood of a team successfully covering, resulting in varying moneyline odds.
For a more comprehensive understanding of spread bets in football, refer to the aforementioned section on football point spreads. It is worth noting that these bets are essentially identical to puck line bets.
NHL totals
The NHL’s total bets closely resemble the over/under bets in football. Michigan sportsbooks establish a line for the cumulative number of goals scored by both teams. Your task is to determine whether the actual total goals in the game will exceed or fall short of that number. Typically, most Michigan betting sites set the totals at around five or six goals for most games, with odds usually standing at -110 for either outcome.
NHL futures
NHL futures refer to the bets placed on a team’s success in winning either its division, conference, or the Stanley Cup. The odds associated with these bets fluctuate according to the team’s likelihood of achieving victory.
NHL parlays
In Michigan, sportsbooks offer the opportunity to place hockey parlays, which involve combining two or more basic hockey bets. By opting for parlays, you have the chance of receiving higher payouts compared to individual bets. However, it is important to note that in order to secure any winnings, every single wager within the parlay must be successful.
Bet on the NHL playoffs
In Michigan, sportsbooks offer multiple options for betting on the NHL playoffs. Gamblers have the opportunity to place bets on individual games and series outcomes. Additionally, they can make futures bets on the conference winners and the ultimate Stanley Cup champion, with odds that change as the playoffs progress.