Michigan’s online gambling and sports betting hopefuls have officially been invited to submit their license applications, while operators continue to forge the ties to make their local operations a success.

On Wednesday, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) announced that it had begun accepting applications for online gaming and sports betting operator licenses from the state’s commercial and tribal casino operators. The casinos’ online technology partners have also been cleared to submit vendor registration applications.

MGCB executive director Richard Kalm urged interested parties to submit their paperwork “soon” to give the regulator sufficient time to “conduct investigations and work with them on internal controls, technical standards, lab certifications and other requirements.”

Michigan legislators approved online gambling and sports betting legislation last December and the first retail wagering operations made their debuts in early March, only to be shut down days later along with the casinos’ other operations due to COVID-19. (Many tribal casinos have since reopened but Detroit’s three commercial casinos remain dormant.)