Detroit's casinos are "making preparations for sports betting -- even though it's not legal in Michigan," according to Noble & LeBlanc of the DETROIT NEWS. The establishments are "making investments in support of the activity as they push to cash in on the business in one of America's biggest sports towns." A new sports lounge near the hotel entrance of MGM Grand Detroit is "expected to open soon and could serve as a sportsbook should the state legalize" betting. Once "perceived a leader in efforts to legalize sports betting after the U.S. Supreme Court last year effectively ended a federal prohibition, Michigan now is falling behind its neighbors." Sports betting is "not in the internet gaming package under consideration" by the Michigan Legislature, but State Rep. Brandt Iden "plans to introduce legislation in the next month that would legalize the activity both online and in brick-and-mortar facilities." The bill Iden plans to introduce would "develop legal sports-betting rules and set a tax rate." Iden said that he is "working with Penn National, Detroit's other casinos and Michigan's tribal casinos in the hopes of getting legislation on the books by the end of the year" (DETROIT NEWS, 8/9).
