Michigan residents have had a love affair with poker for a long time. With a rich history of live poker in the state and the resulting influx of new players that came from the online poker boom of the 2000s, there is a huge base of players to draw from in Michigan. But what happened when the online poker sites had to go away? This page looks at everything that is happening in the Michigan poker market and gives an up-to-date look at the news that could change the game again.
Online Poker in Michigan
When real money online poker burst onto the scene in the U.S. in the early 2000s, it was evident that it was going to be a juggernaut. When televised poker with hole-card cameras and online qualifiers to major land-based poker events were introduced, the landscape would be changed forever. Players from Michigan and all over the U.S. were now able to dream about poker glory while attempting to make it to the top of the heap without having to leave their homes. This all seemed too good to be true until it was – in 2011, the major poker sites had to cease operations in the state, throwing the future of the game into doubt.
Fast forward to the end of 2019 – after years of online poker drought, the Michigan state government passed comprehensive online gambling legislation that would allow for legal, licensed online poker to return to the confines of the state. While the details are still being sorted out and there is no official word on a launch date, online poker players in Michigan and rejoice in the fact that it is now a question of “When?” not “If?” online poker will be available.
Land Based Poker in Michigan
Land-based poker has been a favorite of Michigan residents for ages, and the number of live poker rooms in the state is a testament to how much the game has grown over the years. While many new players cut their teeth with online poker in Michigan, the result of a new breed is that there are a many live poker rooms across the state offering multiple tables of cash games and tournaments. With the border to Canada, rooms in Detroit and surrounding areas can take advantage of the traffic that comes from poker-hungry Canadians as well.
Here is a list of all the poker rooms you will find in Michigan:
5 Star Charity Poker Room (Sterling Heights, MI)
Auburn Poker Room (Shelby, MI)
Bay Mills Resort & Casino (Brimley, MI)
Burton Eagles Poker Room (Burton, MI)
Ciccarelli’s Sports Bar (Utica, MI)
FireKeepers Casino (Battle Creek, MI)
Greektown Casino (Detroit, MI)
Gun Lake Casino (Wayland, MI)
Huron Poker Room (Oscoda, MI)
Island Casino (Harris, MI)
Joey Armadillo’s (Niles, MI)
Kewadin Casino Sault Ste. Marie (Sault Sainte Marie, MI)
Krazy Kopz at Vision Lanes (Westland, MI)
Langan’s All-Star Poker Room (Walled Lake, MI)
Legends Poker Place of Metamora (Metamora, MI)
Live-Action Poker Room at Boomers (Allen Park, MI)
MGM Grand Detroit (Detroit, MI)
Momo’s Poker Room (Taylor, MI)
Motor City Casino (Detroit, MI)
Odawa Casino (Petoskey, MI)
Ojibwa Casino Baraga (Baraga, MI)
Ojibwa Casino Marquette (Marquette, MI)
One-Eyed Jacks Poker Lounge (Utica, MI)
Owosso Poker Room (Owosso, MI)
Players Golf & Event Center (Livonia, MI)
Players Golf South (Livonia, MI)
Prime Time Poker at 59 West (Highland, MI)
Rosemack Poker Room (Roseville, MI)
Rounders Poker Room Saginaw (Saginaw, MI)
Roundtree Poker Room (Ypsilanti, MI)
Shark Club Waterford (Waterford, MI)
Soaring Eagle Casino (Mt. Pleasant, MI)
The Event Spot II Poker Room (Lansing, MI)
The Event Spot Poker Room (Lansing, MI)
Thompson Poker Room (Ypsilanti, MI)
Waterford Card Room at 300 Bowl (Waterford, MI)
Wayne Bowl Charity Poker (Wayne, MI)
Winning Hand Poker (Trenton, MI)
Wintergarden Poker Room Chesterfield (New Baltimore, MI)
Social Poker In Michigan
Even with so many available options for real money live poker games in the state, many Michigan residents still would prefer to play online. With real money online poker slated to be arriving soon, there is still an option for those who want to get in some practice time without heading to a live poker room. Social poker sites offer Michigan poker players the chance to play against thousands from inside the state and around the world in a friendly environment where cash does not change hands. You can buy chip packs if you want that will allow you to bypass the lower levels of the game where the gameplay will be worse, so if you are looking for some proper practice in advance of legal online poker in the state, these sites can give you that option.
Subscription Poker in Michigan
Another way that Michigan residents to prepare for the return of legal real money online poker is to give the sweepstakes sites that offer poker tournaments for a subscription fee a try. Even when online poker returns in all of its glory, sites like Club WPT offer a great way for players to practice real-money poker skills in an environment where you only pay a one-time fee per month. Throw in the thousands of dollars worth of great prizes that can win in these tournaments every day and there is great value for several Michigan poker players.
Mobile Poker in Michigan
When real money online poker returns to Michigan, the landscape is going to look very different than when it left back in 2011. The largest change may very well be in the way poker players access sites. With phones and tablets quickly replacing laptops and PCs, many gaming companies have had to adapt their products for a very different delivery channel than back in the heydays of online poker.
While some states have struggled to release mobile poker in a legal environment, the good news for Michigan residents is that very soon, they will be able to download a real money online poker app to their mobile device, create an account and start playing wherever they can get an internet connection. In the meantime, there are plenty of free-play poker apps available which, while the gameplay may not be very strong, will give Michigan players a chance to get used to playing hands of Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or other games from their devices.
Online Poker in Michigan FAQ
Will I be able to play legal real money poker against players from other states in Michigan?
While the regulations are not yet set, it is very likely that when the games launch, they will be restricted to players only from Michigan. However, a few states have banded together to create an player-sharking agreement to grow all the games, and smart money is on Michigan joining this interstate alliance. For now, let’s be happy that real money online poker is returning to Michigan in any form.
Should Michigan players try some of the offshore poker rooms in the meantime? Wouldn’t that be better for practicing?
We think you should stay away from these sites. With no guarantees that you will have an easy time making a deposit and likely a much harder time making a withdrawal, you should wait for the real money regulated sites to return to the market. It won’t be too much longer, so we suggest you start practicing patience by waiting for the legitimate options.
