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As the year draws to a close, and everyone reflects on their favorite moments of #2022, we at Playinmichigan have also chosen to cast our gaze backwards.
While Year 2 of online gambling in Michigan didn’t gain as much attention as Year 1, it still witnessed significant events.
In terms of their impact on the industry, we are revisiting the top five stories from the year.
TwinSpires announces it’s closing Michigan online casino and sportsbook
Michigan had its inaugural defector just one year after online gambling became legal in the state.
In late February, TwinSpires made the announcement of shutting down its online sportsbook and online casino. However, it continues to welcome bets on horse racing, which remains its primary focus.
September 6 marked the official conclusion date.
Island Resort & Casino had over six months to find a new online brand with SI, and they formed a partnership with TwinSpires (more on that later).
WSOP Michigan becomes state’s third online poker operator
The launch of the World Series of Poker in March gave a significant boost to online poker in Michigan.
When the most renowned name in the world of Poker entered the Michigan online poker scene, it provided players with a third choice, alongside PokerStars and BetMGM. This move was widely seen as a significant advancement towards the potential availability of interstate poker.
While that development is imminent, it is yet to be implemented at WSOP. Interestingly, WSOP might be the final platform in Michigan to introduce shared liquidity.
However, WSOP Michigan provided players with an opportunity to not only win highly sought-after gold bracelets and rings but also secure a place in the prestigious Main Event.
Michigan joins interstate poker compact
After a considerable wait, Michigan’s entry into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement was ultimately approved on April 6, 2022.
The agreement provided an opportunity for poker players from Michigan to participate in competitions alongside players from Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey.
Additional requirements were necessary from Michigan’s online poker platforms to enable interstate play, despite the agreement being made in April of last year.
After a span of more than eight months, PokerStars MI has recently declared its approval for interstate play, set to commence on January 1. As of Sunday, PokerStars will commence merging player pools from both Michigan and New Jersey.
In their ongoing endeavors, BetMGM Poker and World Series of Poker MI are persistently working towards establishing interstate play in the coming times.
Soaring Eagle launches online brand: Eagle Casino & Sports
Soaring Eagle Casino remained the only vacant spot among the 15 Michigan online casino and Michigan online sportsbook skins by 2022.
In April, the launch of Eagle Casino & Sports marked the end of that era. The introduction of a plethora of online casino games swiftly propelled it to one of the leading positions in that category.
In October, it achieved a significant milestone by surpassing the $3 million mark in monthly revenue, gradually making progress.
SI Sportsbook goes live in Michigan
The closure of TwinSpires in Michigan has created an opportunity for a new sportsbook operator to enter the market.
In late August of this year, the operator transformed into SI Sportsbook MI.
The MGCB has granted approval to VHL, Michigan LLC, a subsidiary of 888 Holdings. Through a collaboration with the Hannahville Indian Community, they will now serve as the Island Resort & Casino’s new online sportsbook.
At present, Sports Illustrated exclusively functions as an online sportsbook; however, they may consider pursuing authorization for an online casino venture in the coming days.
Online handle growth has been observed every month since the launch of SI Sportsbook.
