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Michigan Gaming Regulator Appeals Responsible Gaming During March Madness

Ziv Chen

Last Updated: April 4, 2025 10:11 AM EDT • 1 min 59 sec read.

Michigan Gaming Regulator Appeals Responsible Gaming During March Madness
Pictured: Tennessee Volunteers guard Jahmai Mashack guards Houston Cougars guard Milos Uzan during the NCAA Tournament. Photo by Christine Tannous / IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Ahead of the NCAA Tournament final on April 7, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) released a public notice appealing to residents to engage in responsible gambling. As the game promises to garner significant interest among sports betting enthusiasts across the state, the gaming regulator emphasized the utilization of only legal, regulated online gaming websites, such as our best sports betting sites.

Michigan has a well-defined regulatory framework for Michigan online casinos and Michigan sports betting. Under state law, an operator of sports wagering must be licensed and allied with one of the three Detroit commercial casinos or one of the 12 federally recognized tribes operating Class III casinos in Michigan.

These agreements form the basis of legal operations, with platform providers licensed as suppliers under the Lawful Sports Betting Act.

This regulatory system stipulates that all licensed platforms operating in the state are subject to stringent scrutiny to guarantee consumers' protection and fair play. To bolster this objective further, the MGCB has made a list of licensed internet gaming and fantasy sports providers publicly accessible on its website.

Before the high-profile sports event, the MGCB has highlighted several important points Michigan residents must consider before settling for a legal online gaming operator. Firstly, the regulator advises users to check whether the state licenses any Michigan sports betting apps they use. The measure gives assurance that the operator is subject to Michigan gaming regulations and continuously monitored by state regulators.

Security is another consideration. Licensed operators must employ industry-standard encryption technologies, such as SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), to protect users' financial and personal information. These measures bar unauthorized access and minimize the risk of cyberattacks.

Shaking things up

The MGCB also cited the importance of game selection. Legal sites often provide a range of games to accompany their sportsbooks. Some sites also offer online poker, slots, and table games, allowing users to choose games that meet their preferences.

The sites are supposed to maintain transparency in their deposit and withdrawal methods so that members can manage their money confidently and safely. The MGCB also regularly checks licensed operators in the state to make sure that they are fair to players and include essential components like customer support, a user-friendly interface and registered reviews so that players know that it is a legitimate site. 

In recent months, the Michigan Gaming Control Board has banned several offshore operators and unlicensed online gaming platforms to protect players in the Great Lakes State. At the end of January of this year, the regulator sent out a cease and desist order to Curacao-based operator MyBookie.ag after it was uncovered that it did not have a license to operate in the state. 

The offshore sportsbook and casino platform violated several Michigan set laws monitored by the Michigan regulator including the Lawful Gaming Act, the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act, and the Michigan Penal Code. 

Since then the MGCB has sent out over ten cease-and-desist letters to offshore operators in the aim to protect Michigan residents from the harm of unlicensed gambling. Residents are better off taking advantage of Michigan sportsbook promos from regulated operators.

Written By:
Ziv Chen
Ziv has over two decades of experience in the igaming and sports betting industry, having served in senior marketing and business development positions with both B2C and B2B companies, including Playtech and Microgaming. In 2019, Ziv decided to pursue his passion for writing and became a fulltime industry journalist, covering casino, sports, and gambling business news. He’s specialties include casino games and technology, US state gambling regulation, company performance, as well as gambling affiliates and marketing. As a Pitt graduate, Ziv is a diehard fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams, with the Steelers at the top of the list. In his free time, he enjoys reading crime fiction, biographies (mainly of sports personalities, but not only) and American history. Ziv’s Favorite quote: “We're going to pursue perfection, knowing full well we won't catch it, but we're going to relentlessly chase it," Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach.