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PlayMichigan.com: Sports betting drops for first time in online era
Michigan experienced its first month-over-month decline in sports betting since launching online sports betting earlier this year, an unsurprising result as the sports calendar slowed in April. But the seasonal slowdown didn’t stop the state from becoming the quickest in the U.S. to $1 billion in online wagering. This as online casinos continued to dwarf sports betting with another month of revenue that neared $100 million, according to PlayMichigan, which analyzes and researches the state’s regulated online gaming and sports betting market.
“Sports betting gets the lion’s share of attention, but it will take years for Michigan’s sportsbooks to reach the kind of revenue that online casinos are already producing,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayMichigan.com. “In addition, online casinos aren’t susceptible to the same seasonal ebbs and flows like sports betting. That said, $1 billion in less than four months of online sports betting is no minor feat either.”
Relying mostly on regular season baseball and NBA games to generate action, Michigan sportsbooks accepted $249.9 million in online handle in April, according to official data released Friday by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. That total was down 30.5% from $359.5 million in March. Combined with the state’s $24.2 million retail handle, which was released last week, Michigan’s online and retail sportsbooks collected $274.2 million in bets, 91.1% of which were made online. The combined handle was down 28.5% from $383.7 million in bets in March.
The total handle will likely keep Michigan at No. 5 in the U.S., behind New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. But with $1.03 billion in online wagers made from the launch of online sports betting on Jan. 21 through April 30, Michigan is the quickest of any state to reach $1 billion in online wagers.
April’s gross operator revenue from online betting slipped to $20.4 million, down 36.8% from $32.3 million in March. Adjusted gross revenue fell to $10.9 million from the record $19.0 million generated in March. That revenue yielded just $312,824 in state taxes. Promotional credits continue to sap the state’s take, even as the promotional spend fell to $9.5 million in April.
“Sportsbooks are in a generally healthy position heading into the typical summer slowdown, especially considering Michigan’s pro teams have not done much to spur interest,” said Matt Schoch, analyst for PlayMichigan.com. “Tax revenue is still a concern, and we will likely have to wait until football season to see significant growth in sports betting again. But with the Olympics this year and the NBA Finals later than usual, sportsbooks can look forward to a busier-than-normal summer. Ideally, that will positively affect tax revenue, too.”
FanDuel/MotorCity Casino topped online operators with a $74.2 million online handle, down from $107.2 million in March. April’s action produced $7.0 million in gross sports betting receipts for FanDuel, down from $7.8 million in March, resulting in a market-best $5.2 million in taxable revenue, up from $5.0 million.
DraftKings/Bay Mills Indian Community jumped to No. 2 with $61.5 million in wagers, down from $76.5 million in March. Gross gaming revenue dropped to $3.4 million from $6 million in March, leading to $1 million in adjusted revenue, down from $3.7 million. BetMGM/MGM Grand Detroit was third in betting volume with $54.9 million, down from $92.6 million in March. Gross receipts fell to $5.5 million from $8.7 million, and taxable revenue dropped to $3.8 million from $6.4 million.
The online market leaders were followed by:
Barstool/Greektown Casino ($24.8 million handle, down from $39.6 million in March; $1.2 million adjusted gross revenue, down from $3.6 million)
PointsBet/Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians ($14.1 million handle, down from $14.2 million; -$355,073 AGR, down from $2.2 million)
William Hill/Grand Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians ($7 million handle, down from $11 million; -$8,162 AGR, down from $1 million)
FOX Bet/Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians ($5.5 million handle, down from $7 million; $163,175 AGR, down from $503,063)
BetRivers/Little River Band of the Ottawa Indians ($2.8 million handle, down from $4.8 million; -$28,856 AGR, down from $537,644)
Twin Spires/Hannahville Indian Community ($1.9 million handle, down from $3.2 million; -$12,190 AGR, down from $209,572)
Wynn/Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians ($1.9 million handle, down from $2.2 million; $89,902 AGR, down from $418,529)
Golden Nugget/Keweenaw Bay Indian Community ($874,114 handle, up from $789,792; -$43,215 AGR, down from $70,649)
Four Winds Sportsbook/Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians ($345,719 handle, down from $385,009; $107,524 AGR, up from $51,196)
“FanDuel, BetMGM and DraftKings continue to flex their marketing advantages to separate themselves from the state’s other operators,” Schoch said. “As the trio entrench themselves at the top of the market, it will be increasingly difficult for any other operator to break through.”
Online casinos and poker
Michigan’s online casinos and poker rooms continued to impress with $94.9 million in April — down slightly from $95.1 million in March. That total actually represents a small increase in revenue per day, however. Online casinos and poker rooms combined to win $3.16 million per day for the 30 days of April, up from $3.07 million per day in the 31 days of March.
The win yielded adjusted gross receipts of $88.9 million, up from $88.7 million in March, generating $17.8 million in tax revenue for the state and $5.2 million in local taxes.
April’s revenue should keep Michigan close to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the nation’s two largest iGaming markets in the U.S., though neither of those states has reported April data yet. The biggest difference is where the states are in maturity. New Jersey launched online casinos in 2013 and Pennsylvania launched in 2019.
“There is no precedent for how Michigan has responded to the launch of online casinos,” Welman said. “It’s safe to say that at some point Michigan will challenge to be the largest online casino market in the U.S. The only question is when.”
Other highlights from April:
BetMGM/MGM Grand Detroit led with $36.8 million in adjusted receipts, yielding $7.2 million in state taxes.
FanDuel/Motor City was second with $14.1 million in AGR, producing $2.8 million in state tax. That total edged DraftKings/Bay Mills’ $14 million in AGR.
For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting in Michigan, visit PlayMichigan.com/news.
About the PlayUSA.com Network:
The PlayUSA.com Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states, PlayUSA.com and its state-focused branches (including PlayMichigan.com, PlayNJ.com, and PlayPennsylvania.com) produce daily original reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino.
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Leading business, technology, finance, and gaming law firm, Segev LLP, is proud to announce its 10th anniversary. Over the past decade, Segev has evolved from a bold idea into a multi-jurisdictional firm serving clients across Canada, the U.S., and beyond.
Built for innovation-driven industries, the firm is widely recognized for its work with companies at the forefront of gaming, crypto, technology, and emerging sectors. “Our 10-year anniversary is a defining moment,” said Founding Partner, Ron Segev. “It’s a testament to the strength of our team and our culture of teamwork, self-improvement, and growth – all of which is directed at scoring wins for our great clients.”
As industries like fintech, crypto, iGaming, and AI have matured, so has the firm, often in parallel with its clients. “We’ve all grown together with our clients from one success to the next, whether it be helping clients complete financings or helping them close business,” said Managing Partner Alon Segev. “I look forward to continued growth for us and our clients in the next 10 years!”
The firm’s client-first approach has consistently earned recognition from top legal ranking guides. Segev LLP is ranked by Chambers and Partners as a “Leading Firm” and “Band-1” in Canada for Gaming Law and are also recommended by The Legal 500 and Lexology. These rankings reflect the team’s ability to deliver strategic, high-quality legal solutions that align with their clients’ business goals.
Recognized for their unique ability to exceed expectations and deliver out-of-the-box solutions, Segev LLP’s clients have affirmed: “The firm demonstrates its capability not only to understand complex matters, but also to offer solutions that are practical, pragmatic, and value-adding.”
“Segev possesses outstanding resources and maintains global partnerships, enabling it to deliver precise and informed responses to any queries related to the iGaming industry.”
“Epic service, very good, I won the case!”
“Great service, friendly atmosphere, and support.”
Several Segev team members also reflected on the milestone: “There was a moment early in my time here when I realized I wasn’t just being brought in to help; I was expected to contribute, take initiative, and run with big ideas. That stuck with me,” said Negin Alavi.
“Together with our clients, [Segev] has experienced remarkable growth over the past decade. I’m honored to have contributed to this journey and to celebrate these shared successes,” said David McHugh.
“Segev has cultivated a thriving law practice on the principle that challenges are to be embraced as opportunities. The approach has enabled us to grow as lawyers, but more importantly, it has enabled us to ensure the success of our clients,” said Mark Balestra.
“Since joining through Segev’s Ontario expansion, I’ve had the chance to work alongside some of the sharpest and most collaborative lawyers in the gaming space,” added Manav Bhargava. “As a full-service firm and industry leader, Segev stands out for its ability to support innovative businesses with practical, forward-thinking legal advice.”
Segev LLP will commemorate the anniversary with a series of internal and external initiatives throughout the remainder of the year.
The post Segev LLP Celebrates 10 Years of Business-Focused Legal Innovation appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Incentive Games, a leading B2B games provider, is proud to announce that it has been awarded an Ontario Gaming License by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), effective today. This achievement enables the company to offer its portfolio of real-money games to licensed operators and players across the province.
The license underscores the Incentive Games’ commitment to meeting the highest standards of compliance, security, and operational excellence. The rigorous application process demands robust security protocols and comprehensive responsible gaming measures and affirms the company’s readiness to enter one of Canada’s most dynamic iGaming markets.
The North American market is a strategic focus for Incentive Games, and this milestone follows closely on the heels of the company receiving its Provisional Michigan gaming licence from the Michigan Gaming Control Board earlier this month.
Incentive Games will distribute its real-money gaming content in Ontario through Incentive Studios, the company’s dedicated Real-Money Gaming division, ensuring a focused and tailored approach to the market.
“Ontario represents a huge opportunity for us, and securing this license is a proud moment for the whole team,” said John Gordon, Chief Executive Officer at Incentive Games. “It reinforces our dedication to meeting the highest standards while delivering compelling real-money content. We’re looking forward to building strong relationships in the region and continuing our momentum across regulated markets worldwide.”
The post INCENTIVE GAMES SECURES ONTARIO GAMING LICENSE appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) has announced the appointment of Larry Spagnolo as the new Board Chair, effective August 15, 2025. This announcement follows the official Order in Council issued by the Alberta Government and marks a new chapter in AGLC’s ongoing commitment to support communities, encourage responsible choices and position Alberta as the best place to do business.
Larry brings a wealth of experience in technology and business leadership to the AGLC Board and will play an integral role in guiding AGLC’s strategic direction. He is currently serving as VP and GM of Emerson’s SaaS SCADA business and has held senior roles at Zedi and Telus, driving innovation, growth, and global success.
A strong advocate for education and community, Larry serves as Vice Chair of Athabasca University’s Board of Governors and has held board roles with NAIT and Polytechnics Canada. He was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his community contributions.
AGLC and the Board of Directors extend their heartfelt thanks to Len Rhodes for his leadership and dedication as Board Chair since August 2019. He decided not to seek a third term and will continue to serve in this role until August 14, 2025. Len led AGLC through some significant milestones, including reducing red tape by 51%, growth of the emerging cannabis industry and ensuring AGLC delivered a balanced approach to business development, social responsibility, and regulatory oversight.
The post AGLC Announces New Board Chair appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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