Online Poker Michigan — Is It Legal? Get $5,000+ on MI Poker Sites

If you’re looking for safe and fair Michigan online poker platforms, this should be your go-to page. We’ve tested numerous poker sites that accept Michigan players and shortlisted the ones we feel have the best selection of games, tournaments, bonuses, and payment options.

Not only will you find the best options for online poker Michigan, but we’ll also share a few renowned land-based casinos and poker rooms that you can visit physically. Other topics we touched upon include online poker legislation in Michigan, poker-playing tips, a guide on how to start playing online, and more. Enjoy!

Best Offshore Poker Sites
BetOnline Poker logo

100% Poker Welcome Offer Up To $1,000

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Bovada Poker logo

100% First Time Deposit Match Up To $500

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Everygame Poker logo

200% up to $1,000

4.5 Stars Claim Now
Ignition Poker logo

150% Poker Welcome Bonus Up To $1,500

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Sportsbetting AG Poker logo

100% Poker Welcome Bonus Up To $1,000

4 Stars Claim Now
In This Guide

Michigan Online Poker Gambling at a Glance

Michigan is very gambling friendly and is one of the few states that has legalized online gambling for casinos, sports betting, and poker.  Below we break down the current online poker market in the state.

  • Legal Poker: Yes, Online and Mobile
  • Minimum Age to Play Poker in Michigan: 21 (inland), 18 (through offshore sites)
  • Offline Poker Rooms: Yes. at 30+ venues
  • Online Poker Sites: Offshore and Inland
  • Estimated Poker Revenue: $1.4 billion in 2022 (casino games and poker combined)
  • Permitted Online Domestic Poker Operators: 3 (PokerStars, BetMGM, and WSOP)
  • Licensing Fee: $50,000 application, $100,000 upon successful application, and $50,000 annual fee.
  • Tax Rate: 20-28%
  • Tax Funded: School aid fund and other public services

The Best Online Poker Michigan Sites

To learn more about top Michigan poker sites, we prepared short summaries for each of the top five brands, letting you get more info on their range of games and tournaments, bonuses, software characteristics, payment options, and other features.

  1. BetOnline — Best Mobile Poker Platform in Michigan
  2. Bovada — Highest Player Traffic Among Michigan Poker Rooms
  3. Everygame — Great Selection of Sit & Go Tournaments
  4. Ignition — Best Welcome Bonus for Online Poker in Michigan
  5. Sportsbetting.ag — Best Freeroll Online Poker in Michigan

Online Poker Sites Michigan Reviewed

All of our recommended Michigan poker rooms are great, so you can’t really make a wrong choice. However, you might wish to learn more about each one before making your final selection, which is why we wrote short reviews on the top five. Here’s the scoop.

1. BetOnline — Best Mobile Poker Platform in Michigan

BetOnline proves time and again that it’s the best option for online poker in Michigan

BetOnline always finds itself at the top when discussing the best poker sites. Ever since 2011, BetOnline has given Michiganders, and other US players access to refined software, exciting games with varying limits, and rewarding bonuses, among many other things.

The steady, functional, and easy-to-use software stands as one of the main reasons why so many people choose BetOnline, and you can use it on both your desktop and mobile, with the options to download or play directly on the website.

The operator features a standard line of games, including Limit, Pot-Limit, and No-Limit Texas Hold’em and Omaha, as well as 7 Card Stud. The lineup of tournaments is solid as well, with interesting formats like $1 Million Windfall, Sunday Majors, Rebuy Frenzee, and Progressive Bounties being some of the favorites.

New players are welcomed with a solid 100% welcome bonus up to $1,000 (promo code NEWBOL). The minimum deposit is $50, and payments can be made using various methods, including cryptocurrencies.

What we like:

  • Constant software upgrades
  • 11 crypto payment options
  • Regular promotions
  • State-of-the-art app
  • High deposit limit

What we don’t:

  • No fully anonymous tables

2. Bovada — Highest Player Traffic Among Michigan Poker Rooms

There’s never a shortage of exciting tournaments on Bovada

Bovada is another household name for Michigan poker enthusiasts. The operator has been around since 2004, making it one of the oldest poker sites in the US. It uses reliable PaiWangLuo software that can be downloaded or used directly on the website through both desktop and mobile browsers.

Bovada’s impeccable reputation can be attributed to several things, namely its high player traffic, dependable payouts, anonymous tables, and wide selection of games and tournaments.

The tournament selection is truly amazing, with players having the ability to sign up for as many as eight tournaments at any given moment. The operator’s flagship tourney is the Monthly Milly that features $1 million in guaranteed prizes, while you can also take a shot at the weekly $150K GTD, $75K GTD High Roller, Jackpot Sit & Go’s, and more.

After creating an account in Bovada, you can claim the 100% welcome bonus up to $500. The accepted payment options include Mastercard, Visa, Amex, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Zelle, and vouchers.

What we like:

  • Great player traffic
  • Wide selection of tournaments
  • Anonymous tables
  • Diligent HUD blocking

What we don’t:

  • Above-average rake

3. Everygame — Great Selection of Sit & Go Tournaments

Everygame has one of the highest deposit matches for new players

Everygame is a lesser-known name among Michigan poker players, but that’s only because the platform rebranded recently, previously being named Intertops. Despite the new look, Everygame also updated its selection of games and tournaments and has plenty to offer to both rookies and seasonal players, especially when it comes to Sit & Gos.

There are many SNG formats to choose from, from 1-table and Heads-Up to Satellites. The buy-ins vary as well, from 9-cent games up to the $999 Hyper Challenge.

Everygame gives new players a chance to triple their initial bankroll with a 200% bonus going up to $1,000. Many other promotions are available along the way, including 36% rakeback deals and a well-constructed loyalty program.

Deposits and withdrawals can be completed using a variety of e-wallets, cards, and cryptocurrencies.

What we like:

  • 200% welcome bonus
  • Excellent selection of SNGs and other tourneys
  • Optimal range of buy-ins
  • Instant play on desktop and mobile

What we don’t:

  • High rollover requirements on the welcome offer

4. Ignition — Best Welcome Bonus for Online Poker in Michigan

Ignition offers special benefits to Bitcoin depositors

Ignition is one of the newest reputable poker sites in Michigan. It launched in 2016 and is a part of the PaiWangLuo poker network.

Ignition attracts a large base of players, not only from Michigan but all around the States, and it’s often regarded as having the highest player traffic. The site is full of both big and small money tournaments, the most popular of which include the Monthly Milly, Golden Spade Poker Open, and Mad Monday.

The website caters to low- and high-risk players, with table limits ranging from $0.02/$0.05 to $30/$60.

The welcome bonus is where Ignition stands out from the competition. New players can claim a 150% first deposit bonus up to $1,500 by depositing with Bitcoin and will get an equal bonus for playing casino games. Not only will Bitcoin allow you to get a higher bonus, but you’ll also be eligible for the Weekly Bitcoin Depositors’ Freeroll tournament.

What we like:

  • Great Bitcoin welcome bonus
  • Wide selection of tournaments
  • Large player traffic
  • HUDs not supported

What we don’t:

  • Sub-optimal deposit limits 
  • Above average rake

5. Sportsbetting.ag — Best Freeroll Online Poker in Michigan

Online poker tournament coverage on Sportsbetting.ag

While its name suggests that it only offers sports wagering, Sportsbetting.ag is one of the best Michigan online poker sites. The operator has been online since 2012 and uses proprietary software that works on both desktop and mobile.

Sportsbetting.ag is a sister site to BetOnline, which is why you’ll find plenty of matching games, tournaments, and promotions, including the 100% welcome bonus (promo code NEWSB), $1 Million Windfall Sit & Go, $150K GTD, and Bad Beat Jackpot.

We liked this poker platform the most because of its selection of freerolls. Players that wish to turn nothing into something can take their shot at one of many freerolls on all popular variants, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo.

Those that like conducting payments via cryptocurrencies will have plenty of choices, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Ripple, and more. For most methods, deposit and withdrawal limits range between $20 and $100,000, although Bitcoin deposits can go up to $500,000.

What we like:

  • Excellent selection of freerolls
  • Wide range of cryptos accepted
  • Solid welcome bonus
  • Optimal payment limits

What we don’t:

  • Software could be improved
  • HUDs allowed

More on gambling in Michigan…

Learn about all types of online gambling in Michigan in our expert guides below:

Online Poker Michigan — The Top Sites Compared

All the information we shared in the summaries of our top five recommended Michigan poker sites might be a bit overwhelming and hard to follow. We also created a table with side-by-side comparisons so that you can make your choice more easily. The table contains information about the sites’ most prominent performance indicators, including poker varieties, tournament selection, welcome bonus details, limits, and freeroll availability.

Online poker Michigan site Poker variety Poker bonus Poker tournaments Poker table limits Freerolls
BetOnline Texas Holdem, Omaha Hi/Low, Boost Poker, Windfall Poker, Six Plus Poker 100% first deposit bonus up to $1,000

Bonus code: NEWBOL

Sunday Majors,

$1 Progressive Bounties, 

Windfall Sit and Go’s, 

Million Windfall, Nightly monsters, Rebuy Frenzy, Bad Beat Jackpot.

$5 to No-Limit
Bovada Texas Holdem, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo 100% first deposit up to $500

Bonus code:

PWB500

The Monthly Milly, $2 Million Guaranteed,

Million Dollar Weekend, 12 Days of Turbos, Knockout Tournaments, $150,000 Guaranteed, Jackpot Sit and Go, $100,000 Guaranteed 

$2 to $250
Everygame Texas Holdem, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo. 200% first deposit bonus up to $1,000

Bonus code:

100EGP

Bounty tournaments, Sit and Go, Depositor Freeroll,

Daily Free Roll, 

Sundowner Tourneys Wipeout Series, Summit Series, 

$5 to $150
Ignition Texas Holdem, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 150% first deposit bonus up to $1,500 for crypto

Or

100% first deposit bonus up to $1,000 (other deposit methods)

The Monthly Milly, 

Jackpot Sit and Go,

Festival of Felt, Knockout Tournaments, Weekly Bitcoin Depositor Freeroll, Wild Wednesday, Normal Sit and Go, $150K Guaranteed, $ 2 Million Guaranteed, 

Monster Stack, Super Saturday, Progressive Knockouts, Super Millions 

$2 to $250
Sportsbetting Texas Holdem, Omaha Hi/Lo 100% first deposit bonus up to $1,000

Bonus code:

NEWSB

$150,000 Guaranteed, $1 Million Windfall, Jackpot $5 to No Limit

Is Online Poker Legal in Michigan?

Michigan is one of only a few US states with legal and regulated online poker. The Michigan Gaming Control Board has approved a couple of poker sites, including BetMGM and PokerStars, with several other brands expected to make their debuts on the Michigan market in the upcoming period.

However, because the Michigan online poker market is still in its infancy and doesn’t provide many options, players from this state continue seeking their luck on offshore poker sites, including many of the ones we listed. These sites continue to operate in the legal grey area, and players are unlikely to get in any trouble for using them.

Video Poker

Video poker is a unique form of poker designed for single players. It’s a form of draw poker where the goal is to discard between zero and five cards to create the best 5-card combination. Just like with live poker, winning in video poker involves a lot of skill and a little bit of luck. If you utilize the right strategy in these games, you can minimize the house edge or even force a positive expected return.

Michigan online poker sites usually don’t feature video poker games. Instead, you can find them on various Michigan casino sites. Some of the most popular variants of the game include Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Aces and Eights, and Joker Poker.

Casual Poker

Michigan’s Revenue Act can be interpreted as allowing home poker games, as long as the host doesn’t collect rake or make any money from running the game. In other words, you can relax and play a game of real-money poker at home with your friends, and you won’t be committing a criminal offense.

Michigan Poker Laws

Most forms of gambling are legal in Michigan, including poker. The residents of Michigan can legally play poker games in over two dozen locations across the Lower Peninsula, Upper Peninsula, and the city of Detroit, both at land-based casinos and specialized poker venues. We will talk about some of these venues in the following section.

The legal gambling age for land-based gambling in Michigan varies. Casinos that operate under MGCB have an age restriction of 21. However, many tribal casinos allow entry to those aged 18 to 20.

Online Poker Guides State by State

Poker Rooms in Michigan — Live and In-Person

The Wolverine State is currently home to over 30 poker rooms, most of which can be found in and around Detroit. The rooms range from smaller venues with casual cash games to full-service casinos that commonly run large tournaments. There are also several Michigan charity poker rooms.

Here are the details behind some of the most noteworthy spots to play real-money poker in Michigan.

FireKeepers Casino

FireKeepers Casino

Address: 11177 E Michigan Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49014, United States

FireKeepers Casino is located on the outskirts of Battle Creek, between Lake Michigan and the city of Detroit. The casino offers a massive collection of nearly 3,000 slot machines and 70 table games. Inside it is also a dedicated 26-table smoke-free poker room.

No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournaments are played every day except Friday and Saturday, with buy-in varying from $40 to $60. The room is open from 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. on workdays and 24/7 on weekends.

Soaring Eagle Casino

Soaring Eagle Casino

Address: 6800 E, 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd, Mt Pleasant, MI 48858, United States

Soaring Eagle is another famous casino resort in Michigan located in the picturesque town of Mt Pleasant. The casino usually hosts 14 poker tables, although it’s working on and off due to Covid restrictions. When it is operating, Soaring Eagle’s poker room features 24/7 action on popular poker variants like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, including occasional tournaments with big prizes.

Gun Lake Casino

Gun Lake Casino

Address: 1123 129th Ave, Wayland, MI 49348, United States

Poker players visiting Gun Lake Casino in Wayland can enjoy their favorite games on as many as 14 tables. There are no tournaments, but the cash games are just as exciting, and the playing conditions are great, according to the user reviews. The rake is only $5, and players receive $1 in comps for every hour of play.

MotorCity Casino

MotorCity Casino

Address: 2901 Grand River Ave, Detroit, MI 48201, United States

MotorCity Casino Hotel is the best place for poker players living in Detroit. You can test your skills in Texas Hold’em and Omaha on 17 tables open day and night. No-Limit Hold’em tournaments are played every Monday, Thursday, and Sunday, with buy-ins ranging from $120 to $170. There’s also a special monthly tournament with a $300 buy-in and a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool. 

You can earn $1 in comps every hour as a regular player, while bigger comps and benefits await those with a VIP status. Bad Beat Jackpots are available on all tables.

MGM Grand Detroit

MGM Grand Detroit

Address: 1777 3rd Ave, Detroit, MI 48226, United States

Another Detroit poker room worth visiting is the one located in MGM Grand Casino. It features 14 tables (the number might be lower due to pandemic restrictions) open 24/7 with available games including $1/$2 and $2/$5 No-Limit Texas Hold’em, $2/$4 Limit Texas Hold’em, and $2/$5 Pot-Limit Omaha. Players have a chance to win the Bad Beat Jackpot and special High Hand Jackpots that are awarded every 30 minutes to an hour and consist of prizes between $250 and $500. 

Benefits of Playing Poker Online vs Land-based Casino

Although Michigan has over 30 poker rooms, many players still prefer to play poker online for a variety of reasons. The first is convenience even in a state with so many in-person options it’s still easier to log on to a poker site and start gambling from the comfort of your home. With cash games running 24/7 online and so many online tournaments including sit’n’go, you can play poker whenever you want and not have to rearrange your schedule.

In addition, there is much more flexibility in terms of betting limits. Cash games online can start as low as $0.1/$0.2 for blinds and you can take a seat at a tournament for less than a dollar. Online tournaments also attract a huge number of players so often the cash prizes can be much higher. Finally, online poker sites provide users with many bonuses including welcome bonuses for new players and regular promotions for their existing users.

Michigan Online Poker Laws

Michigan officially legalized online poker on December 20, 2019, becoming the sixth US state to do so. Meanwhile, online gambling and sports betting in Michigan became legal as well, making Michigan one of the rare states with all three legal gambling verticals. The minimum age for playing online poker in Michigan is 21.

While playing online poker is legal, there aren’t too many licensed websites to choose from. This is why many Michigan players still resort to offshore poker sites that are based outside of the US but still allow American players to join and play. These sites are in a legislative gray area, making them neither legal nor illegal. Offshore sites feature a great range of games and tournaments, and most of them have an age limit of 18 rather than 21.

Offshore Poker Sites in Michigan

Michigan is one of the most gambling-friendly states in the USA and has been for a good few years. Domestic online poker, sports betting, and casino games are all legal in the state. Offshore sites are also able to operate in the state and there are no laws that target users of these sites so bettors are free to wager at offshore poker sites.

The state often advises against using offshore sites and would prefer users to use domestic ones, most likely as they are able to collect more taxes from those based within the state. It is often stated by Michigan official sites that it is hard to tell who is collecting money from these sites and it can be organized crime groups, this could be the case in some instances but offshore poker sites that are properly licensed and regulated in the country they are from like the ones suggested on this site, then you can be assured that these are 100% legit.

History of Gambling in Michigan

The first form of legal gambling in Michigan was when the racing act was passed that legalized pari-mutuel horse racing. There was much change in the legal landscape of gambling for another 40-odd years until in the 1970s the Michigan state lottery was launched. Just over a decade later the Kings Club Casino first tribal casino was opened on tribal lands, which was the first tribally owned casino in the US to operate slot machines and blackjack games.

In 1996 voters narrowly passed Proposition E, which allowed up to 3 Casinos in the city of Detroit. The MGM was the first casino to open in Detroit in 1999. The next big change to gambling in the state came in 2018 when legislatures passed a bill legalizing online gambling but this was vetoed by outgoing governor Rick Synder. However, the next year a package of bills were passed that legalized online sports betting, fantasy apps, and poker.

Michigan Online Poker

While players from Michigan can enjoy legal poker both live and online, many choose the latter for several reasons.

To start with, you can play online poker from the comfort of your own home or use your mobile device to fire up a round at any given moment. Playing online using software also makes it easier to keep track of your hands and improve your chances with cheat sheets.

While land-based casinos offer comps to players who spend long hours at a table, these benefits are nothing compared to bonuses you can claim on Michigan online poker sites. For instance, a deposit of $1,500 on Ignition will land you an extra $1,500 in bonus money, which is an offer you’ll never run across at land-based poker rooms.

Another great advantage of poker sites is the selection of games and tournaments. While a typical land-based poker room usually offers just the standard Texas Hold’em and Omaha, poker sites can have many exciting variants with multiple formats. Tournaments are few and far between in live poker rooms, while online poker platforms can host several tourneys with varying prize pools daily.

Payment Methods for Playing Online Poker in Michigan

In this section, we will run through the essential information about the payment methods available at the best offshore poker sites in Michigan.

Deposits

When it comes to depositing funds most good poker sites in Michigan offer a variation of digital and fiat options. Specific fees for deposits,  min/max limits, and what cryptocurrencies are accepted differ from site to site but there are some common differences in deposit methods across the board, such as crypto generally offers more flexibility and lower fees.

Credit & Debit Cards

Bank cards still remain one of the most popular ways to deposit with online casinos in Michigan, and all sites (except a few crypto specific gambling sites)  accept major credit cards like Visa and Mastercard, and in many cases AMEX. Credit and debit cards are a convenient deposit method as its quick, easym and almost everyone has one. The main negative to this method is that most offshore sites charge a transaction fee for deposits made via cards. It’s usually a percentage of the deposit somewhere between 4-16%.

Wire Transfer

Bank transfers allow you to send money from your account directly to a casino or poker site’s bank account and nowadays with Internet banking it is very simple. However, like paying with credit cards there are usually charges for this method, usually a flat rate fee somewhere between 50-100 dollars. The minimum deposit limits are also set quite high at most sites, you can usually expect to have to deposit at least $100 dollars.

Bitcoin

Bitcoin is usually the first thing that comes to mind when somewhere mentions cryptocurrency and it has become one of the most popular ways for people to fund their online gambling wallets. The reason it is such a popular method is that Bitcoin usually has no charges, it provides anonymity, there’s an extra level of security, there’s a much larger range in depositing limits, processing speeds are incredibly fast and best Bitcoin online poker sites also offer specialized Bitcoin bonuses that are more lucrative than standard bonuses.

Cryptocurrency

While Bitcoin is probably still the number 1 player in the crypto world there are plenty of other options. Most online poker sites for real money in Michigan now accept at least 3 altcoins and some accept 20+. The main altcoins accepted are Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Dogecoin, and Ripple. All cryptocurrency coins offer the same benefits as Bitcoin including faster processing times, lower fees, higher bonuses, and more variation in limits, and they allow users to remain anonymous.

eWallets

Another digital transaction that has been around longer than crypto is eWallets. While you don’t get the bigger bonuses that usually come with crypto eWallets are a handy deposit method, as the processing times are faster than fiat options and they are also generally fee-free. Unfortunately, most offshore sites do not accept Pay Pal which is one of the most popular eWallets on the market, other options such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Neteller can be used.

Withdrawals

You will usually find that most of the same methods available at a poker site for depositing funds are also available for withdrawing. However, this is not the case with credit and debit cards and unfortunately, most offshore sites do not offer cards as a withdrawal option, and users that used them to deposit will have to use a different method to cash out.

Wire Transfer

Wire transfers are easy enough to request at most sites and it usually just involves filling out a short form. The main downside to wire transfers for withdrawals is that it generally takes 7-14 working days to receive the funds back into your account. This method almost always comes with fees and the minim limits are also quite high meaning at most sites you will need $150 or more just to cover the fees and meet the minimum withdrawal limit.

Check

Receiving a check is very easy to request but it is probably the option that takes the longest. In general, you will have to wait 10-15 business days to receive the check after the request has been accepted. Then once you receive the check you will have to wait however long your bank takes to clear the check. All in all, it’s going to be 2-4 weeks before you are able to actually use the funds. Also, like wire transfers the minimum deposit and fees are set quite high.

Bitcoin & Other Cryptocurrency

Like with deposits Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are the best way to extract your winnings as there are usually no fees involved and if they are, it’s usually a fraction of those incurred on fiat options. In addition, this is the fastest method with the money will usually be back with you in 24-48 hours and at some sites, it can take just a few minutes. The withdrawal limits also offer the most flexibility, with large maximum limits and in some cases no limits.

eWallets

This is another method that is usually fee-free and the transaction times are similar to that of cryptocurrency. The minimum withdrawal limits are often lower than fiat options but the maximum is closer to fiat options than to crypto withdrawals.

Online Poker Michigan : Deposit Methods

Checking the available deposit options is one of the first things you should do before picking a Michigan online poker room. You should make your choice depending on which payment methods you prefer and what deposit limits you’re most comfortable with.

That said, here’s a table comparing the deposit options on our top five performing online poker Michigan sites.

Online poker Michigan site Payment options Accepting crypto Payment limit Payment speed
BetOnline Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Person to Person, Money Order, Bank Wire Transfer, Cashier’s Check, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Cardano, Chainlink, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Ripple, Stellar, USD Coin, Tether. Deposit limit: up to $500,000 for cryptocurrencies

Withdrawal limit: $25,000 per week

Up to 2 business days
Bovada Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Voucher, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Zelle, Match Pay Deposit limit: $15,000

Withdrawal limit: no withdrawal limit for crypto

Up to 24 business hours
Everygame Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Skrill, Ecopayz, Bank Wire Transfer, Paysafecard, Check by Courier, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin. Withdrawal limit: $110,000 per week Up to 24 business hours
Ignition Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Voucher, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Zelle. Deposit limit: $5,000

Withdrawal limit:

No withdrawal limit for cryptocurrencies 

Up to 24 business hours
SportsBetting Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex, Money Order, Check, Bank Wire Transfer, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Chainlink, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Solana, Stellar, Tether, USD Coin. Deposit limit: 

$100,000

Withdrawal limit:

$100,000

Up to 2 business days

Playing Online Poker in Michigan

All of our recommended Michigan poker sites are great in multiple aspects. However, different players have different preferences, so it’s worth comparing the platforms to find the one that truly fits your poker playing needs.

If you like starting with as much money in your account as possible, you should look for the site with the most rewarding welcome offer. In that regard, Ignition seems to be the best, as it’s the only site with a 150% bonus up to $1,500, while most others have bonuses going up to $500 or $1,000. However, know that Ignition’s 150% bonus is only available if you deposit using cryptocurrencies.

Speaking of cryptos, if that’s your preferred payment solution, you should consider joining Sportsbetting.ag. The operator accepts 12 different coins, from Bitcoin and Ethereum to Dogecoin and Ripple. Sportsbetting also features some of the most optimal crypto deposit and withdrawal limits, ranging from $20 to $500,000 per transaction.

The choice is rather difficult when it comes to tournament selection, as all listed sites have a great range of tourneys that run frequently. If we had to choose one site, we would probably go with Everygame, as it features plenty of SNGs, satellites, and other formats. Sportsbetting.ag is also a good option if you prefer freerolls.

If you’re not looking for one prominent feature in particular and just seek a great all-around poker site, look no further than BetOnline. The operator is safe and trusted and offers poker software that is among the most reliable on the market.

Tips for Online Poker Real Money — Michigan

Mastering online poker takes a lot of time and patience, so giving you tips on how to play and win is better left for another time. However, we can help you make the most of a given poker site. Here are some guidelines on what to pay attention to when creating an online poker account in Michigan.

  • Use the intro promo — Every poker site has an intro promo that extends your initial bankroll. There’s no reason not to take advantage of this promotion, especially if it doubles or triples your initial payment. However, pay attention to the rules regarding welcome bonuses. There might be payment conditions like methods and minimum deposit limits, as well as rollover requirements and other restrictions.
  • Be familiar with table rules — Examine each site’s table rules to understand the betting limits, rake, game formats, and other vital details.
  • Know your competition — Keep track of the players you’re up against by looking at their profile and hand history. Your approach should differ depending on whether you’re playing amateurs or pros.
  • Play within your limits — Control your bankroll at all times and never bet more than you are willing to lose.
  • Use a reliable device — Playing on an old computer or smartphone might make the software lag, which will ruin your experience. Worst yet, if the MI casino app crashes, you could be kicked out in the middle of a game. Apart from using a reliable device, you should always have a stable internet connection.

Famous Michigan Poker Players

For a state that is so gambling friendly, it’s not much of a surprise that there have been a large number of talented poker players have come out of Michigan. One of the most successful players in terms of winnings is Ryan Riess who currently sits 28th in the USA all-time money list. He has 1 WSOP bracelet as well as 1 World Poker tour title.

Not far behind in terms of overall winnings is Joe Cada, who at the time of writing is 32nd on the all-time money list. He has actually been more successful at the WSOP than Ryan and has an impressive 4 bracelets including winning the $10,000 Texas Hold’em No Limit Main Event in 2009.

Poker Games to Play in Michigan

When online poker sites first started out players were mostly limited to a few cash and tournament games Texas Hold’em and Omaha. However, now players have a wide range of choices of different variants of poker in addition to various betting limits and types of poker tables. Below we will look at some of the different options available to poker players at online poker websites in Michigan.

Poker Variants

There are multiple different poker variants available and most of them can be split into one of four broader categories which we have listed below:

Community Cards Poker: In community card games players’ hands are made up of a combination of the hidden cards they are dealt and the shared face-up cards on the table known as the community cards. Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi-Lo are by far the most common community card poker games and can be found at every decent MI online poker site.

Ignition poker: Poker sites colorado

Draw Poker: Draw Poker has no shared cards and instead, players are dealt complete hands. They can improve their hands by discarding a certain number of their cards and replacing them with new cards from the deck. Five-card draw and seven-card draw are popular draw poker variants.

Stud Poker:  Again there are no shared cards in stud poker and are players dealt a set number of cards either face up, face down or a combination of both depending on what stud variant is being played. The most popular types of stud poker are 5-card stud, 7-card stud, Razz, Eight or better, and Caribbean Stud.

Mixed Poker Games:  Several different poker variants are played in mixed games, either for a set number of hands or a set amount of time. Horse is the most popular type of mixed poker game and is made up of five component games; Hold’em, Omaha, Razz, Stud, and Eight or better.

Types of Betting

The type of betting allowed in a poker game has a significant effect on the strategy poker players use in a game. The three types of betting for poker are listed below:

Pot Limit: The maximum amount that can be bet in a pot limit game is the total amount of chips in the pot. At the start of each hand, the bet limit is quite low so you tend to see fewer people fold easily on in these games as it’s inexpensive to call initially but it can get very expensive in later rounds in the hand once the pot has built up.

Fixed Limit: The pot can only be raised a maximum of four times in fixed limit and the bet or raise has to be equal to the size of the blinds. As the limits are set you will find that more people stay in the hand as it’s relatively inexpensive to call. The fixed limit also makes it much harder to bluff.

No Limit: In this aggressive betting type of game, players can bet or raise however much they desire at any point during betting. This betting type means that pre-flop you should generally not enter in a hand unless you are feeling extremely lucky or you are an aggressive player that likes to bluff.

Types of Poker Games

Poker sites offer three main types of poker games or tables which are cash games, scheduled tournaments, and sit’n’go tournaments. The different games require different strategies and have their advantages and disadvantages,

Cash tables: Cash games take place on one table and can be played with anywhere between 2-10 players. You can take a seat at any time and the only requirement is that you have the minimum buy-in. The chips you use in a cash game have real monetary value in cash games so if bet a $10 chip and lose you just lost $10. These games are high risk but also high reward.

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Scheduled tournaments: Scheduled tournaments can involve two players up to thousands. With a scheduled tournament, there is a set entrance fee that you pay and then you are given a certain amount of chips, and the game is played until only one player remains. The places that are paid out depending on the tournament and how many players have entered.

Scheduled tournaments don’t usually have a set number of players (although there may be a maximum limit) and a tournament begins at a scheduled time (hence the name) with however many players have signed up.

Sit’n’go tournaments: Sit’n’go tournaments are hugely popular online. These can also take place on one or multiple tables. These tournaments have a preset number of players usually anywhere between 2-360 online and the tournament begins once that number of players has entered.

You pay a set entrance fee and are given a set number of chips and you keep playing until you are knocked out or you are the last player remaining.

How to Play at Poker Sites Michigan

Only minutes separate you from reading this line of text to playing in one of the best Michigan poker rooms. All you need to do is choose a website, create an account, and deposit before joining your first online poker game. Here’s a simple step-by-step on how to do it.

Step 1: Go to the Poker Site

Load BetOnline in your browser and click on Poker in the top bar

If you’ve already selected a poker site, simply go to its homepage. We’ll use BetOnline, our top-rated online poker Michigan platform, in this example.

Step 2: Registration

Simple registration form on BetOnline

Click the Join Now button in the top right corner to start the registration process and fill out the form with your details. Once you’re done, click Create Account.

Step 3: Make Your First Deposit

BetOnline has a great range of deposit options, including Bitcoin deposits that go up to $500,000

After your account has been activated, go to the cashier page to complete a deposit. Choose one of the available methods and type in the amount. Don’t forget to claim your welcome deposit bonus afterward.

Step 4: Begin Your Online Poker Campaign

The selection of tournaments on BetOnline

Now that everything is set up, you can browse the website’s games and tournaments and start playing.


Other Online Poker Guides you Might Like

Learn more about the different types of online poker games and options available online and where to best enjoy them:


MI Legislative Resources

For residents of Michigan wanting to find out more information on current legislation to do with poker and gambling in the state or would like to contact local and state representatives to express their opinions or concerns on the subject they can use the links below.

MI Gambling Resources

If you believe that you or someone you know has a gambling problem, then we encourage you to get in contact with an organization that can help you address the problem. Below you can find links to two sites that can provide advice and local information and treatment services in your area.

Conclusion —  Online Poker Michigan

If you seek poker action in Michigan, you’re in luck. Not only has Michigan legalized online poker, but it also has several dozen land-based casinos and poker rooms all across the state. 

Still, many players prefer offshore sites due to their more comprehensive selections of games and offers. We’ve tested and reviewed these sites, so you don’t have to, and shared a list of our top six. These sites excel in terms of bonuses, games, tournament selection, rake, payment methods, and other vital aspects, on top of being safe, trusted, and reliable.

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Stefan is a passionate sports bettor who also enjoys playing casino games. With 20 years of experience under his belt, he knows the iGaming industry inside and out. In his informative articles, you will find much more than mere facts. His writing is vastly entertaining too, and you can tell he has his fellow gamblers’ best interests in mind.

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