Michigan gets closer to sports betting legalisation

The Legislature and the Governor of Michigan are in talks to legalise sports betting and online gambling in the state.

US.- Michigan could soon become the latest state in the US to legalise sports betting and online gambling. The Legislature and Governor Whitmer are in talks to close in on an agreement to legalise the gambling modalities, and final votes could happen this week.

The only concerns around the gambling bills that were filed earlier this month in the state revolve around the increased competition and the revenues from iLottery, which sent nearly a billion dollars to the state in the last fiscal year.

The Whitmer administration worries that the legalisation of online gambling would make people stop playing the Lottery online to do it on casinos’ sites. However, both the Legislature and the Governor have worked so the money that the state receives (and the school fund) isn’t compromised, AP reported.

“I believe we’ve made a lot of progress with stakeholders and the administration on coming to an agreement,” said Sen. Curtis Hertel, who filed the bills. “The administration had some real concerns and we took those into account. We’re going to make sure that the school aid fund is healthy going forward.”

The Senate Regulatory Reform Committee and full Senate could vote as soon as today, one of the last days that legislators have before the break of the end of the year.

Rep. Brandt Iden said: “If we don’t do something to make sure that we are competitive in that marketplace, we are going to lose out. The longer we delay on this frankly is another day that we miss out on a dollar.”

According to local media, leaders of Michigan’s Indian tribes are on board with the legislation that lies in the State House. Representatives have already approved the bill, which a Senate committee will discuss next.

Should Michigan tribes get left out of the sports betting segment, revenue issues lie ahead. Experts say it would create a state revenue hole, but not if they support the vertical, as they do.