Michigan got its first pair of sports betting partnership deals just over a week into the new year.
OnJan. 6, bothPointsBetandThe Stars Groupannounced partnerships. They will create entries into theMichigan sports bettingand general gaming market.
With the two heavy hitters breaking the mold, the race for the remaining24 land-based partnershas begun. And as a result, it would appear as though Michigan bettors will have no shortage of retail and online sports betting options.
The holiday celebration in Michiganincluded a signature fromGov. Gretchen Whitmer. The bill legalized retail and online sports betting, online casinos and online poker. As such, it joinedDelaware,New JerseyandPennsylvaniaas the only states to offer all three verticals.
Quick to get in on the ground floor, PointsBetannounced a20-year access dealwith theLac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
Per the release, PointsBet will work alongside the tribe to create a betting app as well as an online casino. To boot, the two parties remain in negotiations to bring in PointsBet to power the retail sportsbook at the tribesNorthern Waters Casino ResortinWatersmeet.
The Stars Group, meanwhile,teamed with theLittle Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. It is providing the operator an avenue into another state for itsFox Betsports betting brand.
With first skin market access, The Stars Group will have the right to operate and brand online betting, casino and poker in Michigan.
PointsBet and Fox Bet both already operate in New Jersey. In addition, PointsBet has expanded intoIowa, while Fox Bet has done the same to Pennsylvania.
These two partnerships serve as the starting gun. Surely many more similar deals will come across the wire in short order. That means only good things for Michigan bettors, as the state will likely boast a plethora of brands.
After all, consider how many land-based properties remain. Whitmers signature in late 2019 allowed for Michigansthree commercial and 23 tribal casinosto incorporate sports betting, online casinos and online poker. There will be one skin for each vertical.
Indeed, gambling real estate abounds. As for which brands one might see, that is a picture without a clear image at this point.
That said,MGM Resortsoperates out ofDetroit, creating an opportunity forRoar Digitalto step into the gaming environs.Penn National, meanwhile, recently acquired a Detroit casino that could become part of Penns aggressive gaming expansion.
No doubt,DraftKings SportsbookandFanDuel Sportsbookwill work toward Michigan market access. Where one goes, the other seems to follow.
Michigan boasts fertile ground, which is why the state will assuredly see ample interest from an array of operators. And soon.
Excerpt from:
Michigan Online Gambling Scores Its First Partnerships. Who Will Follow? - PlayUSA
