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The state of Michigan took another step toward legalizing the increasingly popular world of online gambling in December of 2019. Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, passed legislation incorporating the legalization of online sports betting. This bill includes online casinos, sports betting, fantasy contests, and horse racing.
The state currently has a running online lottery, three commercial casinos, and two race tracks which host horse betting. This bill allows the control of this program to be regulated by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
Senator Curtis Hertel stated, “My hope is that by March Madness, it will be live.” It has also become vocally apparent that the ultimate plan is to have everything running at full force once the most popular sport of the betting public, football, enters its new season. Their goal is to have everything completely live statewide by the kickoff of the season and the startup of its Fantasy counterpart.
Whitmer addresses the people of Michigan
An initial topic of conversation among residents was curiosity of how online revenue would affect the distribution of tax dollars. Families had an initial concern with regard to the legalization of online gambling, and how it could pull tax dollars currently set aside for education. Much of this money brought in through taxing iGaming was planned to go toward this cause, and the government did not waste time to release their ultimate plan to the people.
After Whitmer learned about the distress of citizens of Michigan, she immediately addressed the media. “My top priority in signing this legislation was protecting and investing in the School Aid Fund, because our students deserve leaders who put their education first.”
After stating education was her first priority, she added they would continue to allot sufficient funding to the First Responder Presumed Coverage Fund. This Fund was intended to not only continue the current funding of education, but to provide aid for first responders, such as firefighters, who face the horror of cancer and disease due to their profession.
The benefits of online gambling
Michigan expects to gross over 19 million dollars the first year by adding access to online iGaming to the sport betting community. Its addition to the gaming industry will benefit the community as a whole.