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Michigan Reports Another Record-Breaking Month for iGaming in November

Ziv Chen

Last Updated: December 18, 2024 3:28 PM EST • 1 min 62 sec read.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson reacts after scoring the game-winning goal as we look at the Michigan's iGaming financials for November 2024.
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson reacts after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Photo by Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images.

As the results from our best sports betting sites and best real-money online casinos continue to roll in for November, they continue to be largely positive.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) released its for November 2024, showing that online casino gross receipts reached $226 million, breaking the record of $220.7 million set the month prior. 

Meanwhile, adjusted gross receipts (AGR) for online casino gaming hit $203.3 million, an increase of 2.4% month-on-month. AGR shot up by 28.9% year-on-year. That higher AGR contributed to online casino taxes and fees of $42.5 million paid to the MGCB.

The three commercial casinos in Detroit added $10.6 million, while tribal operators paid $5.2 million to government bodies in November. 

Priorities for funds from iGaming

The MGCB clearly outlines what happens to taxes from Michigan online casinos, which differs from the funds generated by Michigan sports betting and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS).

The first priority for funds from online casinos is payment to the City of Detroit if the total gaming-related tax revenue for Detroit in the previous fiscal year falls below $183 million. When accounting for the 30% internet tax revenue Detroit already receives, whatever is added to the City of Detroit can’t exceed 55% of the total fund of taxes from online casinos.

Once funds are used to meet this requirement, November taxes go towards the MGCB to help fund the enforcement of the Lawful Internet Gaming Act. Money is also contributed towards the administration of the Bingo Act by the MGCB.

Michigan online casino taxes contribute $500,000 to the Compulsive Gaming Prevention Fund and another $2 million to the First Responder Presumed Coverage Fund. At the end of FY2025, any money left over is given to the School Aid Fund. 

Michigan market thrives amid several 2024 changes

There have been plenty of changes to the Michigan gaming market in 2024, which seems to be encouraging strong performances from online casinos. In addition to setting iGaming gross receipt records in consecutive months, Michigan online casinos also generated positive results in September, hitting $202.6 million in gross receipts.

Caesars has been very active in Michigan, completing the acquisition of WynnBET’s online casino operations in the state in June. Matt Sunderland, SVP and Chief iGaming Officer for Caesars Entertainment, said, “As we continue to grow our iGaming franchise, the assumption of WynnBET’s iGaming operations in Michigan allows us to tap into a significant market and customer base, providing a crucial step forward in growing our digital products and offering players more ways to play.”

The company then launched Horseshoe Online Casino to complement the Caesars Palace Online Casino platform already operating in MI using its licensing from WynnBET and transitioning WynnBET customers to its new platform. 

Meanwhile, DraftKings became the first operator in almost ten years to launch a proprietary online poker option when it went live with Electric Poker in the Great Lakes State. Electric Poker works under the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) to let Michigan players match up with players in other states like Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, and West Virginia.

With such a competition iGaming market, operators have to turn out excellent Michigan online casino no deposit bonuses.

Written By:
Ziv Chen
Ziv has over two decades of experience in the igaming and sports betting industry, having served in senior marketing and business development positions with both B2C and B2B companies, including Playtech and Microgaming. In 2019, Ziv decided to pursue his passion for writing and became a fulltime industry journalist, covering casino, sports, and gambling business news. He’s specialties include casino games and technology, US state gambling regulation, company performance, as well as gambling affiliates and marketing. As a Pitt graduate, Ziv is a diehard fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams, with the Steelers at the top of the list. In his free time, he enjoys reading crime fiction, biographies (mainly of sports personalities, but not only) and American history. Ziv’s Favorite quote: “We're going to pursue perfection, knowing full well we won't catch it, but we're going to relentlessly chase it," Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach.