It’s official: online gaming and sports betting starts this Friday at noon. Nine operators, including Detroit’s three casinos, were authorized by the Michigan Gaming Control Board this week. Rick Kalm, the board’s executive director, says they collaborated with New Jersey and used some of the same regulations they have there, but Michigan is the first to license Tribal casinos to take bets online.
“I think Michigan’s going to be a model on we dealt with the tribes and how we licensed the tribes and collaborated with them here in Michigan and make them an equal player with the commercials (in Detroit) going forward,” says Kalm. “That’s where we’re a little different than other states.”
Kalm says the revenue brought in through online gaming will help tribal communities and casinos hurt by COVID-19 restrictions.
