Gambling Laws in Michigan
As anyone who has lived in the United States for any period of time can attest, citizens of this country seem to have an incredibly specific and prolific love affair with gambling. Throughout history, both the federal and state governments have attempted to strike back and combat it, but the love of gambling has always seemed to shine through, often times changing the wording of legislation or how it is enforced. This has led to a confused modern climate concerning all types of gambling, with most residents unsure of what the specific laws affecting gambling in their home state and country are. Here's where you find those Michigan gambling laws to clear up the confusion.
The federal law governing gambling has never gone after otherwise honest citizens who would merely like to place a bet, instead, they have opted to go after those who would facilitate or profit from illicit gambling. Michigan gambling laws tend to fall right in line with these principles, even expanding some gambling allowances more so than other states by sanctioning several casinos throughout the state.
Still, even in a state like Michigan where the gambling laws are more relaxed, it pays to be as up-to-date as possible concerning the gambling law, and this page was designed to navigate Michigan residents through the legal gambling landscape in their home state in great detail.
Michigan Gambling Legality: Is It Safe? Will I Go To Jail?
When it comes to prosecuting the act of gambling, betting or wagering, Michigan is one of the few states that does not actually define the act of betting as an offense within their state legislation. Assuming that a Michigan resident is over the legal gambling age, there are literally no laws in the state that could interfere with their simply placing a bet on any games of skill, chance, or the outcome of any events.
However, this does not mean that gambling in Michigan is a full on free-for-all, in fact, Michigan even includes language within their legislation that protects their state sanctioned casinos. In the state law, chapter 432.218, section 18, heading 2 subsection e defines “cheating” at any form of gambling as a felony which can result in up to ten years in prison and a $100,000 fine. In addition, any offender found guilty of cheating will not be able to take a chance in winning their legal fine back because they will be officially blacklisted from all state sanctioned casinos within Michigan borders. If these punishments seem steep, it’s because they are. Whatever a gambling enthusiast in Michigan does, they must not cheat!
The other major offense tied to gambling in the state of Michigan lies, just as it does in Federal Law, in the facilitation of gambling. In accordance with federal laws as well as chapter 432.218, section 18 heading 1 of Michigan gambling code, the facilitation of any gambling for profit is a felony as well, carrying penalties just as steep.
While the Michigan gambling laws are more lax than most states, the penalties for violating such policies are certainly more rigid. The best legal advice one can give to someone in Michigan is to under no circumstances engage in any of these two behaviors.
Individual Gambling vs. The Facilitation of Gambling
If one wants to avoid felony charges in Michigan, it’s critical to avoid anything that can be classified as facilitating gambling rather than the act of merely placing a bet or wager on a game of skill, chance, or the outcome of a sports match.
While Michigan residents may legally participate in gambling with no fear of any legal backlash, the danger kicks in once they enter into the territory of taking bets. Anyone in Michigan who operates a casino game as a dealer or takes bets on sports events for a profit will be found guilty under Michigan penal codes and almost assuredly sentenced to a jail term.
This is not to say that a Michigan resident who hosts a poker game in the comfort of their own home amongst friends is instantly guilty of facilitating gambling. In the eyes of the law, the defining characteristic will be whether or not the host stands to profit from the game. This does not mean any winnings earned throughout the course of the game as long as the playing field is level, this means things like charging admission to the poker game, or collecting a percentage off losing bets if a perpetrator is caught operating a sportsbook.
Just so long as even the most ardent gambler in Michigan is able to avoid these sorts of actions, they should be able to skirt any legal interference from a fun and potentially lucrative gambling hobby.
Laws That Affect Gambling In Michigan
Michigan Sports Betting Laws
In a state with many state-sanctioned gambling facilities the only thing really lacking on land in Michigan is a venue for sports betting. Since Michigan is not one of the states exempt from the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, (PASPA) it is unlawful to sanction any sports betting within the state.
However, the good news is that Michigan gambling laws does not add any legislation specifically concerned with sports betting. This means that, just in accordance with the original language of the PASPA, there are no penalties for merely participating in sports betting, only if one gets caught facilitating the act
Michigan Casino Gaming Laws
The State of Michigan has sanctioned several casinos, so not only is it legal to play casino games in Michigan, it’s actually quite easy to do so.
Just so long as a Michigan resident does not get themselves involved in the business of facilitating illicit casino games, there should be plenty of options open, whether they prefer to play a game of roulette, sit in on a couple hands of blackjack or kick back and shoot some craps, they will be completely within their legal rights to do so.
Michigan Poker Laws
The popularity of poker has grown exponentially ever since the World Series of Poker became a nationally televised event for insomniacs all over the country. In Michigan, poker fans get some good news because few states are as lenient in their governing of legal poker games as Michigan has been.
Residents may choose to play at home or in public as in addition to home games amongst friends, there are several legal, state sanctioned poker rooms in Michigan. In addition, with the lax betting laws in Michigan concerning the mere participation in gambling and no legislation concerning the internet, residents of the Wolverine State may choose from a host of legal poker sites to play from home, or on the go as well thanks to new mobile poker apps.
Legal Gambling Age In Michigan
In a state where one can easily gamble with no legal ramifications, it’s advisable not to complicate the legal situation any further by gambling underage. Michigan gambling laws say the legal age to place bets is 21, so all residents of Michigan are advised to wait until they are at least that old before setting foot into a brick and mortar casino or starting up an account with a legal gambling network.
If a gambler is caught placing bets underage, not only are they sure to incur a lifelong ban from whichever outlet they are found gambling with, they face steep penalties from the state of Michigan, as well. Underage gamblers in Michigan are eligible for jail time as well as fees of up to $5,000. There are a few things in life worth waiting for, and gambling is certainly one of them.
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General |
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| 18 |
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Lottery |
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| 18 |
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Casinos |
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| 18/21 |
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Poker |
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| 18 |
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Pari-Mutuel |
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| 18 |
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Bingo |
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| 18 |
Legal Ways to Gamble in Michigan
On-Land:
The state of Michigan has several options when it comes to gambling on land within state borders. Detroit alone is home to a branch of the MGM as well as three other casinos, and there are many more spread throughout the state. Gamblers who crave a social, public gambling experience cannot ask for a more accommodating state than Michigan.
Still, there is something to be said for convenience, and elaborate casinos built as labyrinths are anything but that. It’s all but impossible to make a “quick stop” in a major casino, but at the very least, it should be easy to make regular and frequent trips if one so desires.
Online/Web-Based:
When a Michigan residents craves that sanctity and convenience of gambling right from their own home for as long or however often they please, there are several legal gambling networks to which they can turn. While it’s true that these websites are not sanctioned by the state of Michigan, they retain the ability to function legally.
How do they do this? They utilize the same principle as a successful real estate agent: location, location, location. Since these websites were established and are maintained in foreign territories, they are not susceptible to Michigan or even Federal law. They can even offer sports betting to Michigan residents, since they are not restricted by the PASPA. Since Michigan carries no laws concerning online gambling and these websites are located outside US jurisdiction, Michigan residents are free to sign up and gamble with them to their heart’s content.
The legal online gambling networks selected here are not only safe and legal, but the most legitimate gambling sites in the business. Since they operate legally in their home countries they are susceptible not only to stringent legal restrictions imposed on them by their countries, but by reputable international gaming commissions. This assures fair play and speedy, reliable payouts for all players in the United States when they choose to gamble with these networks, even though they are located outside of the country.
Where To Safely Gamble Online in Michigan
Bovada Sportsbook
Voted Top Gambling Site That Accepts Michigan Players
When it comes to legal gambling websites for Michigan residents, the prettiest girl at the ball has always been Bovada, and that does not look to be changing anytime soon. Whether a new player wants to play poker, casino games, or take advantage of the world class sports book offered by this Michigan gambling site, they will find a superior product any way they slice it.
The best part about joining Bovada? By simply signing up for various services, you are eligible for tons of perks and bonuses. For example, if you come to Bovada with an interest in poker, you may also have an interest in one of the best bonuses in the business. The poker room in this gambling network will award you an additional 100% of your bonus in free money. What’s the catch? You merely need to make sure your account stays active and plays a lot of poker, which, once you see the sleek design of the poker rooms, shouldn’t be a problem for you at all. Very few products reward the user simply for using the product, but Bovada does. It’s this attention to service and details that keeps them atop the market when it comes to gambling online.
Full List of Top-Rated Michigan Friendly Gambling Sites:
Still Confused? Need More Help? What To Do Next...
We here at MichiganGamblingLaws.com are not lawyers, we are simply gamblers with a deep interest in the law who saw that there was not a great wealth of information available on the subject. While we are confident that all the information concerning Michigan gambling laws on this page is accurate, it cannot be considered a legal consultation. If you have any further questions related to the betting laws in Michigan, you should be able to get the help you need by simply going to the State's searchable legislation index found at www.legislature.mi.gov. Reading the laws with your own eyes can sometimes provide the clarity needed to make an informed decision.