Michigan Green Lights Interstate Online Poker Bill

Michigan House of Representatives has voted 85 to 16 in favor of SB 992 approval, which is a bill that follows up on Lawful Internet Gaming Act that authorizes the Michigan Gaming Control Board to begin negotiations with other jurisdictions regarding interstate online poker facilitation.

The bill is now headed to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office to be signed into law.

The Governor Will Sign

State Senator Curtis Hertel Junior is the lead sponsor of the bill…

…and he represents Michigan’s 23rd district. He said it was always expected the bill would and that it is exciting to see that Michigan will be providing a robust system for online poker players.

He is not aware that Governor opposes the bill in any way and he expects it will be signed into law.

Online poker became authorized in this US state in December 2019 when Whitmer signed a package of bills into law that legalized internet gaming and sports betting.

The Governor cited the increase in funds that would be made available to Michigan schools and firefighters battling cancer from online gambling tax revenue.

BetMGM Incentivizes Players

Michigan’s Gaming Board worked hard on getting the state’s online gaming flying, and that included coming up with developing rules and regulations, issuing licenses and vetting operators.

The Board has issues the first 15 provisioning licenses to platform providers. As a result, the first online games will go live in January 2021.

BetMGM won one of 15 licenses and the operator is offering players in Michigan $100 in bonus if they pre before January 4th.

The first online wagers will take place in January, bit online poker may come a bit later than online casino games and online sports betting.

Board’s Communication Specialist Mary Kay Bean said:

“We don’t know whether poker will be among the games offered at initial launch. t will depend on an operator’s readiness to offer poker and their desire to do so. The games must be evaluated by independent testing labs and our own gaming lab and approved by the MGCB prior to being deployed.”

Source:

“Breaking: Michigan Interstate Online Poker Bill es House, Headed to Governor’s Desk to be Signed into Law”, realmoneyaction.casinowinning.net, December 25th, 2020.