Michigan Sees First Live Sports Bets Placed In Casinos

The first live sports bets in Michigan were placed yesterday afternoon, as the state "became the 16th in the nation to officially join the parlay party," according to Tony Paul of the DETROIT NEWS. Two of Detroit's three casinos, including MGM Grand and Greektown, "officially opened their sports books to the public on the first day possible." By 1:20pm, "lines for the windows were dozens deep, if not more." At MGM Grand Detroit, several sports celebrities "made the first bets." In addition to betting windows, MGM Grand has "16 kiosks, Greektown 40 and MotorCity 54." The casinos are "projected to earn the state as much as" $20M in taxes annually. An online component to sports betting "isn't expected until next year." As of now, 20 states have legalized sports betting, with 16 operational and four others "finalizing the process" (DETROIT NEWS, 3/12).