Michigan Tax Gambling Winnings

When will online poker launch in Michigan?

We anticipate Michigan online poker to go live in early 2021, probably in January.

As indicated earlier, you will be compelled to pay percentages to both the IRS and the state of Michigan for your wins there. The IRS, for its part, will demand that you fork over 25% of your winnings to the feds for your troubles. Note: Winnings from Michigan lottery, casinos or race tracks by a nonresident taxpayer are subject to Michigan individual income tax.

In January 2019, The Stars Group, a global leader in online gaming, announced its intention to enter Michigan’s online poker market.

The Stars Group owns PokerStars online poker rooms around the world, including in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The only PokerStars competitors expected to enter the Michigan online poker market are PartyPoker and WSOP.com.

Neither has announced a partnership in the state. However, an existing deal between PartyPoker’s parent company GVC Holdings and MGM suggests that PartyPoker will likely enter Michigan through MGM Grand Detroit.

Since there aren’t any Caesars’ or Eldorado Resorts’ casinos in the state, WSOP doesn’t have an apparent home — yet.

In the fall of 2020, however, Caesars agreed to purchaseWilliam Hill for $3.7 billion. The deal, expected to be finalized in 2021, could be the pathway for WSOP to enter the state.

Will I be able to play poker with players in New Jersey and Pennsylvania?

If and when Michigan joins the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association remains unclear. The MSIGA allows New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware to share player pools.

A clause in the Michigan gambling bills would have directly facilitated an interstate compact; however, it was removed before the laws passed.

Lawmakers have indicated its removal was intended to address multi-state progressive slot jackpots.

Multi-state poker could be on its way to Michigan. It’s likely a must-have for the online poker market in the Great Lakes State to survive long-term. Curtis Hertel Jr., a state legislator in Michigan, has proposed a bill adding multi-state online poker to Michigan’s gambling offerings.

The bill passed through the Senate in October and then moved through the House of Representatives.

Michigan is slightly larger than New Jersey, where online poker is barely surviving despite pooling players with Nevada and Delaware.

Adding states, including Pennsylvania and Michigan, to the mix over the next few years would certainly be a boost to the US online poker market.

Online poker in Michigan

Because sports betting and online casinos will likely generate more revenue than online poker, the latter verticals may take priority.

Only existing casino operators, which include three commercial casinos in Detroit and 12 tribal casino operators throughout the state, will be able to procure online gambling licenses.

Each will be allowed one online casino brand and one online poker brand per license, up to two total brands apiece.

The licenses come with a $50,000 application fee, $100,000 initial licensing fee and a $50,000 annual renewal fee.

Michigan online poker operators will be subject to the same tiered tax structure as online casinos.

It starts at 20% for adjusted gross receipts of less than $4 million and peaks at 28% for more than $12 million. Detroit commercial casinos will also pay an additional 1.25% city tax.

Michigan online poker partnerships

PokerStars-Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Global online poker giant The Stars Group secured a partnership with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Gaming Authority in early January 2020.

The deal gives The Stars Group first-skin market access for all gambling verticals in Michigan, including online poker.

The Stars Group owns and operates PokerStars, which operates in NJ and PA. The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians operates three Michigan tribal casinos, with the largest being the Odawa Casino, near Petoskey.

Michigan Income Tax Gambling Winnings

Both entities will still need to secure a license and get regulatory approval from the Michigan Gaming Control Board. However, it appears it’s a matter of time before PokerStars Michigan launches.

Partypoker MGM Grand Detroit

Though there wasn’t a formal announcement, MGM Resorts International and partypoker’s parent company GVC Holdings established a 50/50 joint venture sports betting and online gaming platform for the US in July 2018.

The idea is that MGM Resorts and GVC will deliver their assets, brands, proprietary technology, and industry expertise wherever sports betting and online gaming are legal in the US.

The press release announcing the joint venture specifically named the partypoker brand.

The launch of partypoker Michigan through MGM Grand would appear to be the perfect example of a joint venture in action.

How Michigan online poker will work

Michigan’s online poker will launch as a fenced-in market.

Players who are 21 years or older and within state lines will be eligible to play online poker cash games and tournaments.

Online poker operators will use geolocation technology to ensure all live players are inside the state.

Players will need to sign up for an online account with an operator of their choice and go through identity and age verification before they can play.

One day, state lawmakers may enter into a multi-state compact to allow operators to share player pools with sites in other poker states.

A clause initially included in the state’s online gambling bills that would have directly facilitated an interstate compact was removed before the legislation was passed.

Lawmakers have indicated its removal was intended to address multi-state progressive slot jackpots. Therefore, multi-state poker is still a possibility down the road.

Online poker bonuses and rewards

Michigan online poker sites will offer free play to attract new customers.

Tax breaks allowing Michigan online poker operators a percentage of gross receipts for free play over the first five years of operation all but guarantees this.

Plus, giving free bonus cash as an incentive to sign up has proven to be a successful poker marketing strategy elsewhere.

PokerStars PA has shot out of the gate, posting four to six times the revenue it averages in NJ.

Players who open a PokerStars account in Pennsylvania using the PokerStars PA bonus code PLAY30 and deposit at least $20 will earn $30 in free play.

This offer includes $20 in free play and $10 in Spin and Go tickets.

New PA players also receive a ticket to the depositor freeroll event on the last Sunday of every month. It features cash prizes and a zero-entry fee.

PokerStars’ players in Pennsylvania can also use the promo code STARS600 when they sign up and make their first deposit (or three qualifying deposits within 60 days), and can also earn a 100% bonus of up to $600.

Players need to earn redemption points to unlock the bonus, but get 5 points for every $1 paid in tournament fees or rake in most games. Once earning 100 redemption points, PokerStars PA will release $10 in bonus cash into their account.

PA players can only receive the free-money bonus or the deposit bonus, not both.

PokerStars Michigan should roll out with something similar.

Any tournaments that launch will attempt to stay competitive with a bonus structure to try to attract new players.

Fund your online poker account

There’s little doubt Michigan online poker operators will want to make getting your money on and off the sites as easy as possible.

That means offering a variety of deposit and withdrawal options, including third-party payment processors like PayPal, debit or credit cards, and cash.

Here’s an example of the variety of deposit methods at PokerStars PA:

• Instant E-checks: ACH payment.
• Skrill: A secure online third-party payment option.
• Mastercard or Visa: Credit or debit card transactions through approving issuing banks.
• Neteller: A secure online third-party payment option.
• Stars Transfer: Instant deposits with online banking.
• PayNearMe: Make a cash payment at retail locations, including 7-Eleven and CVS.
• PokerStars Play+ Card: This prepaid card pairs to a Stars’ account.
• Cash Deposit: Cash at the Mount Airy Casino cage.

Poker and cardrooms in Michigan

There’s a massive live poker scene in Michigan with as many as 10 live poker rooms operating across the state.

Walk into any one of the Michigan poker rooms on this list, and you’ll find securing a seat at affordable stakes is as easy as asking for one.

Bay Mills Resort & Casino

Bay Mills Resort & Casino, in Brimley, features a four-table poker room that is open 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

There are regular cash games and low-buy-in tournaments. Players must be at least 18 years or older.

FireKeepers Casino Hotel

The newly renovated 26-table poker room at FireKeepers Casino Hotel, in Battle Creek, is the premier poker room in the state.

The room spreads Texas Hold’em, Omaha and stud cash games at a variety of low to mid-stakes. Plus, there are low to mid-stakes buy-in tournaments every day, including a regular stop on the popular Mid-States Poker Tour.

Promotions include a progressive bad beat jackpot.

Michigan State Tax On Gambling Winnings

Greektown Casino Hotel

Greektown Casino Hotel, in Detroit, features a 12-table poker room offering Texas Hold ’em and Omaha games. There are regular tournaments and high-hands promotions.

Gun Lake Casino

Gun Lake Casino in Wayland, features a 14-table poker room spreading Texas Hold’em and Omaha games.

There are low-stakes tournaments happening five days a week, and promotions include a bad beat jackpot.

Kewadin Casino

Kewadin Casino, Hotel and Convention Center, in Sault Ste. Marie, features a four-table poker room open Wednesdays through Sundays.

There are low-stakes tournaments on Wednesdays and cash games every day.

MGM Grand Detroit

The poker room at MGM Grand Detroit features 17 tables with Texas Hold’em and Omaha action.

There are bounty tournaments three days a week and promotions include splash pots, bad beat jackpots and hot-seat drawings.

MotorCity Casino Hotel

The MotorCity Casino Hotel, in Detroit, features a 17-table poker club spreading Texas Hold’em and Omaha games.

There’s a regular tournament calendar, and promotions include a bad beat jackpot, high-hands and a gas card giveaway.

Michigan Tax On Gambling Winnings

Ojibwa Casino Baraga

The Ojibwa Casinos, in Baraga, spreads poker on a single table running on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m.

Michigan Tax On Gambling Winnings

Ojibwa Casino Marquette

The Ojibwa Casino, in Marquette, has poker on three tables on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort

Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, in Mount Pleasant, features a 14-table poker room open 24/7.

Does Michigan Tax Casino Winnings

There’s a six-day per week tournament schedule and promotions include a bad beat jackpot, early bird rake, lucky ticket draws and high-hands.

Michigan Tax On Gambling Winnings

The room spreads Texas Hold’em, Pineapple, Crazy Pineapple, Omaha, seven-card stud and Razz. Multi-game formats include round by rounds, dealer’s choice, HORSE, SHOE and HOP. Players may request any game type with any limit.