The State of Michigan is one of the front runners in the favorites race to introduce online gambling sooner rather than later. Now the state has taken one step further towards this reality by advancing a bill that could see it legalize online casinos and poker. The bill, H 4926, was approved at a hearing of the House Regulatory Reform Committee. It was put forward by rep. Brandt Iden who chairs this committee. The bill also had online sports betting clauses added, in anticipation of a potential ruling of the Supreme Court that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) should end.
The amended sports betting bill calls for the state’s gambling division to “permit an internet gaming licensee to conduct internet wagering under this act on any amateur or professional sporting event or contest, if that internet wagering is not prohibited by federal law.”
Rep. Iden explained why the additions regarding sports betting were added to the proposed online gambling bill.
“That language is in there to start the next round of conversations,” he said. “I don’t want us to get ahead of ourselves, but we know that is coming – the repeal of PASPA is likely coming in the spring – and we want to put Michigan in position to put our best foot forward as it related to sports gaming.”
Brandt Iden’s Lawful Internet Gaming Act, as H 4926 is also known, will essentially legalize online gambling in Michigan. It will create the new Division of Internet Gaming, which will establish laws and definitions of gambling for the industry. Operators will need to pay a 10% tax on revenue, whether online casino gambling or sports betting.
Rep. Iden is convinced that the time is right to introduce online gambling in Michigan, a state that already offers multiple tribal and commercial casino options. The lawmaker said that a number of casinos had reached out to him and expressed interest in opening up a sportsbook. He said that it was his responsibility to make sure that not only did these casinos have the opportunity to offer sports betting in their brick and mortar facilities, but also through hand-held devices and online.
“I think this is a good first step in that direction, but we have to get this component done first,” he said. “We’ll make sure we can shepherd through and get to the governor’s desk an agreement to do online gaming, and I think that there the next step will be sports gaming.”
