Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB)

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), established in 1997, is tasked with ensuring fairness and integrity in gaming. It is responsible for licensing and regulating the state’s commercial casinos, as well as all online casino gaming and sports betting activities conducted within Michigan.

Michigan is home to three land-based casinos in Detroit, along with many others operated by local Native American tribes in accordance with compacts made with the state government. While the MGCB does not have regulatory authority over tribal casinos, which are governed by the National Indian Gaming Commission, it ensures that the terms of the state-tribe compacts are being upheld.

On December 20th, 2019, a bill was passed authorizing both the Detroit casinos and the tribe-operated casinos to offer online gaming and sports betting to Michigan residents. The first ceremonial wager was placed by Michigan Senator Curtis Hertel on January 22nd, 2021. As of now, there are 15 officially licensed online operators in the state.

License Checking- How to Verify

Only operators licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) are authorized to offer online gambling services in Michigan. To verify if a company is operating legally, you can refer to the list of legal internet gaming websites published by the MGCB. This list includes the names of all licensed providers, along with direct links to their official websites.

Players wishing to register a dispute have several options, depending on whether the issue concerns a licensed land-based casino, a Tribal Casino, or an online gaming or sports betting provider. Before escalating the matter to the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), the player must first attempt to resolve the issue directly with the operator. If the outcome is unsatisfactory, the matter can be escalated to the MGCB.

However, the player must have already received a written response from the operator regarding the dispute, as the MGCB will not consider complaints without this documentation. The complaint can be submitted either online or through a downloadable form.

Tools and Resources

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) offers a dedicated website, www.dontregretthebet.org, which provides valuable tips and guidance on responsible gambling. Players can find information about the various tools and resources available to help manage their gambling habits, as well as self-assessments to determine if their gambling behavior may be problematic.

As part of regulatory requirements, online operators must provide tools that help players control the amount of time and money spent on gambling.

Some of these tools include:

Time Limits: Restricting the amount of time a player can spend gambling.
Reality Check: Reminding players of the time they’ve spent gambling.
Deposit Limits: Setting limits on the amount of money a player can deposit.
Wagering Limits: Limiting the amount a player can wager, or the maximum amount of a single bet.
Temporary Account Suspension/Cool-Off Periods: Allowing players to take a break from gambling.

For players who wish to refrain from gambling for an extended period, the MGCB maintains a Responsible Gaming Database of excluded players. To register, players must choose either a 1-year or 5-year exclusion period and complete the application form for placement in the database. This form allows players to exclude themselves from all online casinos, online sports betting, or both.