Illinois land-based betting starts Monday, Michigan on Wednesday

Legal sports betting is coming to both Illinois and Michigan next week, but only if bettors are willing to hoof it on down to a local casino.

On Friday, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) announced that Detroit’s three commercial casinos “expect to be authorized” to conduct onsite sports betting starting at 1pm on Wednesday, March 11. The MGCB has no authority over the state’s tribal casinos, each of which will announce their own betting plans in due course.

The MGCB plans to give the commercial casinos their final approval on Tuesday following each operator’s presentations at a public meeting. The MGCB has already issued provisional licenses to the companies who are providing the casinos with betting kiosks.

Speaking of, MGM Resorts’ MGM Grand Detroit has already installed two rows of betting kiosks just outside the Moneyline Sports Lounge that the property opened last October. MGM said Friday that it will invite “local sports legends” to the sportsbook’s official launch on Wednesday afternoon.