- MI HB 4916 is the bill that lawmakers are considering to legalize sports betting in Michigan.
- The bill passed through the State Senate Regulatory Reform Committee in a unanimous vote.
- State lawmakers are hoping to have the bill on the governor’s desk by the end of the week.
LANSING, Mich. – Lawmakers unanimously passed MI HB 4916 in the State Senate Regulatory Reform Committee on Tuesday.
Coming To An Agreement
On Monday, state lawmakers said that they were coming close to a deal to pass a sports betting bill. They were working with Governor Gretchen Whitmer to work out the final details for the bill.
Details included where sports betting will take place in the state. Many different stakeholders are going to have the ability to offer a sportsbook. Commercial and tribal casinos along with the state Lottery could offer sports betting.
The main factor that was holding them back was the tax rate. Gov. Whitmer wants to make sure that funding for education in the state would be secure and unaffected by sports betting. Lawmakers wanted to make sure that the potential sportsbooks could operate in a profitable state.
With that in mind, sportsbooks will receive an 8.4 percent tax after legal sports betting receipts are handed out. This will allow businesses to operate at a profit and the taxed revenue will go towards funding education in Michigan.
State legislators came to an agreement with Gov. Whitmer and were able to pass a bill through the Senate committee with ease. Now the lawmakers want to keep that momentum going.
“The intention is to get this to the governor’s desk and have votes today,” said Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. “It makes us like a lot of other states.”
With both parties satisfied, it is entirely possible that MI HB 4916 could be signed into law by the end of the week. If that is the case, sports betting could start in Michigan sometime in 2020.
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News tags: Curtis Hertel Jr | Gretchen Whitmer | MI HB 4916 | Michigan | Senate Regulatory Reform Committee
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