MGCB: Online Sportsbooks In Michigan Will Likely Launch In Jan 2021

• Michiganders will not see mobile or online sports betting platforms until January 2021.
• While JCAR waived their 15-day review period for the MGCB, the MGCB has now postponed their December meeting until January.
• Meetings of the MGCB are where licenses for sportsbook suppliers and operators are approved in the state of Michigan.

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) will likely launch online sports betting in early 2021 rather than in December 2020.

The MGCB was pushing for the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) to waive the 15-day rule when reviewing the rules and regulations for online sports betting to be able to launch before the end of 2020 which they received.

On Tuesday, JCAR had a majority vote with four YEAS and one NAY in the Senate and three YEAS from the House to waive the 15-day period and have the rules and regulations move on to the Secretary of State where the draft will become a part of the state’s laws on gambling.

But now, the MGCB has changed its plans for a potential 2020 launch.

Why The Wait?

Once the rules go into effect, which should occur any day now because JCAR has greenlit them to pass, the MGCB Executive Director Richard Kalm can begin to give out provisional licenses to operators and providers for online and mobile sports betting.

A meeting where this could have potentially taken place was slated for December 8. Per a spokesperson of the MGCB, that meeting has since been canceled due to the lack of topics up for discussion on the agenda.

To optimize the time of Board members, the MGCB would like a full calendar of topics on the schedule before holding their next meeting.

Unfortunately for optimists hoping for a December launch of online sports betting in Michigan which included mobile sportsbooks, this won’t take place until January.

The next meeting is scheduled for January 12, 2021. At this meeting, potential licensees will be considered and even licensed should the Board approve that their operations are in line with the newly cemented rules and regulations.

Now What?

Michiganders will have to wait until at least January to see online sports betting offered to them through platforms like BetMGM, Barstool Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, and William Hill.

Despite wanting to push JCAR for a possible December launch, a January launch goes with the state’s originally scheduled timeline, nonetheless.

Once these operators unveil their gambling applications, anyone in Michigan can join if they at least are 21 years old. Sports bettors in the area should see these sportsbooks available before Super Bowl 55 on February 7, 2021, also known as the biggest day of the year for bookmakers.

In total, the Wolverine State could see over 20 mobile sports betting platforms receive licenses to operate when the market fully matures.

News tags: Barstool Sportsbook | BetMGM | DraftKings | FanDuel | JCAR | Joint Committee on Administrative Rules | MGCB | Michigan | Michigan Gaming Control Board | NFL | PointsBet | Richard Kalm | Super Bowl 55 | William Hill