Good news for bettors! Online poker in Michigan has been legalized. That means you'll be able to hit the slot machines, play poker, and generally have a great time.
Playing online poker in Michigan for real money is now a reality! Now is the time to get ready to play so you are prepared for the launch of the first online poker sites.
It has been a long time coming and we are very excited to see it start to happen. You can test your skills against other players and see just how good you are. Remember, poker is a game that mixes skill and chance so you can get better at online poker in Michigan for real money and win more. So, start practising so that you can put yourself one step above the competition right out of the starting gate!
The History Of Online Poker In Michigan
The state government has been trying to legalize online poker in Michigan for years. In 2018 it looked like they were going to do it when the legislator passed a bill for it. But that bill was ultimately vetoed. Then in 2019, they passed another bill to legalize Michigan poker online. This time the governor signed it in December, and now playing online poker in Michigan for real money is just like it is in
Poker Delaware,
Poker New Jersey,
Poker Pennsylvania, and
Poker West Virginia.
Online poker is a great way to raise tax revenue and is bringing some much-needed money to the state of Michigan, as well as offering a fun pastime to residents in the state. Online poker in Michigan acts as a sort of voluntary tax on people who want to play and on large scale casino operators. And that seems much fairer to the government than raising sales taxes, property taxes, or income taxes. It does not affect people who don't play online poker in Michigan for real money. And it gives people who want to play online poker in Michigan a way to do so that is legal. That way, everyone's a winner!
Why Having Legal Sites Will Be Better
The best part about having legal online sites where you can play Michigan poker online is that they are regulated. This means you can trust the outcome of the games to be fair. There have always been other ways to play online poker in Michigan. Either they were in the real world or dodgy sites on the internet. But particularly with internet gambling, there was no way to know if it was fair.
A less-than legit site can use complex algorithms to ensure that you never get that one card you really need for a win. They can also install a ton of malware and viruses on your computer. That malware can look for your debit and credit card information and then one day empty your bank accounts.
Beyond that, these gambling sites often fund organized crime, which leads to more prostitution, drugs, loan sharking, and other illegal activities. With legal Michigan poker online, you have none of that.
The regulators make sure that online poker in Michigan is really random. All of their games are tested and ensured as fair. There are no malware or viruses in the games of online poker in Michigan for real money. The sites are completely clean.
Most importantly, Michigan poker online is run by legitimate companies that are not connected to organized crimes. Therefore, when you play poker there, you do not have to worry about your money funding things that you don't approve of. You know your money is going to good hard-working people at a fair company.
How Michigan Poker Online Became Available
Simply making Michigan poker online legal did not mean that sites popped up overnight. It took months and a lot of hard work to figure everything out.
First, rules had to be put into place about how the state ensures that all sites operate fairly and give everyone an equal chance at winning. Then the rules of the software that is used had to be set out. Because online poker always comes with other casino games like video poker and blackjack all those rules need to be written for all of them as well. And then each and every company has to go through the testing protocols laid out by the regulators.
Once the laws were put into place, the casinos were able to submit applications. Their finances were checked with a fine-tooth comb. Their history of providing online poker in other states was looked at. Every person who works for them will be checked out. Only those companies that can prove they have nothing to hide will get licenses.
Because of delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, it was not until early 2021 that everything was in place. But now, poker players in Michigan can play their favourite game online in the Wolverine State. And if that is not enough, you could always familiarise yourself with top providers by reading our
Pala online casino reviews
and
PokerStars casino review.
What Online Poker Games are offered In Michigan?
There are hundreds of variations of poker out there. And if you are preparing to play online poker in Michigan you are going to want to practice. So, what games should you be studying and preparing for?
While other games are out there, the simple answer is a five-card draw and Texas Hold 'Em. These two games amount for over 90% of the online poker games played around the world. And both are fairly easy to understand.
Five Card Draw has many names from “Jacks or Better” to “Deuces Wild,” but they are all essentially the same game. You are dealt five cards. Then you have to decide which cards to keep and which to throw away and get replaced by new cards. In some variations, there are jokers, that are wild, in other variations other cards are wild. Once you have decided which cards are replaced you take a look at the hand you ended up with. There is a list – generally in the upper right side of the screen – with what different hands pay off. The rarer the hand the more money you will receive for getting it. In general, if you don't at least get a pair of jacks you lose your money and have to try again.
This Michigan poker online variation does not have you playing against anyone else and bluffing is not an issue. Simply get the best hand you can, and you'll win.
Texas Hold ‘Em is considerably more complex. It relies on you understanding how rare a given hand is and your ability to bluff out other players. At the start of the game, everyone is dealt two cards down – which means you can see them, but the other poker players cannot.
Then everyone places an initial bet or folds based on what they see in their hands. For people still in the game, one card is overturned in the center of the table. Anyone can use this card with their own cards to build the best hand possible. Once again, everyone bets or folds.
Another community card is then dealt into what is known as “the river.” This process continues until there are five cards in the river. At that point, people make their last bets or fold out. Then everyone shows their cards and the person with the best hand wins the pot.
Obviously, this came requires a fundamental understanding of the odds of you getting a good hand like a straight or a flush and the odds of someone else managing to get that hand. It also leans heavily on bluffing – by making the other players think you have a great hand so that they fold, no matter what you are holding.
This version of online poker in Michigan for real money obviously takes some practice. You can play against your friends and try out different strategies and see what works for you. That will give you a good sense of how to play various hands and teach you what not to do.
Of course, there are some other variations of poker available, but for the most part, if you can manage Five Card Draw and Texas Hold ‘Em, you will be able to play most games at most of the online casinos in Michigan.
What Bonus Offers Can I Expect To Get When I Play Online Poker In Michigan?
If you are interested in playing online poker in Michigan for real money you have probably heard about online bonus offers that casinos provide to their customers. But since online gambling has never previously been legal in your state, you may have no experience with them and don't know what to expect.
First up is the
online casino no deposit free money offer. This is a promotion the online casinos make to get you to try them out. All you have to do is go to the site and register for it and play
online poker sites for free. Once they have verified your information a certain amount of money will be put into your account. Like all bonus money, you can't just withdraw it. Instead, you have to bet it. Once you do if you win you can withdraw the money. If you lose you've lost none of your own money and had some free time to play.
The second is a matching funds bonus. This is generally tied to your first deposit. What happens is you make the deposit. Then the casino gives you an equal amount of funds in bonus money. The amount of bonus money you can get is generally capped at a certain level. In other states, this has varied from $100 to $1,000.
Just like the no deposit bonus you can't withdraw this money. And just like the no deposit money if you win you can then withdraw your winnings directly to your bank account. We like this kind of bonus because it is fair. If you can only afford to bet $50 a month on Michigan poker online, you get $50. If you can afford to bet more, you get more. But everyone gets something, which is a great incentive to try out an online casino in Michigan.
You may also get a chance to join an online poker site VIP program. These programs are designed to keep you coming back to their site to place your bets and to encourage you to stay away from other sites. In general VIP programs give you one point in exchange for every dollar you bet. As your points mount up you can then trade them in for free gifts. On the lower level, these can be exchanged for bonus money to play more poker. But if you hold onto your points eventually you can generally trade them in for vacations to real casinos, sporting events or even rock concerts.
If you have the money to gamble, they are a great way for you to reward yourself. They are also why it is important to find one site where you really like to play online poker in Michigan for real money. By sticking to one site you'll see your points rack up much faster. Take a look at our
Party Casino welcome bonus
and
Betfair casino promo code
reviews for great bonus offers.
Play Online Poker In Michigan For Real Money Safely
The most important thing about playing poker online is that it's supposed to be fun, which also means your experience needs to be safe, fair and you shouldn't get carried away. Here at Captain Gambling, we're always on hand with our
Michigan online casino reviews
which will not only show you the best sites, but also give you some of our top tips and expert advice.
Firstly, and most importantly, you should always ensure you're playing on a reputable, officiated and regulated poker site in Michigan. To see if a poker site is regulated, just scroll to the bottom of the homepage where you should find a list of the regulatory bodies and licenses associated with the site. In terms of security, check that the site is encrypted with an SSL certificate by checking the URL bar for a lock and key logo. When it comes to regulating your own gambling, set yourself a budget and stick to it so things don't get out of hand financially. Additionally, don't spend too much time playing on poker sites. Most sites have a function where you can limit your time.
How old will I have to be to play online poker in Michigan?
In Michigan, the legal minimum age is 21 years of age. Do not try to play online poker if you are not at least 21. If you are caught, the site will seize your money and may even report you to the authorities. It's simply not worth the risk of getting caught. Instead, practice with your friends so you can come back strong as soon as you are 18.
What online poker game should I try first?
For newbies to Michigan poker online we'd suggest picking one of the five-card draw games. Jacks or Better is an excellent one to try. It will give you a sense of how common certain hands are and help prepare you for when you are ready to try Texas Hold ‘Em. Read our
Sugar House casino review
and
PokerStars reviews
to see what poker games are available at these top sites.
Are the odds really that different for poker hands?
Yes. As you move up the ladder while playing online poker in Michigan for real money, the odds become much greater against getting a better hand. The odds of getting a pair are about 42%. The odds of getting a royal flush are 1 in 649,000. Therefore, as you can see knowing a bit about the odds of getting a hand should play into your betting.
Isn't poker just luck?
No. Poker is a mix of luck and skill. Even when you are just playing Five Card Draw you are controlling what cards to keep and which ones to give away. Having skill won't take you all the way as we all get bad hands sometimes, but skill will give you an edge.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
This site is using
Cloudflare
and adheres to the
Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted
Google's Privacy Guidelines
to keep your data safe at all times.
Close
Our Sports Pros recommend these awesome social casino sites this week:
